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Notes:
WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL
ANNUAL REPORT OF ACTIVITIES 2009 /10
COUNCILLOR: Jeffrey Baker
WARD: Franche Ward
Section 1: Ward Activities (including Surgeries)
Following very poor attendances at the last few surgeries and also the escalating cost of booking a room, Councillor Anne Hingley and I have stopped holding surgeries. We now do home visits. The normal case work has been continued, i.e. road surface repairs, pothole repairs, further improvement in St Georges Park in Marlpool Lane, Kidderminster, liaising with the Council cleaning department to get parts of our ward litter free and try to keep dog fouling to a minimum. I have attended Partners and Communities Together (PACT) meetings on a regular basis to help keep local residents informed of what is going on in the ward. I have regularly attended the Franche Tenant Association meetings for updates on local Community Housing problems. Along with the other two Ward Councillors, I was involved in the temporary road being put in to assist the allotment holders in accessing their allotments during the building of the new housing complex in Wilton Avenue, Kidderminster. I have liaised with Community Housing, the Council and the construction company over public concerns during the new build of houses in Wilton Avenue, Kidderminster over the past 12 months including issues for allotment holders.
Section 2: Council Meetings
Corporate Resources Scrutiny Committee, Council, Kidderminster Educational Foundation, Kidderminster Educational Foundation Working Group, Licensing & Environmental Committee and Regulatory Services Review Panel.
I have served on the Corporate Resources Scrutiny Committee. I did not join the committee until September 2009, replacing Councillor Meekings. I missed the first meeting but have attended all meetings since then (October – February). One of the main items discussed at these meetings was the Worcestershire Enhanced Two Tier (WETT) proposals.
I served on the Budget Review Panel where all aspects of Council spending are analysed. Along with Councillor J Thomas, I shadowed the Director of Resources, David Buckland. We scrutinised all aspects of the Services Business plan and reported back to the Corporate Resources Scrutiny Committee.
I am a member of the Kidderminster Education Foundation and the Kidderminster Educational Foundation Working Group. The former gives grants to organisations that have an educational background. This Group meets 2-3 times per year. The Kidderminster Educational Foundation Working Group gave match funding of £25,600 to the Carpet Museum Trust.
I am Chairman of the Licensing and Environmental Committee and we meet on the last Friday of each month at 10.30 am. This Committee deals with taxi licensing and the inspection of taxis and we also decide if the applicant is a fit and proper person to be a licensed taxi driver. We deal with street traders and any business that needs a licence to trade. This committee deals with all licences for pubs and clubs, appeals by licensees application to changes to licensing hours and a whole host of other licensing matters. I have not missed a Licensing & Environmental meeting. These meetings last from between 45 minutes to 2 hours. I have also chaired the Alcohol and Substance Misuse Review Panel and the Waste Management Review Panel. In both committees the members selected me to chair the meetings.
Section 3: Achievements
There have not been any major projects carried out in the Franche Ward this year. Councillor Anne Hingley and I have concentrated on keeping on top of our ward members' requests. We have good relationships with the Streetscene staff and the Highways Department getting jobs done throughout the ward. Along with Councillor Mike Shellie, I was responsible for getting the area round the Eagles Nest public house cleaned up and secured which was appreciated by the local residents.
Section 4: Special Knowledge
The strongest facet of my Council work is licensing. I was a licensing magistrate for 12 years and some of what I learnt during that time has been very useful during my time on the Licensing and Environmental Committee. I have been both Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Licensing and Environmental Committee and I have attended a number of training sessions that have improved my knowledge and helped me be a better Chairman. I feel I am a good Chairman overall and I had 12 months as Chairman of the Council in 2007 which tests your chairing skills to the limit!
Section 5: Attendance Percentage for 2009/10
97%.
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