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Notes:
WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL
ANNUAL REPORT OF ACTIVITIES 2008/09
COUNCILLOR: Graham Ballinger
WARD: Greenhill
Activities
Through regular monthly newsletters (Focus) circulated all across Greenhill Ward, I keep in touch with the electorate as part of a Liberal Team of three District and two County Members. Issues which continue to affect the public in the past year are street cleanliness, (very poor state of roads/pavement surfaces in the ward); anti-social behaviour where lack of Police presence on the street continues to be significant; refuse collection/recycling now appears to have settled although the recent suggestion of possible return to weekly collections will not now proceed, residents are likely to have concerns regarding this. Planning issues become relevant when local concerns are raised about various proposals. These subject areas represent most of the matters referred to me by the public during the 2008/2009 Council year.
I continue to make every effort to be responsive and helpful at all times to the public to whom at the end of day, I am accountable as their elected member. My home telephone number and address is readily available and is regularly used by the public and increasingly contact through my email address.
As a Governor at Kings Charles I School, I remain interested in the consequences of the new build programme as part of the Wyre Forest Schools Review recommendations. The future use of the now vacated Lea Street school site continues to cause anxiety for local residents given that the Sladen School site proposals seemed to have not been resolved.
I attend meetings in Greenhill as part of the Partners and Communities Together (PACT) initiative which are now fully recognised within the community as a useful resource, albeit local advertising for these events could be improved.
I attend the Horsefair, Broadwaters and Greenhill Partnership and a number of other local groups.
Council Activities
As Chairman of Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee and the Budget Review Panel, this has been the major focus of my council activities for the year. The Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee also included the allocation of all overview and scrutiny functions not within the specific remit of the Regeneration and Enterprise and Community Services Scrutiny Committee. It is important in this role to ensure smooth working relationships with fellow Council members and officers to ensure an effective performance.
No Barriers Review Panel
No Surprises Review Panel
Outside Bodies
District Council Leisure Board Member representing Wyre Forest District Council on the Management Board for the 3 District Leisure Centres.
Regular attendee at Greenhill Tenant Consultative Committees and occasionally at Offmore/Comberton Tenant Consultative Committee (TCC) and Aggborough/Spennells Tenant Consultative Committee (TCC).
Achievements During the Year
I consider the on-going relationship that I have built up over many years as a District Councillor (first elected to Wyre Forest District Council in 1979), together with my experienced Ward colleagues, have enabled our team to have yet another very successful year. I have gained further experience following my election to Worcestershire County Council in April 2007 for the St Chads Division where I have been the Lead Scrutiny Member for Corporate Services. Improvements in street cleaning. Links through PACT meetings on law and order, continue to significantly improve. Feedback from local residents through our regular newsletter continues to focus our direction. Frustrations still focus on County related issues, although some road conditions have improved although pavements continue to be an issue.
Members' Surgeries
A high percentage of elderly people in the Ward means that evening surgeries are not popular and I visit people in their homes and community groups at their request and spend a lot of time talking to residents during the regular distribution of our newsletters.
Training and Development
Chairmanship 20/05/2008
Scrutiny 21/05/2008
LSP Learning to Deliver Workshop 30/06/2008
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