Community Housing Group AGMs

Last night saw The Community Housing Group AGMs. No changes in any of the Chairmanships or Vice Chairmanships; I'm still Chair of Wyre Forest Community Housing with Dave Hyde as my Vice Chair whilst Chris Lewis stays as Chair of Sheltered Housing with Cllr Helen Dyke as her Vice Chair. Bob Marshall stays as Chair of the parent board.

Official opening of new houses on Comberton Arms site

Yesterday afternoon I had to preside at the official opening of the new houses on the former Comberton Arms site. Margaret Allan from the Housing Corporation presented the Midlands Excellence Award to Bob Marshall, Chairman of Community Housing Group and then she and I led the ribbon cutting and tree planting at the new houses. We were helped by some super local kids. We then had a buffet in St Chads to which loads of locals came.

What a month!!

I've been so busy since getting back from Poland that I haven't had time to "blog" so let's start catching up!

Worcs County Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee!

I serve on this as a District Council Rep and the constitution states that the Chairman must be a County Council Rep and the Vice Chairman must be a District Council Rep.

At the first meeting since May the long serving Vice Chairman from Bromsgrove was reappointed but sadly Bromsgrove Council took him off the Committee (he was an Independent). At the second meeting in September I was, somewhat surprised, to get elected as the Vice Chairman. Given the importance of Health issues in Wyre Forest this give us quite a lot of "clout" as District Council Leader, but County Council Rep, John Campion is the Chairman!!

Wyre Forest Schools' Review

The September meeting was interesting! There was a high degree of unanimous anger at the way NONE of us on the Project Board had been informed about the delay in opening four local schools this term. The inconvenience to parents has been huge and there is no excuse for the lack of information to the Project Board and to ALL local County Councillors.

Local Government Association;  Children in Trouble Task/Stakeholder Group

At national, Local Government Association level members of smaller Political Parties are loosely represented by the LGA Independent Group.

I was delighted to accept that Group's invitation to be its representative on the LGA Group looking into the needs of "Children in Trouble".

Consulate of the Republic of Poland in Kidderminster

Since getting back from Poland I've been formally invited to take over as Honorary Consul for the West Midlands! I've had to submit a full personal CV;"proposals for operating the Consulate" and letters of support. I now have to sit back and wait for paperwork to appear from Poland. This is bound to be delayed because there is a General Election in Poland at the end of October but as I was appointed as a Consular Officer by Mike , I am able to continue to operate informally.(i.e. I DON'T have a Personal Rubber Stamp!!)

Shortest Wyre Forest meeting ever!

I think the September meeting of Wyre Forest Council must have been the shortest ever, around 30 minutes from Prayers to refreshments!!

No real surprises!

• Despite information I'd been given by County Highways Officers, Wyre Forest is NOT involved in commissioning redesign of Kidderminster Bus Station
• Money in this year's Council Budget for laying on a water supply to allotments at Chester Road North and Cookley STILL hasn't been spent
• The crazy Leisure Dept are involving external consultants in the selection of a Multi Use Games Area for Spennells (why can't they just show the kids catalogues of what are available for the price, let them choose and the just INSTALL it?)
• Decriminalisation of car parking comes in in October!

Divisional Youth Forum, St.George and St Oswalds and St Chads County Divisions

We had the first meeting of "Youth Offer providers" at the Resource Centre on Radford Avenue on Thursday. Graham and I are the two County Councillors involved in this trial project in the Wyre Forest. There are 10 trial areas across the county and our experience will then be used to help set these Forums (Fora?) up across the County!! We are hoping to get a full list of everything on offer by our next meeting and then start involving young people in planning what they want!

Diabetes UK Charity Night at Kidderminster Town Hall

Last night a group of Liberals, BUFFS and friends joined ex Mayor, Paul Harrison at a Gala Charity event in aid of Diabetes UK at Kidderminster Town Hall. With typical generorsity Paul had paid for the Town Hall hire and then laid on a party for some of us. A super evening was had by all, though I did get worried at the number of glasses of red wine Tory Cllr John Aston kept supplying me with!!

Preparing to go part-time!

With all the additional Council and Consular related work something has to give to aid my work-life balance!!

What is "giving" or at least going is the full-time job with Birmingham City Council! As from Oct 1st I am going part-time. The only drawback has been the incredible amount of work I have had to do in September clearing the decks and helping to skill colleagues who are going to take over the tasks I will relinquish! Never mind I'm sure it will be worth it. One thing is certain...No more MONDAY mornings!!