Wednesday 25th November
I attended the Kings Heath South Police Tasking meeting. This covers part of Brandwood Ward and Bournville Ward. The police boundaries are different to the political ones, this is changing next year. Nearly all the issues raised were within Bournville Ward as this particular meeting was in Bournville Ward. Luckily they are rotated around the area. The only issues that were raised within Brandwood Ward were parking on Colmore Road and the future of the Mountaineer pub. I was able to update the meeting on these.
Sunday 29 November 2009
Selly Oak Constituency Update
Tuesday 24th November
I attended the Selly Oak Constituency update meeting, which informs councillors of local issues that are coming up. We had an interesting update on new tree planting within the area. A small budget has been made available for this. I have suggested some on Kings Terrace/Hazelwell Drive and All Saints Road.
I attended the Selly Oak Constituency update meeting, which informs councillors of local issues that are coming up. We had an interesting update on new tree planting within the area. A small budget has been made available for this. I have suggested some on Kings Terrace/Hazelwell Drive and All Saints Road.
Tuesday 24 November 2009
Commissioning Meeting
Monday 23rd November
I have been to a commissioning meeting to discuss employment funding for the selly oak constituency, I want to make sure that Brandwood Ward gets its share. A number of schemes were approved including the benefit advise at the brandwood centre, employment days in Druids Heath and around Allens Croft and catering training.
I have been to a commissioning meeting to discuss employment funding for the selly oak constituency, I want to make sure that Brandwood Ward gets its share. A number of schemes were approved including the benefit advise at the brandwood centre, employment days in Druids Heath and around Allens Croft and catering training.
Thursday 19 November 2009
dumpred rubbish
Thursday 19th November
At a recent scrutiny committee we had a chance to review the work of environmental wardens. I have asked that more enforcement work is done. From my case work I have suggested the following areas:
Druids Heath
Rubbish dumped outside tower blocks.
Litter dropping - Pound Road (around the Precinct) and Idmiston Croft.
Litter dropping- Meadfoot Shops
Dumping in the Chinn Brook
Advancement and untidy gardens - Partons Road
Advancement - Kings Road/Vicarage Road
A focus on advancement by tenants in the Yarningale flats (above shops) and
the rubbish held for long periods in the shops' backyards.
Dumping in dilapidated garages behind houses on Brandwood Park Road
(Brandwood Sports Ground side)
If you want to suggest anywhere let me know.
At a recent scrutiny committee we had a chance to review the work of environmental wardens. I have asked that more enforcement work is done. From my case work I have suggested the following areas:
Druids Heath
Rubbish dumped outside tower blocks.
Litter dropping - Pound Road (around the Precinct) and Idmiston Croft.
Litter dropping- Meadfoot Shops
Dumping in the Chinn Brook
Advancement and untidy gardens - Partons Road
Advancement - Kings Road/Vicarage Road
A focus on advancement by tenants in the Yarningale flats (above shops) and
the rubbish held for long periods in the shops' backyards.
Dumping in dilapidated garages behind houses on Brandwood Park Road
(Brandwood Sports Ground side)
If you want to suggest anywhere let me know.
Strategy Meeting
Wednesday 18th November
I normally do childcare for my daughter today but I have had to sort out a work mishap then off for the 2nd day for the strategy meeting with the management of the council. One of the main areas of discussion was around what should happen with the devolution of constituencies as there is currently a £2 million overspend. The point that I keep making is that residents don't care where services are run from as long as they are a good quality.
I normally do childcare for my daughter today but I have had to sort out a work mishap then off for the 2nd day for the strategy meeting with the management of the council. One of the main areas of discussion was around what should happen with the devolution of constituencies as there is currently a £2 million overspend. The point that I keep making is that residents don't care where services are run from as long as they are a good quality.
Wednesday 18 November 2009
Meetings, meetings
Tuesday 17th November
A full day, I have been at strategy meeting with the management of the council for the morning then attended a local services meeting in the afternoon. This did have an unexpected break in the middle as a fire alarm went off which allowed me to pay a brief visit to the Frankfurt market. After all this I attended the Druids Heath Housing Liaison Board. They are a group of dedicated residents of the area who are interested in helping the local community rather than getting involved with petty community politics.
A full day, I have been at strategy meeting with the management of the council for the morning then attended a local services meeting in the afternoon. This did have an unexpected break in the middle as a fire alarm went off which allowed me to pay a brief visit to the Frankfurt market. After all this I attended the Druids Heath Housing Liaison Board. They are a group of dedicated residents of the area who are interested in helping the local community rather than getting involved with petty community politics.
Sunday 15 November 2009
European Exchange Programme
Monday 16th November
Having recovered a bit from the latest lurgy that I've caught from my daughter (she always get the blame) I attended a seminar at the council house on the European exchange programme for local and regional elected representatives. It was very intersting to see how other European cities are run and gave me some ideas on how Birmingham could improve.
Having recovered a bit from the latest lurgy that I've caught from my daughter (she always get the blame) I attended a seminar at the council house on the European exchange programme for local and regional elected representatives. It was very intersting to see how other European cities are run and gave me some ideas on how Birmingham could improve.
Sunderton Road Commerative Stone
Friday 13th November
Unlucky for some but hopefully not for you. You learn things everyday about the area you are involved in. I have been contacted by a resident about a commerative stone on Sunderton Road.
When Sunderton Road was built in the 1950s a commerative stone block was unvailed and erected half way down the road. When the road was rebuilt over the last few years the stone was removed by the developers and put in storage with the highways department. I am trying to find out what happened to this and when it will be put back.
Unlucky for some but hopefully not for you. You learn things everyday about the area you are involved in. I have been contacted by a resident about a commerative stone on Sunderton Road.
When Sunderton Road was built in the 1950s a commerative stone block was unvailed and erected half way down the road. When the road was rebuilt over the last few years the stone was removed by the developers and put in storage with the highways department. I am trying to find out what happened to this and when it will be put back.
Friday 13 November 2009
Financial pressures
Thursday 12th November
I had a meeting with the Director of Finance of the Council to discuss the council's budget. I have been concerned about what I have read in the press about the £26 million financial pressures. This is now down to under £10 million. Birmingham's budget seems under control compared to a lot of councils.
I had a meeting with the Director of Finance of the Council to discuss the council's budget. I have been concerned about what I have read in the press about the £26 million financial pressures. This is now down to under £10 million. Birmingham's budget seems under control compared to a lot of councils.
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Druids Heath meetings
Tuesday 10th November
As ever a balancing act of attending residents meetings and doing my non-council work as I need to get a train to London for 4pm. I chaired the Druids Heath Tasking Board and attended a meeting about the proposed garden at Easterton Croft. I organised the latter meeting to get all the partners around the table to try and take this project forward as the ground has been cleared but nothing else has happened.
As ever a balancing act of attending residents meetings and doing my non-council work as I need to get a train to London for 4pm. I chaired the Druids Heath Tasking Board and attended a meeting about the proposed garden at Easterton Croft. I organised the latter meeting to get all the partners around the table to try and take this project forward as the ground has been cleared but nothing else has happened.
Ward Committee
Monday 9th November
The main meeting of the day was the Ward Committee. We only had a few items on the agenda but it still managed to go on for 2 hours. I would normally blame the Chairman but that is me! The main issues that were discussed were parking problems around Allens Croft School , Dawberry Fields Park development and the continual problems with litter around the area.
The main meeting of the day was the Ward Committee. We only had a few items on the agenda but it still managed to go on for 2 hours. I would normally blame the Chairman but that is me! The main issues that were discussed were parking problems around Allens Croft School , Dawberry Fields Park development and the continual problems with litter around the area.
Co-ordinating Committee
Friday 6th November
Today was the main scrutiny meeting of the month, Co-ordinating Committee which monitors the leadership of the council and does reviews of council related issues. We are doing a review of legal services and catering. We took evidence from catering services. They are often cited as being expensive but from the evidence that we had and questions that were asked I felt they provided good value for money.
Today was the main scrutiny meeting of the month, Co-ordinating Committee which monitors the leadership of the council and does reviews of council related issues. We are doing a review of legal services and catering. We took evidence from catering services. They are often cited as being expensive but from the evidence that we had and questions that were asked I felt they provided good value for money.
Thursday 5 November 2009
Thrive Football Strip Amnesty
Thursday 5th November
I have been emailing my friends for an event called a Birmingham (Football) Strip Amnesty. The basic concept is to collect "redundant" replica shirts etc. from fans of our local Premiership and Championship football teams. Timing of this exercise will be between now and the end of year. Kit collected will then be cleaned, packaged and shipped to South Africa for distribution to underprivileged kids during the World Cup next year. If you have any that you would like to donate they can either be sent to me at 279 Harborne Road , Birmingham B15 3JB or I can collect them.
I have been emailing my friends for an event called a Birmingham (Football) Strip Amnesty. The basic concept is to collect "redundant" replica shirts etc. from fans of our local Premiership and Championship football teams. Timing of this exercise will be between now and the end of year. Kit collected will then be cleaned, packaged and shipped to South Africa for distribution to underprivileged kids during the World Cup next year. If you have any that you would like to donate they can either be sent to me at 279 Harborne Road , Birmingham B15 3JB or I can collect them.
Tuesday 3 November 2009
Full Council
Tuesday 3rd November
I have been at full council today - all the normal mud throwing. It only lasted for 4hours which is a record as it normally goes on for at least 6 hours. The main debates were over the transport policy, housing and the spending of the neighbourhood renewal funding. The main excitement came over the latter with lots of finger pointing and accusations.
I have been at full council today - all the normal mud throwing. It only lasted for 4hours which is a record as it normally goes on for at least 6 hours. The main debates were over the transport policy, housing and the spending of the neighbourhood renewal funding. The main excitement came over the latter with lots of finger pointing and accusations.
Allens Croft School Visit
Monday 2nd November
I had a variety of meetings around the city today including one with the Head Teacher of Allens Croft School. Among other things we discussed the Ofsted inspection that is coming soon, improvements within the school and the school’s role within the local community. I try to meet with people and groups within the ward on a regular basis to keep up to date with what they are doing.
I had a variety of meetings around the city today including one with the Head Teacher of Allens Croft School. Among other things we discussed the Ofsted inspection that is coming soon, improvements within the school and the school’s role within the local community. I try to meet with people and groups within the ward on a regular basis to keep up to date with what they are doing.
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