This is my second annual report and covers what has been a very
busy year. I have had a large amount of case work to deal with covering
relatively simple things like blocked drains to the more difficult issues of
dealing with residents struggling to pay their rent due to the unfair bedroom
tax.
I am a trustee of the Denby Dale community project which is
working very hard with members of the local community to try to create a true
community facility, to house a library and local community groups. Despite a
huge amount of work from many people we are still looking for a significant
amount of money to complete the project.
Work is on going to try to secure the required funds.
This a true community project involving people from across
the political spectrum working together to try to create something of real
community benefit despite the unfair cuts in the Governments funding of local
Government.
We have the full backing of the Councils leader and the
Cabinet as we try to secure the funding to create the facility.
This is very much what could well be the future for local
communities as the Council cuts its budget and has to reduce services and the
buildings it operates to balance the books.
To
cope with the cuts in the Kirklees budget.
We will empower individuals to create safe, vibrant independent and
healthy communities.
This can be done by allowing communities, where they wish
and can demonstrate the ability to run their own facilities, we will give them
the existing assets, and it gave me great pleasure to ask cabinet to approve
the transfer of two of our buildings to two local organisations, and this is
the plan for the existing Denby Dale library, and hopefully many more as local people find local solutions to keep their services local.
Planning has been and will no doubt remain a major issue in
a rural ward like Denby Dale.
We have had two provisional open land sites where developers
have, due to the lack of an LDF, seen an opportunity to develop sites without any thought for the existing local residents and the impact these
will have on the local environment. We already have a creaking infrastructure,
with long waits to get an appointment at the doctors and our schools nearly full. Due to the current Government planning rules
we can’t object to these sites and there are more to come; all this is done at the expense of the existing residents.
There is a need for housing that is agreed by all political parties,
but it needs to be affordable and located in the correct
place; neither of the plans submitted so far are any of these.
THE CHALLENGE AHEAD
The next few years will be very difficult as we still need
to make savage cuts to our spending, these cuts will have a huge impact on the
services we offer and can supply. But we will balance the books: fairly, honestly and
co-operatively.
We will need to cut some services and remove others all
together and we know that this will not be popular, but we have no option. We
have been given less money from the Government so we have less to spend on our
communities.
We will see more opportunistic developers building
unsuitable homes in unsuitable places.
We will support local business to create local jobs
We need to keep as much spending in Kirklees as possible,
and that’s not just the Council but our residents as well, and as a cabinet we
will keep the Kirklees
pound in Kirklees. This generates spending in Kirklees and
creates jobs and wealth for all.
WARD WORK
I work hard in the local community to support local groups
and organisations. I have had several meetings with our local pressure groups
to discuss the problems associated with the withdrawal of the LDF. I keep in
touch with them and share information on changes in planning legislation and
planning applications.
I also keep a dialogue open with the anti wind farm group in
Birdsedge as they continue their objections to large unsuitable wind turbines
in their village, but as a member of the Planning Committee my advice and help
to them is governed by the rules of that committee. I would dearly like to be able to do more.
I am still a very active member of Denby Dale Parish Council
and am currently vice chair of the finance and general purposes committee.
I support the work of the Savoy Youth and community centre
in Skelmanthorpe, offering advice on many things including current grants that
are available and alternative funding streams etc and attend the centre as
often as I can.
COUNCIL COMMITEES
I am now cabinet member for resources, which is a difficult
role at this time but a challenge worth taking on. I have attended every
Council meeting since my election and all scheduled planning committees. I sit
on the Cabinet Committee - Local Issues, Cabinet (Holding Executive to Account) Employee Relations Sub-Committee.
EXTERNAL WORK
I am currently a trustee of the Denby Dale environment
trust, and am elected member of Denby Dale Parish Council having served on the
Council for 23 years. As part of my role on the Parish Council I am vice Chair
of the Finance committee and form part of the steering group which over sees
Andy Wickhams work our countryside office and forward plans his work
programme. I am a founding trustee of
the Denby Dale community project. I sit on the West Yorkshire Combined
Authority Scrutiny Committee. I am a
member of the heavy woollen planning committee, and represent Kirklees Council
on the District liaison committee of the West Yorkshire integrated transport
authority. I am a member of the new district committee, as well as been a
trustee of the Huddersfield historical buildings trust. I attend meetings of
the Kirklees North Tenants and residents association.
TRAINING AND DEVLOPMENT
I have attended an internal planning training update and an
external course on local government finances. I hope to carry out much more
training this year as my new role on cabinet will demand a new set of skills
This is a synopsis of the last year as room and time prevent
me putting down every thing from the last year so if you have something you
would like to discuss then please don’t hesitate to contact me.
