I was
elected to serve and represent the Dalton Ward on 5 May 2011 and therefore
after three full years this is my annual report for the last municipal year
Achievements During the
Year
Background to the Year
Financial
support cuts to local authorities, particularly in Northern England, -
originating from the central Coalition Government continue unabated – and they
are unfair in the way that the policy is being implemented. These cuts are
continuing to work their way through to the detriment of the services that the
Council is able to provide and this has started to affect us all in terms of
the services which we receive, and gives concern for our ongoing safe and
secure environment.
My Participation at Council
Meetings/Committees
-
Full Council Meetings (100%)
- Huddersfield Area Planning Committee (as Chair) (100%)
- Planning and Highways Committee
- Scrutiny Panel (Resources)
- Huddersfield Town Centre Neighbourhood Management Team
My Ward Work
-
Helping individual residents (details below)
- Dalton Ward Councillors Team with Council Services Officers
- Dalton Ward Communities Support Group
- Dalton Pact (- Police and Community Together)
- Area Forum – Dalton – (Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing)
- Narrowing the Gap Project Teams, Dalton (KNH)
- Front Line Workers Meetings, Dalton (KNH)
- Community First Panel
Tenant and Residents Meetings, which I try to attend:
-
Rawthorpe Tenants and Residents Association (TRA)
- Longfield and Ridgeway TRA
- Bradley Mills Road Residents Group
- Kirkheaton – Yetton Together
- Kirkheaton – Laneside Liasion Meetings
- Kilner Bank Improvement Group
- Roebuck Memorial Homes Trust (Management Trustee)
Helping Individual Residents - Taking action on Dalton Ward
residents issues
- I continue to work with my fellow Councillor colleagues, Peter and Naheed, and other local volunteers to carry out weekly mobile and transient Members Surgeries on Saturday mornings when circa 100/120 residents households are visited in streets on a random basis
- I have also conducted similar occasional surgeries giving residents the opportunity of discussions at the 370 and 371 Bus Stops ( - for Rawthorpe and Dalton) at Lord Street Huddersfield
- In addition I make myself available in person, by mobile phone or email to discuss various residents issues, and have always tried to report back and monitor progress on subsequent actions taken
- I have further attempted to ‘record and log’ significant matters raised with me by residents and I have to date 752 cases recorded on an individual basis. Many of these matters have been resolved, some are still progressing, and a few have not been possible to conclude for various reasons.
Other Local Activity
- I try to attend community events within the Ward like Galas, Fun Days, Exhibitions, Fayres and impromptu residents meetings
- I attend Kirklees Labour Group Meetings and Kirklees Unison Labour Link Meetings
- I attend numerous and very regular meetings with Council Officers in various services which provide support to residents in the Ward
- I consider that I have gained greater trust and respect from many residents across the Ward – from the Leeds Road corridor, through the Dalton and Rawthorpe estates to localities in Moldgreen and Waterloo, and upwards to Kirkheaton township
- My understanding and knowledge of the Dalton Ward continues to be enhanced as a consequence of the multiplicity of the actions I have conducted locally in support of individual residents – my background knowledge and understanding as a consequence of living for 35 years by the edge of the Ward at Aspley has been of great benefit
- There is a good and effective working relationship with my Ward colleague Councillors, Peter and Naheed, and working as a Team has improved the service we can offer to residents
- Over the past couple of years I believe there is a ‘better deal’ all round for residents in terms of local Councillor coordinated availability and responsiveness and I am pleased to have helped in promoting this
- The Community Ward Plan has progressed and developed significantly over the past year as a result of all 3 Councillors working with officers and residents cooperatively together for the common good of all within the Ward
Training and Development
I continue
to consider training and development opportunities, and in particular I attend
all locally required Planning Courses
My ongoing
professional membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors remains
in place. It assists in the contribution of a specialism that I am able to
offer in a number of ways
Challenges Ahead
The ongoing
actions of the Coalition Government in continuing to cut central grant support
unevenly, and on an unfair basis, make the challenges facing Northern urban
Councils extremely difficult to manage
My personal
philosophy of a collective view of society based on mutual responsibility,
co-operation and public service…….working together for the common good, whether
at neighbourhood level or on a wider basis, is now a serious personal challenge
in light of the Coalition Government’s year on year cuts in grant support for
our public services
If you have concerns, like me, or an issue relating to the service protection
of what we have previously enjoyed please get in touch. I believe I am
approachable, and I will try and do what I can – and what is possible
Cliff Preest
07890 384
363
Cliff.
Preest@kirklees.gov.uk