Annual Report 2013-2014: Cllr Judith Hughes

My ward colleagues and I work together, across the Greenhead Ward, to help individual residents , voluntary and community groups and local business covering Paddock, Marsh, Edgerton, Gledholt, Highfields, Springwood, Birkby, Fartown, Hillhouse and Cowcliffe.

I am an active councillor in the ward and regularly hold street surgeries, I enjoy face to face contact with residents, I believe a lot of the public feel disconnected from politicians  and speaking with residents helps to bridge this gap.

I have also been involved in raising domestic abuse awareness across Kirklees which has resulted in the Labour group making it a council priority for 2014/5.

During the year, I have alongside my Ward colleagues, carried out mobile surgeries every Saturday morning as well as attending community events.

Local Achievements

We introduced the one way system on Blacker Road and a customer parking scheme for people who visit the Shops.We successfully campaigned to remove the boulders which were blocking the access to the car park in Marsh.

We worked with shop owners in Marsh and Birkby to improve security and enhance the local area and have prevented any new take-aways from opening in Marsh.

We successfully campaigned to prevent a large wedding banqueting hall from opening and attracted a new business to the former DIY store in Marsh.

Successfully combining the children centres of Birkby/Fartown & Paddock - The Childrens’ centre since the cut in its budget has increased its activities as I have encouraged local groups to apply for outside funding to supplement the core activites run by the council.

Many roads surfaces have been renewed such as Springwood Hall Gardens, Blacker Road and Thornhill Road.

Greenhead Park improvements: I supported a new Petanque Court and a New Bowling Pavilion was also opened.

Every year we get Christmas trees in Paddock, Marsh and Birkby. 

Challenges for the year ahead

We are facing some challenges in Greenhead Ward as follows:

· Lack of suitable and affordable housing provision
· Tackling poverty and high rates of unemployment
· High rate crime including Domestic Abuse
· School Admissions are oversubscribed.
· Lack of Leisure activities for young people
· Isolation in the elderly community
· Pressure of migration of different nationalities particularly from Eastern Europeans settling within the ward.
· Health and wellbeing of local community—high levels of diabetes/ heart diseases/ breast cancer and also vitamin D deficiencies. Very high in South Asian communities.

Chair of Huddersfield Area Committee 2012-2014

I was the chair of Huddersfield Area committee from 2012 to 2014 the priorities of the committee were to tackle poverty across the 7 wards in the committees remit, Ashbrow, Almondbury, Crosland Moor and Netherton, Dalton, Greenhead, Lindley and Newsome. I encouraged partnership working between the councillors, council officers, voluntary and community groups as well as members of the public.  Through my role as Huddersfield Area committee chair I highlighted poverty within Huddersfield, the main themes that were discussed were domestic abuse, unemployment, fuel poverty as well as the impact of mental health on poverty.

Vice Chair of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (2012-2014)

I was also the vice chair of the Executive committee and the Consultation and Negotiation panel
I was also a member of the Human resources committee and the Community Safety Committee.

Attendance

Local Community Group and Organisations
I am a committee member of the Marsh forum.
I also help found the Trinity/Greenhead residents association.
I also regularly attend the Friends of Greenhead park meetings.
I support many other groups in the ward such as the Birkby Library parents group, Buzzabouts, the Greenhead childrens centre family forum.
I also chair the Community First panel within the ward.
I am also a trustee on the National Childrens Research board.
I also chair the Neighbourhood management group in the ward as well as the Street-scene meetings which are attended by my ward colleagues council officers,  and representatives from the voluntary & community sector.

Council Meetings and Committees

From May 2013 to May 2014 I have attended all the Full Council meetings and the following committees or panels:

· Scrutiny panel Health & Well Being
· Task group on Sexual Health for the under 25’s
· Huddersfield Planning Sub Committees
· Huddersfield Area Committee

Outside Bodies

· Birkby and Fartown Children Advisory Board
· Marsh Forum
· NMG Huddersfield
· Regular meetings with Highways officers and NMG
· Vice Chair of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
· Partnership Executive Group with the PCC
· Association of Metropolitan Fire & Rescue Authorities
· Local Government Yorkshire & Humber
· Local Government Fire Commission
· Local Government Regional assembly
· Member Peer For the Local Government association and recently conducted a review in Equality and Diversity at Nottinghamshire Fire Service

Training

I have attended Council’s workshops Seminars on Full Council meetings and Labour Group seminars

· Attended Planning Annual update Training
· Attended a Workshop with NWG on Child Sexual Exploitation
· Attended Next Generation Leaders course with the LGA
· Attended a Leadership academy on Fire & Rescue services
· Attended a workshop on Financial capability with Leeds City Council
· Attended a Masterclass with the LGA on Domestic Abuse Homicide Reviews