It is a privilege to continue to serve the residents of
the Greenhead ward. I
would like to thank the people who have placed their trust in me to represent
them and I will do the best I can for all the residents of the ward. I
have particularly enjoyed seeing the fantastic work that local Volunteer’s, Community
groups, Friends of Groups do in such difficult circumstances.
It has been a very challenging year and I have dealt with
a number of individual pieces of Casework and enquiries.
We
work all year round on issues such as community safety, road and pavement
improvements, Community clean up’s and much more. We have been working hard to
reduce crime, improve litter and the removal of rubbish and for the provision
of better more accessible services for families, individuals & groups.
Surgeries
Residents contact me by telephone,
post or e-mail to ask for help and advice and
Most Saturday’s my ward
colleagues and I proactively visit several streets to ask residents if we can
provide any advice or assistance. This also helps us to keep in touch with what
is going on in particular areas and listen to the feelings of local residents.
I also pick up a significant amount of ward work when visiting local groups.
Challenges
As a council we are dealing with the
challenges in huge reductions in funding and government cuts. The council is
unable to provide the services that it has done traditionally, I would encourage
local groups to work together, and I will support them wherever possible and
help provide the link and support needed so we concentrate on supporting people
and communities to do more for themselves, ensuring that we intervene early in
that support to prevent future problems.
- The council wants to ensure there is a strong local economy to provide jobs and services to residents , we will be concentrating on working for you , our constituents
- Keep vulnerable people safe, help them stay in control of their lives
- Support communities to do more for themselves and each other
- Focus on understand and meeting the needs of local people
- £129M cuts so far, £104M by 2020
Ward Activities
·
We have participated in a number of Community Clean
ups most recently at Poplar St/ Scholes Rd. It took a full day to complete, and
we are supporting residents to form a group to preserve and maintain the upkeep
of the area.
·
I have also taken part in the NCS programme
which is a 3-4 week programme that helps 15-17 years old build confidence and
self-belief. A huge thanks to all the external groups that helped with the
funding of plants, a bench and tools.
·
Due to regular cars mounting pavements on
Westbourne road outside KFC we have worked with residents, and our highways
safety team have designed a scheme to install traffic bollards on the footpath
towards the edge of the carriageway which will help eliminate overruling of the
footpath.
·
We have delivered regularly democracy sessions
within local schools to help children with decision making, talk about the role
of a councillor, and what the council does and the services it provides.
·
Councillors also helped turn a disused part of
green space into a Community Wildlife Garden, Situated off the footpath between
Ponyfield Close and Birkby Lodge Road. We helped them contact the right
officers within Kirklees council to support them to set-up and form a group,
access funding for tool and equipment hire.
It was really
great news to hear that the Friends of Norman Park War memorial has been added to the List of Buildings of Special
Architectural or Historic Interest. The memorial is now listed at Grade II.
The
group have worked extremely hard for this, well done to everyone involved.
Local Community Groups and Organisations
Friends of Greenhead Park
Friends of Norman Park
Marsh Community Forum
Trinity & Greenhead TRA
Bradcroft TRA
Hillhouse Community Project
Birkby Community
Wildlife Gardens
Birkby Community
Clean – up Group
Paddock Village
Community Trust
Council and Committee Meetings
As well as attending every council meeting
I have sat on the following Committees/Sub Committees.
Annual Council
Huddersfield Planning Committee
Health & Social Care Scrutiny
Children’s Scrutiny Panel (since May 2018)
Appeals Panel
Labour Group
Throughout the year I have also regularly
substituted on various panel to support the group.
Training & Development
Planning –
UPDATE
Corporate Parenting
LGA Officer / Member Relationship
LGA information & intelligence
CSE
