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March 2017 Friend of Golcar Library AGM
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2016-17 has been another busy year for me as many people have contacted me about their concerns which I always try to answer honestly.
I am delighted that the Friends of Golcar Library Group continues to flourish and elected me Chair for the current year. The group are maintaining their level of backing with over 20 people trained and supporting the single paid member of staff during opening hours. This year the group’s Events Organiser has been expanding on non-lending activities with a Ukulele band due to start in September 2017.
During the year I have also:
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the fight against the closure of Huddersfield’s Accident and Emergency Department |
- Supported, local groups Cowlersley, Golcar, Longwood and Golcar as well as the Colne Valley Business Network, and the Hands Off HRI demonstrations
- Tenants and Residents associations in these areas,
- The Golcar Lily Day committee and their Environment Group
- I am delighted the Colne Valley Museum opens each weekend after its Heritage Lottery funded renovations and look forward to its formal re-opening by the Lord Lieutenant.
- I am glad residents are pleased with the new fencing at Bridgecroft.
- I am delighted Milnsbridge’s Market Street parking was extended to allow vehicles park for up to 3 hours at a time and have had confirmation of a small amount of disabled parking being installed when the next Traffic Order is applied for.
One of the biggest challenges I am facing, along with most other councillors, is working within reduced budgets and with reductions in the levels of service the authority can provide due to these budget cuts. This has led to cutting back on services and the need for common sense in making spending decisions rather than the pursuit of projects based on need not day dreams.
Kirklees Council: what I am involved in
I regularly attend Council Meetings and I am actively involved in:
- Corporate and Governance Committee (Chair)
- I am a member of the Corporate Scrutiny Panel
- School Appeals Committee
- Colne Valley Area Forum of Kirklees Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations and various Golcar Ward Tenants and Residents Association meetings – all of which are likely to be affected by budget cuts.
- I also attend Labour Group meetings and annual training updating and other training.
Participation on Outside Bodies
I am an active member of:
- C & K Careers Ltd
- Kirklees School of Music, now called Musica
- West Yorkshire Pension Fund Advisory Group
Other interests:
- Colne Valley Museum
- Golcar Together
- Golcar Lily Day
- MEG (Milnsbridge Enhancement Group)
- School governor St John's School in Golcar and Crow Lane School, Milnsbridge
I have also made several visits to Royds Hall High School which now caters for children of 5-16 years old.
I was very impressed when I was taken round the new school a short while ago to see the school in action.
Finally, as the Chair of Friends of Golcar Library I have been involved in visiting school assemblies to explain about this year’s Summer Reading Challenge.
Here we see Karen Armitage, the group’s Volunteer Co-ordinator on the first day of registration for the 2017 Reading Challenge.
I not hold regular surgeries as, throughout the whole of the time I did hold them, I had only one person come to see me. However I regularly attend coffee mornings, and can be contacted by telephone, email or Facebook and can arrange to meet you at suitable times.
How to contact me:
Telephone: 01484 652922
Twitter: @Hilary_Richards
Facebook: Cllr Hilary Richards
