Annual Report 2016-2017: Cllr Sheikh Ullah

I have continued to work full time as a councillor, which have given me the ability to attend more events, respond to issues and inquiries more effectively, and get involved with a wider range of groups, organisations and individuals.

I have worked alongside many community & voluntary groups that are doing a brilliant job, despite limited resources.

We recently helped towards the install of a community defibrillator with the help of Marsh Community Forum, through a successful fund raiser and raised well over £2000, as well as helping the Hillhouse project form a steering group, I have also helped Paddock Village Hall for costs towards a new Kitchen, Friends of Greenhead Park for a bandstand & Friends of Norman Park for storage facilities all through District Committee Funding.

Chair District Committee Huddersfield

It has been a huge privilege to chair the Huddersfield District Committee, making important contributions across the district along with colleagues from across the 7 wards, I have worked in partnership with council services, community groups and partner organisations to support some essential programmes of work which have helped us deliver on our shared priorities.

I have ensured that public meetings have offered opportunities for local residents, youth councillors, and council services on important issues. These have included the Town Centre, Tackling Poverty, Comoodle, Kirklees Active Leisure, and community cohesion.

Our devolved budgets have supported high impact work for over 15 community groups, from small grants to enable them to make a huge difference through grassroots activities, these include:

• A town centre activity programme – the committee asked local residents for ideas on how we could generate footfall into the town centre we listened and acted by funding £53,000 into a programme of  7 activities that will take place in the town centre.
• Small grants have been awarded to local community groups contributing to priorities around: social isolation, bringing communities together, and environmental improvements.
• Increased partnership working in wards – councillors across a number of Huddersfield wards are strengthening their partnership structures in order to explore more collaborative ways of working to manage the impact of public sector cuts .

As the chair I am proud to have been a part of the District Committee and confident it will leave many legacies that will go on to support communities and enhance our town centre.

WARD WORK

Along with with my ward colleagues we have supported the “it’s up to you” community event where groups & individuals could apply for funding for small projects, we have also improved road safety and introduced several traffic calming measures within different parts of the ward this includes Speed indicators on Birkby Lodge Road, white line hatching at the bottom of Birkby Hall Road, and bollards to protect pedestrians.

We have continued to hold a street surgery most weeks throughout the year as well as producing and delivering different campaigning material.

 

What will be the challenges for me and the communities this year?

It is a very challenging time for the council as we face massive reductions in funding, I would encourage local groups to continue working together and I will continue to help provide the link and support they need wherever possible.

Kirklees has suffered about 40% cuts to its spending power, we will receive £50m less per year from government, which makes about £84m short of money over the four- period, and overall funding will shrink from £264m a year to £221m by 2019/20.

Services such as Street Scene, Dog Wardens, and Enforcement and Parks & Open spaces have all suffered cutbacks.

 

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

 

Council and Committee Meetings

Possible   44

Attended 41

Overall attendance 93%

Full Council Meeting

Annual Council

Huddersfield District Committee (chair)

Health & Social Care Scrutiny

Planning Huddersfield Sub Committee

I have also substituted on many committees throughout the year.

 

Training & Development

Planning training - including all updates

Licensing training - including all updates

LGA Officer / member relationship

LGA Labour Group Development session

LGA information & intelligence

Introduction to Kompass

Councillors & the third sector

Promoting tolerance & inclusion