Annual Report Year May 2018
to May 2019
Cllr Mohan Sokhal MBE JP Greenhead Ward
On 20th April 2019 I have completed
30 years as an elected member on Kirklees Council to represent the Residents of
formerly Paddock Ward and now Greenhead Ward. So it’s a great honour for me to
continue to serve my Residents across the boundaries’ of Greenhead Ward and see
people as individuals and Groups in all areas from Paddock, Marsh, Edgerton,
Springwood, Gledholt , Birkby, Fartown , Hillhouse Lane, Cowcliffe and Norwood
Estate.
Surgeries-
I work full time as a
Councillor alongside my colleagues Councillor Sheikh Ullah and Councillor
Carole Pattison With them I have spent almost every weekend out in the Ward
knocking on doors, offering help and getting to know the issues that faces
residents on a daily basis
I have dealt with numerous
cases of individual enquires such as immigration cases, writing letters of
support. I have signed several passport Applications and Driving and Licensing
applications during this year.
I have alongside with my Ward
colleagues carried out Mobile and Street Surgeries every Saturday mornings and
Home visits on Sundays. Dealt with missed Bin collections, dog fouling, yellow/
white lines Fly Tipping, pot holes and planning applications issue
Areas of Focus
As a Council we are facing
tough financial challenges. The amount of money we receive from central
Government is decreasing every year. This means we have to reshape our services
and make changes to what we do and the way we do it.
Crime and Anti-Social
Behaviour-
Some parts of our Ward such
as Birkby/Fartown have seen an increase in crime such as Gun shooting,
robberies, drug dealing and Ant- Social behaviour. We the three Ward Councillors
have worked closely with the Police and Safer Kirklees, speaking to them on a
regular basis as well as meeting with the Huddersfield Chief Inspector. Council
officers had intensive engagement with local residents. As a result there has
been much improvement in Birkby/ Fatown and other parts of our Ward.
New Primary School Edgerton- Although Building work has been delayed but
Reception Classes have been started to improve
the over scribed School admissions in other Schools
Birkby & Fartown Library—As the Birkby/ Fartown Community Centre building has
been taken over by the Birkby Junior School for the expansion of other four class
rooms, we are working hard with the Community and Council officers to relocate
these facilities within the walking distance of Library. Feasibility study is
underway with regard to scale, design and cost, discussions are going on and I
am confident this will take place in the very near future.
Hill Community Fund— we are extremely pleased that Hill house one of the
most deprived area of our Ward have some investment to install green measures
and energy efficacy to homes. This has been generated from the feed in tariff
of solar panels. We are working with residents, Housing officers to ensure each
houses was surveyed and presented with a number of options to make their homes
warmer.
Fly tipping- this is a major
problem not only in our Ward but all over Kirklees. We have worked with Council
officers and local residents and successfully caught and prosecuted a number of
people through a combination of CCTV and other evidence from the scene.
Business Manager (Chief Whip)
I have been appointed
Business Manager of Labour Group in the year of2018/19.
My role in brief was to
ensure that Labour Group Members were aware of the Group Policies and that
Group Members vote in accordance with the Group policies when required. Liaise
between the Group Leadership and Group Members, ensuring the comments and
information were fed back from members to the Leadership.
I have been monitoring the
attendance levels of Labour members at Labour Group, Full Council and
Committees meetings.
Also I prepared the Whip
reports for sitting Councillors who wished to stand again in Local Elections.
Also I taken disciplinary
actions against members who failed to pay Council Taxes and dealt with some
complaints from members of public and of the Labour Party.
Attendance- Local community groups and Organisations
I attended the Local communities
Group and Organisations meetings such as Sikh Leisure centre, Marsh Forum, BIRKBY
and Far town activities events, Friends of Greenhead Park, Norman Park, Ward
and NMG, Hillhouse Greening Gap, Greenhead Ward Branch Labour Party and
Huddersfield CLP meetings.
Also I attended Colne Valley
Constituents meetings regularly and updated Council Businesses.
Full Council and Committees
Meetings
From May 2018 to May 2019 I
attended all the Full Council meetings- attendance record 100% and Labour Group
meetings attendance record 100%
The following Committees and Sub Committees and Panels
attended-
Standards Committee and
Assessment Panels
Huddersfield Planning Sub Committees
Heavy Woollen Planning Sub
Committee
Strategic Planning Committee
Licensing and Safety
Committee
Kirklees Active Leisure
Business Managers Meetings
As a Sub. I attended many
Corporate Governance Audit committee and strategic planning committee meetings
Overview Scrutiny and
Management Committee Call in meeting
West Yorkshire Pension Funds
as a Sub.
Also I attended and took part
in LDF Sessions
Training and learning sessions
I have attended many training
events and updates-
2018/9
LGA your Leadership offer.
Representing in a
digital
LGA New Demands
Councillor and the third
Sector
2018/19
Licensing and Safety
committee Training
Planning Committees training
Early intervention and prevention
Business Manager Training January
Child and sexual
exploitation.
Effective Member officer
Relationship
Labour Group Development
Seminars-
Mohan
12th September
2019
