Dewsbury East Councillors Scott and Firth working with communities to fight Coronavirus

Councillor Shabir Pandor, Leaders of Kirklees Council said that it was great to see hardworking Kirklees Councillors Cathy Scott and Eric Firth working with local communities to fight coronavirus.

Cllr Cathy Scott Council Speech Place Based working

Thank you Mr Mayor

Never did I think that my passion for Place based working and councillors at the heart of it would be so rapidly pushed to the forefront because of what is happening today in our communities.

I know you will agree that this has placed significant challenges on our citizens and communities response to the pandemic across Kirklees, especially our most vulnerable. It has also highlighted the inequalities that already existed across this Country, and within our communities here in Kirklees. Which we are committed to addressing.  

Despite the challenges we have local councillors who have stepped up and been at the heart of that response, and we have all witnessed or been part of these acts of kindness and support that reflect the very best of our local communities and our public services. (Food Banks, Volunteering, support working and much more)

Volunteers, mutual aid groups, anchor organisations and the third sector have all been committed.  They have come together with the council and its partners to deliver a community response that has been fundamental in supporting local people through very difficult times. My appreciation goes to TSL, Batley Foodbank, 2020 Foundation, Chickenley Hub, Moonlight Trust Zachariah Mosque, Durha Islam, Moonlight Trust, Fusion Housing, Dewsbury South Covid 19 Action Group. 

I am sure when my other colleagues rise to speak they will mention others organisations. 

The report we are about to discuss captures the work that has taken, place over recent months to establish our community response.  The approach is indicative of our commitment to place based working, a commitment that is about working alongside our citizens in true partnership. (Bottom up). Place based work can lead to sustainable, innovative solutions that support local services to respond effectively, to individuals, families and their communities.

We have the biggest opportunity here to Lead our communities, facilitate or join/support work in partnership with organisation in the Voluntary sector.  I thought, I would share with you some words that have come through from our Citizens, community groups, volunteers, and what they want from us.

•       Brighter Future

•       Collaboration

•       Partnerships

•       Connection

•       Community

•       Listened too

•       Connectedness

•       Hope

This is an opportunity now for all councillors to shape and inform what happens next as we begin to enter a phase of recovery. Again I say who better that knows the local intelligence and support networks within their communities. You’re local Councillor.

Before I end I want to say a special Thank you to Jacqui and all your staff that continue to work tirelessly to provide service continuity, this is from the back office to the staff out there in our communities.

A special mention is to the members of KNH staff who have worked around the clock to ensure our Food networks and deliveries have been achieved.

Thank you to all Kirklees Councillors you are amazing you have started the journey on Place based working.

Annual Report 2018-19 Cllr Cathy Scott, Dewsbury East

                                                                                                                                       
                                    Click here to hear a message from Cllr Scott               

I would like to thank the Dewsbury East residents for all your continued support throughout the year.  My appreciation and thanks also go to my fellow ward councillors Eric Firth and Paul Kane for their continued support together we have challenged and supported services for our ward.

It’s been yet another interesting and challenging year, where I have continued to Chair the Democracy cross party working group. I was also appointed to Cabinet Leading Member on Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, Specialist Housing and supported Living, and leading Kirklees Democracy.

My role as councillor is even more demanding as the effects of some of the cuts from the council budget are having an impact on residents. The impact it is having within our communities, people need more support and help with Universal Credit, Universal Job Search, the PIP Assessment Child Tax Credits. There has been a rise in bereavement poverty were residents have contacted me who cannot afford to bury their parents. The lack of social housing and affordable housing has also added to local people’s frustration. Currently at the moment we have over 15,000 housing applications with less than 100 houses available. Every week the lists increases by approximately 100. We have a duty in Kirklees to support people to meet their basic needs in housing that is why we need to be innovative working in partnership with other partners and providers.

I am also conscious that for housing we need to look at the word “affordable” quite often is out of reach for local people. The whole area of housing needs revisiting from us supporting the council bringing its own land forward for development. Planning permission has been granted for 8 Council houses to be built in the Golcar area, which I’m looking forward to the completion.  Housing growth is a challenge across all tenures and provision types. 1,730 new homes are needed every year between 2013 and 2031, with an annual net imbalance of 1,049 affordable homes over the next five years. Market housing is out of reach for many. There is a commitment by the Council to enable and facilitate the delivery of 10,000 new homes by 2023, maximising the use of council owned land to provide 1,000 of those new homes.  I was delighted to present the Housing Strategy 2018 – 2023.

https://kirklees.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/353061/start_time/2337000?force_language_code=en_GB

https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/housing/pdf/kirklees-housing-strategy.pdf

Participation at Council Meeting Committees

In addition to attending all the Full Council meetings, please see below the other meeting I have been involved in.

You can click on the link to look at the webcast library of all the different meetings held by council.

https://kirklees.public-i.tv/core/portal/home

Cabinet
Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing

Licensing & Safety Committee 
Licensing chair meetings 
Planning Heavy Woollen Committee
Regulatory Panel 
Scrutiny Committee
TRA Meetings 

Democracy Cross Party working Group
Labour Group of councillors  

Dewsbury Forward
CSE Briefing Dr Peel

National Association of Councillors

I have outlined below some of the other meetings below to give you an insight of what I do.

Heavy Woollen Planning
I continue to enjoy my role on the Planning Committee. This is a very exciting role and allows me to be involved in decisions for new development, and regeneration of existing sites. We also look at physical and social impact on applications. 

Democracy Commission - Growing a stronger local democracy, from the ground up
I’m currently the portfolio lead and Chair for the cross party group. Kirklees Democracy Commission is finding out what we need to know to design democracy for the next generation in Kirklees.

Based on Residents and members feedback we have listened to their views and bring democracy closer to them. One area was to have a Question time in local area to ask question to the leaders of different political parties. This was also hosted at the Huddersfield University. There has been continued opportunities for online participation alongside every event, live webcast live wherever possible on all democracy cross party meetings.

Please click on the link to see the work we have done. http://www.democracycommission.org.uk/

Licensing Committee
The main responsibility of the Licensing Panel is to consider and decide upon licensing applications, if objections have been raised. This relates to premises selling alcohol for consumption either on or off the premises. The licence may also cover music, dancing or other forms of entertainment. The Panel would also consider some other types of licence application where there are objections or where Officers recommend refusal of the application.

The Panel consists of three Councillors who are drawn from the membership of the Licensing Committee.

Ward Work

I continually give the best advice and assistance to residents in Dewsbury East or signpost them to the relevant agencies. I attend as many local community group meetings as possible so I have a greater understanding of what is happening in the community. I’m also keen to support them in projects.

This work has been quite varied from housing needs to highway problems. This year has seen the rise in residents needing support in getting housed and sign posting residents to food banks. This is the reality of the government cuts and sanctions on welfare claimants this is also impacting on people who work they are also facing greater hardship and also using food banks. I enjoy working with people and taking up the challenges or resolving their issues and supporting them in lobbying for services in their area. I attend Tenants and Residents meetings throughout the ward. Also there has been the lack of dentist’s provision in Dewsbury. Dewsbury East councillors have used their ward budget to provide a Dentaid mobile surgery this was welcomed by local however it was a short term fix, I continue to lobby for dentists in the area.

As ever there have been many contentious issues throughout the ward from Planning to Licensing to bin collections. Budget cuts have affected households across Kirklees and will continue to do so as we are implementing cuts of £1 million pounds per week. The harsh reality is that the Council can no longer operate the way it did before and will be focussing on its statutory responsibilities.

Please click on the link: 

https://www.facebook.com/cathy.scott.5209/videos/10218884736255281/

Members Surgeries

My colleagues and I still hold regular surgeries at Dewsbury Town Hall. This gives residents the opportunity to get to know us in person and to raise their concerns and issues. We get a good gauge of the feelings of the community we serve towards the Council and their elected representatives. 

1st Wednesday of the month
Dewsbury Town Hall 6.00 - 7.00 pm

In the event you cannot attend you can make an appointment, and I will try and accommodate you as best I can.

Training and Development

In addition to receiving regular policy updates at Labour Group meetings, I have undertaken the following training and development 

Planning Training (UPDATE)
CSE Training with Dr Peel
Licensing Training (Update)
Safe Guarding Protocol Training

Risk and vulnerability Team

Annual Report 2017-2018: Cllr Cathy Scott

I would like to thank the Dewsbury East residents for all your continued support throughout the year and once again re-electing me to be your ward councillor. My appreciation and thanks also go to my fellow ward councillors Eric Firth and Paul Kane for their continued support.

It’s been an interesting and challenging year, where I continued part of the year as Chair of Kirklees Licensing Committee I was then appointed to Cabinet Leading on Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, Specialist Housing & supported Living, and leading Kirklees Democracy.

My role as councillor is even more demanding as the effects of some of the cuts from the council budget are having an impact on residents. The impact it is having within our communities, people need more support & help with Universal Credit, Universal Job Search, the PIP Assessment Child Tax Credits. The lack of social housing and affordable housing has also added to local people’s frustration. Currently at the moment we have over 12,000 housing applications with less than 200 hundred houses available.

I continually give the best advice and assistance to residents in Dewsbury East or signpost them to the relevant agencies. I attend as many local community group meetings as possible so I have a greater understanding of what is happening in the community. I’m also keen to support them in projects 

As ever there have been many contentious issues throughout the ward from Planning to Licensing to bin collections. Budget cuts have affected households across Kirklees and will continue to do so as we are implementing cuts of £1 million pounds per week. The harsh reality is that the Council can no longer operate the way it did before and will be focussing on its statutory responsibilities.

Participation at Council Meeting Committees

In addition to attending all the Full Council meetings I attend  

Chair Licensing & Safety Committee 
Taxi & Trade Association Meetings
Licensing chair meetings 
Planning Heavy Woollen Committee
Planning Committee Huddersfield 
Regulatory Panel 
Strategic Planning 
Corporate Governance & Audit Committee 
KFTRA Meetings 
Anti-Poverty meetings   
Labour Group of councillors  

I have outlined below some of the other meetings below to give you an insight of what I do.

Dewsbury District Committee
Through this role we have supported various groups and projects from the Dewsbury area to obtain vital funding for different things some examples are equipment for sport, Women’s Health groups, and community events. Linked with this I currently attend the town centre meetings as we continue to work on Dewsbury town centre.

Heavy Woollen Planning
I continue to enjoy my role on the Planning Committee. This is a very exciting role and allows me to be involved in decisions for new development, and regeneration of existing sites. We also look at physical and social impact on applications. 

Democracy Commission
I’m currently Commissioner for the above Panel. This group is a cross party group. Kirklees Democracy Commission is finding out what we need to know to design democracy for the next generation in Kirklees.

We have gathered research locally and nationally. Residents have taken part in our local democracy road show events across Kirklees, shared their views on an e-panel survey, taken part in group discussions and joined the debate online. There have been opportunities for online participation alongside every event, and the public inquiries were webcast live wherever possible.

Growing a stronger local democracy, from the ground up

http://www.democracycommission.org.uk/draft-report-key-themes/

Licensing Committee
The main responsibility of the Licensing Panel is to consider and decide upon licensing applications, if objections have been raised. This relates to premises selling alcohol for consumption either on or off the premises. The licence may also cover music, dancing or other forms of entertainment. The Panel would also consider some other types of licence application where there are objections or where Officers recommend refusal of the application.

The Panel consists of three Councillors who are drawn from the membership of the Licensing Committee.

Ward Work
This work has been quite varied from housing needs to highway problems. This year has seen the rise in residents needing support in Bedroom Tax & sign posting them to food bank. This is the reality of the coalition government through the cuts and sanctions on welfare claimants. I enjoy the challenge working with ward members resolving their issues and supporting them in lobbying for services in their area. I attend Tenants and Residents meetings throughout the ward. 

Members Surgeries
My colleagues and I still hold regular surgeries at Dewsbury Town Hall. This gives residents the opportunity to get to know us in person and to raise their concerns and issues. We get a good gauge of the feelings of the community we serve towards the Council and their elected representatives. 

1st Wednesday of the month
Dewsbury Town Hall 6.00 - 7.00 pm

In the event you cannot attend you can make an appointment, and I will try and accommodate you as best I can.

Training and Development
In addition to receiving regular policy updates at Labour Group meetings, I have undertaken the following training and development 

Planning Training (UPDATE)
Child Protection
CSE Training
Licensing Training
Safe Guarding Protocol Training
Dementia Training
Counselling skills
Mental Health First Aid for Adults
Mental Health First Aid for young people

Annual Report 2016-2017: Cllr Cathy Scott

I would like to thank the Dewsbury East residents for all your continued support throughout the year.

 

• It’s been an interesting year, where I have been appointed the Chair of Kirklees Licensing Committee.
• The role of the councillor is becoming even more intense as we start to see the effect of some of the cuts from the council budget. The impact it is having within our communities, people need more support & help with Universal Credit, Universal Job Search, the PIP Assessment Child Tax Credits. The lack of social housing and affordable housing has also added to local people’s frustration.
• I continue to give the best advice and assistance to residents in Dewsbury East or signpost them to the relevant agencies. I continue to attend as many local community group meetings as possible so I have a greater understanding of what is happening in the community. 

As ever there have been many contentious issues throughout the ward from Planning to Licensing to bin collections. Budget cuts have affected households across Kirklees and will continue to do so as we are implementing cuts of £1 million pounds per week. The harsh reality is that the Council can no longer operate the way it did before and will be focussing on its statutory responsibilities.

 

Participation at Council Meeting Committees

In addition to attending all the Full Council meetings I attend 

Licensing & Safety Committee
Taxi & Trade Association Meetings
Licensing chair meetings
Planning Heavy Woollen Committee
Planning Committee Huddersfield
Regulatory Panel
Strategic Planning
Corporate Governance & Audit Committee
KFTRA Meetings
Anti-Poverty meetings www.kirklees.gov.uk/tacklingpoverty
Labour Group of councillors 

I have outlined below some of the other meetings below to give you an insight of what I do.

Dewsbury District Committee
Through this role we have supported various groups and projects from the Dewsbury area to obtain vital funding for different things some examples are equipment for sport, Women’s Health groups, and community events. Linked with this I currently attend the town centre meetings as we continue to work on Dewsbury town centre.

Heavy Woollen Planning
I continue to enjoy my role on the Planning Committee. This is a very exciting role and allows me to be involved in decisions for new development, and regeneration of existing sites. We also look at physical and social impact on applications.

Democracy Commission
I’m currently Commissioner for the above Panel. This group is a cross party group. Kirklees Democracy Commission is finding out what we need to know to design democracy for the next generation in Kirklees.

We have gathered research locally and nationally. Residents have taken part in our local democracy road show events across Kirklees, shared their views on an e-panel survey, taken part in group discussions and joined the debate online. There have been opportunities for online participation alongside every event, and the public inquiries were webcast live wherever possible.

Licensing Committee
The main responsibility of the Licensing Panel is to consider and decide upon licensing applications, if objections have been raised. This relates to premises selling alcohol for consumption either on or off the premises. The licence may also cover music, dancing or other forms of entertainment. The Panel would also consider some other types of licence application where there are objections or where Officers recommend refusal of the application.

The Panel consists of three Councillors who are drawn from the membership of the Licensing Committee. 

Ward Work
This has been quite varied from housing needs to highway problems. This year has seen the rise in residents needing support in Bedroom Tax & sign posting them to food bank. This is the reality of the coalition government through the cuts and sanctions on welfare claimants. I enjoy the challenge working with ward members resolving their issues and supporting them in lobbying for services in their area. I attend Tenants and Residents meetings throughout the ward.

Members Surgeries
My colleagues and I still hold regular surgeries at Dewsbury Town Hall. This gives residents the opportunity to get to know us in person and to raise their concerns and issues. We get a good gauge of the feelings of the community we serve towards the Council and their elected representatives.

1st Wednesday of the month
Dewsbury Town Hall 6.00 - 7.00 pm

In the event you cannot attend you can make an appointment, and I will try and accommodate you as best I can.

Training and Development
In addition to receiving regular policy updates at Labour Group meetings, I have undertaken the following training and development

Planning Training (UPDATE)
Child Protection
CSE Training
Licensing Training
Safe Guarding Protocol Training
Dementia Training
Counselling skills
Mental Health First Aid for Adults
Mental Health First Aid for young people

Cllr Cathy Scott - Dewsbury East - Local Plan

Nobody wants to think that what they considered an idyllic view from their window is going to be blocked, ruined or spoiled by a new housing estate.

But the plain fact is that Kirklees like many other councils in this country have been instructed by the Government to deal with an unprecedented housing shortage.

We have tried to use existing premises in built up areas, like old mills, factories, hospitals, churches, even public houses to provide flats for those seeking housing accommodation.

That is alright for single people or young married couples without children, but families need larger accommodation, and we have no choice but to provide it.

There is a critical shortage of land for housing and this is why the Conservative government is now releasing green belt. They have told us we have to build houses in the next.....years

We have been told by the government that if we have any land in our ownership which we refuse to build on, then they will take it from us and give to builders free of charge.

Most of our much-needed housing estates, built in Dewsbury during the slum clearance schemes of the 1950s and 60s, were built on what would now be called Green Belt.

Indeed, thousands upon thousands of people in Dewsbury now live in houses which were once pastoral, like Thornhill, Whitley, Chickenley, and Dewsbury Moor.

Indeed, something like a thousand privately owned houses in the Bennett Lane area of Hanging Heaton were built on farmland belonging to the Savile Estate.

I have sympathy with the residents of Chidswell – I am one of them – and I too don’t want to lose the view from my kitchen window which I have enjoyed for the past 17 years.

But in many ways we are helpless in our choice as to where we now build houses, but we have to ensure that where houses are to be built have to be thoroughly looked into. We will do that.

We also have the infrastructure to consider, roads and drainage etc..., and we will ensure that in this rush to build houses, now going on throughout the country, we will not overlook these important issues. They will be thoroughly looked into and as many issues raised by residents we must try to minimise, resolve or overcome.

 

Personally I pledge to do that.  I believe we should find some way to involve nearby residents in what we are doing, involve them in the process.  Their voices should be listened to. Their fears allayed, because I don’t think their complaints are just about losing idyllic views.

They have fears that they will lose their privacy, fears of being overlooked, fears of heavy traffic and noise during the building process.

Will there be enough school places to accommodate the children moving in, increased traffic, access etc.

We must not ignore their fears. We must listen to them. This should not be a battle which someone will win and others will lose.

We cannot be seen as the villains of the piece, greedily grabbing every piece of land and riding rough-shod over people who have lived in a community all their lives.

Even the tiniest piece of land is now being scrutinised to see if houses can be built on it. The Government is watching to make sure we do this.

In my ward alone, Dewsbury East I have seen houses and flats built on areas of land which at one time I would not have thought possible. I doubt if years ago they would have even been given planning permission. Today it is different.

 

At the top of Chickenley Lane, where a church once stood, I saw in no time at all after its demolition houses were built there.

On land adjoining the Rams Stadium, houses were built and are occupied as quick as they are built. In Batley Carr, two churches have been pulled down in recent months and

Houses built there....Where Dewsbury General Hospital once stood; hundreds of houses have been built.

Where the Municipal Buildings were situated, there are now apartments, further down the road where Mark Oldroyd’s Mill stood, there are many, many more apartments, and across the road where Machells Mill stood, there are flats.

Even parts of Caulms Wood has been used for housing and in Crackenedge Lane, a housing association has provided flats to provide sheltered accommodation.

 

Pieces of land in built-up areas have been utilised and I  have seen houses built in places where I thought houses could never have been built – on tiny pieces of land..

Even landmark buildings like the Reporter Office, are now apartments, and so are many of the buildings nearby.

There is a housing revolution going on, and I am concerned that we deal with this crisis  in the right way.

Almost every available piece of land is being utilised for housing. There is none left in built-up areas. That is the stark fact.

We are being forced to move into the Green Belt and the government is urging us to do so.

Large old houses which still have much life in them are being demolished to make way for more houses to be built in their gardens – five houses where once there was one. Incredible.

The bedroom tax imposed on us by the Government is just one example of the wrong kind of thinking to tackle this crisis, now proved to be unlawful.

We have to think long and hard where we now build houses. Yes, houses have to be built. We cannot ignore that fact, and land has to be found.

Tragically, great swathes of lovely unspoiled land, some of them local beauty spots, may have to be used. Where else can we build?

The way we now live our lives has contributed to the housing shortage, as well as newcomers coming to live in this country.

When marriages split up – two houses have to accommodate a man and his wife, children leave home early and want to live on their own, something which never happened in the past.

People live longer and therefore they live in their homes longer. Our world is changing – but an English man’s home is still his castle and we ignore that at our peril.

Build by all means but do it sensitively.  Do not allow as many houses as possible to be built on a piece of land.

If we own the land, we must not try to get the highest price just to balance our books, but must work with the builders to get the best possible houses as possible.

Let us not forget that when we were building council houses in the 1950s and 60s we built them to the highest standard, much better than houses being built in the private sector.

We have to look at ways of working with the developers to make sure they are not skimping and building houses where they will overlook the houses of those who will be losing their views.

We should not be building, one on top of the other, we must think – “What would we as a council build here if we were going to be the landlords or owners?”

Instead of asking developers to give us money to put back into the local community, let them use that money to make the area look attractive to those who are overlooking it.

 
If that sounds like pie in the sky I am sorry. I think it is possible. We have to think what we would feel if it was happening on our doorstep, devaluing our property, affecting our peace of mind. 

Cllr Cathy Scott: Annual Report 2015-2016

I continue working throughout the Dewsbury East community with those who need it most. The role of the councillor is becoming even more intense as we start to see the effect of some of the cuts from the council budget and the impact it is having within our communities. With the depleting resources I try to give the best advice and assistance to young & elderly or signposting them to the relevant agencies. I try to attend as many local community groups as possible so I have a greater understanding of what is happening in the communities.

• In 2015 I retained my position in cabinet and continue to a share a portfolio “Housing, Streetscene & Tackling Poverty”
• Streetscene and other front line services contribute to the overall vision of the council. Cabinet has a clear vision to focus on working with communities & partners to create towns and neighbourhoods that are successful and vibrant.
• The aim is to maintain service and confidence at same time managing people’s expectations. Recognising Budget constraints will continue to be relentless and significant for the foreseeable future. The difficult economic situation is having impact in relation to investment levels, business and growth, how our towns and neighbourhoods feel and function.
• There are consequences also for communities, families and individuals – motivation, aspiration, household incomes all having an effect in particular the welfare reforms.

 
In addition to attending all the Full Council meetings I attend

• Cabinet meetings
• Cabinet Local Issues
• Asset Board Meeting
• Housing Delivery Board
• KFTRA Meetings
• KNH Meetings
• Anti-Poverty meetings  www.kirklees.gov.uk/tacklingpoverty
• Neighbourhood Management Meetings
• Labour Group of councillors.

I have outlined below some of the other meetings below to give you an insight of what I do.

 

Dewsbury Area Committee

Through this role we have supported various groups and projects from the Dewsbury area to obtain vital funding for different things some examples are equipment for sport, local history groups, and community events. I currently attend the town centre meetings as we continue to strive for better services for Dewsbury.

 

Heavy Woollen Planning

I continue to enjoy my role on the Planning Committee. This is a very exciting role and allows me to be involved in decisions for new development, and regeneration of existing sites. We also look at physical and social impact on applications.

 

Dewsbury East Neighbourhood Management Group

I’m currently still involved in the NMG for the Dewsbury. This group a multi-agency approach for the wards. It involves the Police, Young People's Services, Fire Service, Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, and Environmental Services. The key issues that we look at tackling crime, anti-social behaviour and environmental issues. 

 

Housing Delivery Board

This board was set up as a result of a motion I brought & had approved by council in November 2014. It is to address the growing housing crisis in Kirklees. The board has ongoing list of programmes it contributes to the aims of delivering the motion and also reports all progress. Through this board working with Kirklees Neighbourhood housing & KCA we have made great achievements this year. Some examples are buying back former right to buy properties. We have brought forward Council owned land for New Homes. We have achieved the empty cluster target these are homes within the town centre in Dewsbury & Huddersfield. We have also brought forward council owned small sites to give the opportunity to smaller businesses to build houses.

 

Ward Work

This has been quite varied from housing needs to highway problems. This year has seen the rise in residents needing support in Bedroom Tax & sign posting them to food bank. This is the reality of the coalition government through the cuts and sanctions on welfare claimants.  I enjoy the challenge working with ward members resolving their issues and supporting them in lobbying for services in their area. I attend Tenants and Residents meetings throughout the ward.

 

Member Surgeries

My colleagues and I still hold regular surgeries at Dewsbury Town Hall. This gives residents the opportunity to get to know us in person and to raise their concerns and issues. We get a good gauge of the feelings of the community we serve towards the Council and their elected representatives.

 

1st Wednesday of the month

Dewsbury Town Hall 6.00 - 7.00 pm

 

In the event you cannot attend you can make an appointment, and I will be glad to call and see you.

  

Training and Development

In addition to receiving regular policy updates at Labour Group meetings, I have undertaken the following training and development

 

• Planning Training (UPDATE)
• Child Protection
• CSE Training
• Safe Guarding Protocol Training
• Housing Delivery& Impact
• Housing Seminar Welfare Reform: The Implications for Housing and Local Government

 

 

Talking Housing Policy - Kirklees Cabinet and John Healey MP

Cllr Steve Hall, Cllr Cathy Scott, John Healey MP,
Cllr Graham Turner, and Leader of Kirklees Council
Cllr David Sheard (not pictured, Cllrs McBride and Kendrick)

Member of the Labour Cabinet met recently with John Healey MP, the shadow housing Minister, to discuss the housing crisis.

Over a 2 hour meeting many ideas where discussed on how the current housing crisis in Kirklees could be addressed. 

John took on board the comments from the Cabinet, and is to feed this back to his team. These will contribute to developing policies to help address the current Government's abject failure to ensure a decent home for all. 

Ensuring everyone in Kirklees has access to a decent home is a priority of the Cabinet, and they will look at all the possible options to achieve this. 




 

Annual Report 2014/2015: Cllr Cathy Scott

I continue working with residents of the Dewsbury East ward. Giving advice and assistance to young & elderly or signposting them to the relevant agencies. I try to attend as many local community groups as possible so I have a greater understanding of what is happening in the communities.

In 2014 I retained my position in cabinet and my portfolio is “Place” in simple terms I look after Council Housing and building houses for the future also poverty relief, waste & Streetscene. The years ahead will see a changing council where we are no longer able to deliver services as we have before.

Streetscene and other front line services contribute to the overall vision of the council. Cabinet has a clear vision to focus on working with communities & partners to create towns and neighbourhoods that are successful and vibrant.

The aim is to maintain service and confidence at same time managing people’s expectations. Recognising Budget constraints will continue to be relentless and significant for the foreseeable future. The difficult economic situation is having impact in relation to investment levels, business and growth, how our towns and neighbourhoods feel and function.

There are consequences also for communities, families and individuals – motivation, aspiration, household incomes all having an effect in particular the welfare reforms.

Participation at Council Meeting Committees
In addition to attending all the Full Council meetings and the meetings of the Labour Group of councillors I have also attended the following:

Dewsbury District Committee
Through this role we have supported various groups from the Dewsbury area to obtain vital funding for different things some example's are equipment for sport, local history groups, community events. I continue to lobby through the District Committee with other councillors to strive for better Health services for Dewsbury. I am also a member of the Regeneration board for Dewsbury and last year it has successfully seen funding of 2m from the Heritage Lottery Fund and 1.7m from Kirklees council over 5 years. Dewsbury Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI). Is a scheme that can offer grant funding to help the community protect and improve buildings in Dewsbury through restoration. The good news is local shop keepers have signed up to this initiative. Over the next few years we will see the changing face of the Northgate quarter in Dewsbury.

Heavy Woollen Planning
I continue to enjoy my role on the Planning Committee. This is a very exciting role and allows me to be involved in decisions for new development, and regeneration of existing sites. We also look at physical and social impact on applications

Dewsbury East Neighbourhood Management Group
I’m currently still involved in the NMG for the Dewsbury. This group a multi-agency approach for the wards. It involves the Police, Young People's Services, Fire Service, Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, and Environmental Services. The key issues that we look at tackling crime, anti-social behaviour and environmental issues. 

Dewsbury Children’s Centre Advisory Board
I currently chair the Children’s centre advisory board. The Advisory Board is a partnership that has developed links with parents and a wide range of services and agencies where each represent the interest of children, young people and families.

Participation on Outside Bodies
SITA Board

Ward Work

This has been quite varied from housing needs to highway problems. This year has seen the rise in residents needing support in Bedroom Tax & sign posting them to food bank. This is the reality of the coalition government through the cuts and sanctions on welfare claimants. I enjoy the challenge working with ward members resolving their issues and supporting them in lobbying for services in their area. I attend Tenants and Residents meetings throughout the ward.

Members Surgeries

My colleagues and I still hold regular surgeries at Dewsbury Town Hall. This gives residents the opportunity to get to know us in person and to raise their concerns and issues. We get a good gauge of the feelings of the community we serve towards the Council and their elected representatives.

1st Friday of month
Dewsbury Town Hall 6.00 - 7.00 pm

In the event you cannot attend you can make an appointment, and I will be glad to call and see you.


Training and Development

In addition to receiving regular policy updates at Labour Group meetings, I have undertaken the following training and development

Planning Training (UPDATE)
Child Protection Training
CSE Awareness Training (Kirklees Safeguarding board)


Once again thank you for your support, and please don’t hesitate to contact should you need my help. 07786983846.