Annual Report 2018-19 Councillor Darren O'Donovan Dewsbury West

The past year has been another challenging but worthwhile and enjoyable one.

Myself and ward colleagues have responded to fly tipping, pot holes, highway safety, school admission, housing, waste collection and benefits issues from all corners of Dewsbury west.

Fly tipping remains a challenge for our ward as a minority of people choose to leave rubbish at the road side rather than use council services for collections.

I've completed an enlightening year working on the children's scrutiny panel where I've been clear with my opinion to give every child the best resources at the right time and to offer emotional well being support to children that need it.

This past year I've also served as Chair of West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Community Safety Committee. It has been particularly rewarding on this to support officers keeping residents of West Yorkshire as safe as possible.

During 2018/19, Dewsbury councillors were able to secure the funds needed for the town centre Christmas lights switch on event which was a huge success. We also developed the primary school study clubs that were proudly started by Dewsbury west councillors back in 2012 and have since expanded across of all of Dewsbury.

During this past year Dewsbury west councillors wrote to carers in our ward to offer our support and recognition of what they do. Carers often have difficult but rewarding rolls for family and friends   and it's right that we do all we can to support them.

Tackling health, housing and education inequalities remains the ultimate challenge of 2019/20. We also continue to speak on behalf of Dewsbury west at Council meetings.

Dewsbury west Councillors remain accessible for all our constituents via surgeries, telephone, email, text and social media.

Annual Report 2016-2017: Cllr Mumtaz Hussain

This year has been very challenging for me, in representing my constituency for the Dewsbury West Ward. The work load has increased, as have the number of people with different types of issues from all sectors within my ward. Although the workload is increasing annually, I can say I enjoy serving the community. I have gained a lot of experience from meeting different people from different communities. I have also met numerous amounts of people, in my ward that I have either become friends with or regularly been in contact with. I have been representing the Dewsbury West Ward, from all sectors of the community. As from my previous term, I have done a huge amount of work within the ward that I represent. I enjoy working as a local councillor and always try my best to strive for positive results within the local community. 

 

Council Meetings attended: 

• Dewsbury Area Committee & Sub Committee 
• Full Council meetings 
• Labour Group 

Participation of Outside Bodies: 

• West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel 
• Ravensthorpe community centre 
• The greenwood centre 
• Dewsbury west centre 
• Salfia Centre 
• Local mosques and churches 

Ward work: 

Anti-Social Behaviour Liaised closely with Police and other agencies to look at and address ASB, alcohol and drug related issues across the ward. 

Planning – I have written letters of support and represented constituents at Planning Committees. 

Road Safety – Supported and campaigned for traffic calming measures across the ward. 

Worked very closely with taxi trade to help with their issues across Kirklees. 

 

Ward surgeries: 

I have held street surgeries across my ward. 

 

Training & Development: 

Training and development is ongoing. I attend all necessary training courses and seminars to improve and develop my knowledge as well as my skills.

Annual Report 2016-2017: Cllr Darren O'Donovan

It's been a very rewarding year for me in Dewsbury west.

Over the year myself and ward colleagues have supported the formation of 3 new TRAs in the Dewsbury Moor and Scout Hill areas and continued to support the existing TRAs and other residents groups.

During the early intervention and prevention consultation we met with cabinet members and senior officers to ensure the appropriate offer of children's services in our ward.

Following those discussions we pleased to see that our sure start centre in Dewsbury Moor was kept as part of our future offer. We were really pleased that families with children would continue to have access to this valuable service in our ward.

As part of last years district committee we funded the development of community activities in scout hill, a project in Dewsbury Moor to support young girls, a day trip for people with dementia and their carers and contributed towards a job and skills project help support people in Dewsbury.

Having listened to constituents all over the ward we grew an understanding of the impact that fly tipping, littering and general lack of environmental amenity had on people's lives. With this in mind we developed a ground breaking pilot project to tackle these issues. We secured over £20,000 for the ward to run some environmental improvement schemes in target areas.

Myself and ward colleagues with our local MP have continued to support the campaign to save vital services at Dewsbury and District Hospital. We will continue to represent your views on this going forward.

During last years changes to the councils museums and art galleries services, we supported local residents in forming the group that now is working towards a positive future for the mansion house at crow nest park.

Supporting people to take part in sport and increase their physical activity and improve their health and well being has been high on our ward agenda. We contributed to the funding for the summer activity programme that has developed all over Dewsbury.

For the second year funding has been provided for the primary schools year 6 study clubs. Last years clubs resulted in the pupils at all of our Dewsbury way primary schools achieving higher levels in literacy and numeracy. This also have them a greater confidence and really boosted their self esteem.

During 2017/18 myself and ward colleagues will continue to be there for anyone needing advice regarding council services. We will continue to represent you and fight for the things that matter to you most.

Annual Report 2016 - 2017: Cllr Mussarat Pervaiz

It has been a huge privilege and honour to represent the Dewsbury West ward. I would personally like to thank the supporters and volunteers that gave up so much time to help me, and as I said before I will represent you and not let you down.

I have worked full time as a councillor, I attended events, community groups, and meetings across Dewsbury West. I have responded to issues and enquiries from residents supporting them with their housing needs, passports application, school placements and appeals. In the past year I have helped support volunteers, community groups to do clean up campaigns around the area. 

Along with my colleagues Cllr Mumtaz Hussain & Cllr Darren O’Donovan we supported the “You & Your Community “event were community groups could apply for small funding bids and members of the public where invited to vote on the favourites this was awarded to various different groups. I have also supported bids through the District Committee.

Challenges for the year ahead

As a council we are dealing with the challenges from national Government and huge reductions in funding and government cuts, the council is unable to provide the services that it has done before, I need to continue to encourage local people and groups to work together, and I will support them wherever I can.

Local Community Group and Organisations - I am involved with:

Ravensthorpe Action Group
Rags

Council Meetings and Committees
Full Council  
Dewsbury District Committee  
Labour Group

Outside Bodies I sit on

KCA Housing Board

Training or learning I have undertaken

New Councillors Induction
Planning Training
CSE training  
Mental Health
Dementia

Eric Middleton - The Labour Candidate for Ravensthorpe in 1951

ERIC MIDDLETON 1951

Annual Report 2015-2016: Cllr Mumtaz Hussain

This year has probably been one of my busiest years in representing my constituents and residents of the Dewsbury West Ward. 

 

My work load has got larger and larger and at the same time I have become more busier and busier. I must be doing something right for my constituents to come to me.

 

It has been a very challenging year and I have gained a lot of experience by meeting different communities for the past 10 years.

  

I have met and come across so many wonderful and lovely people in my ward, who I have either become friends with or just kept in touch with. There have been many new groups and organisations that I have helped and supported through the challenging and difficult times that we are currently facing and will be facing this year too, through the cuts that are being forced upon us by central government. 

 

I would not have been able to deal with and address all these challenges without the support of the Labour Group Office and Kirklees Council Officers in dealing with my constituents and residents issues and enquiries in my ward.

 

COUNCIL MEETINGS ATTENDED:

• Meetings of Dewsbury Area Committee & Sub Committee
• Meeting of Full Council
• Labour Group

PARTICIPATION OF OUTSIDE BODIES:

• West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel
• Ravensthorpe community centre 
• The greenwood centre
• Dewsbury west centre
• Salfi Centre
• Local mosques and churches

WARD WORK:

• Anti Social Behaviour – Liaised closely with Police and other agencies to look at and address ASB, alcohol and drug related issues across the ward.
• Planning – I have written letters of support and represented constituents at Planning Committees.
• Road Safety – Supported and campaigned for traffic calming measures across the ward.
• Worked very closely with taxi trade to help with their issues across Kirklees

WARD SURGERIES:

I have held street surgeries across my word.

 

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT:

Training & Development is ongoing. I attend necessary training courses, seminars to improve and develop my knowledge & skills.

 

 

Cllr Darren O'Donovan - Annual Report 2015-2016

It's been another enjoyable year filled with successes in the ward and lingering challenges facing the Council as a whole.

In the ward we have seen a huge amount of positive work carried out by the Council and partners from the community. Major highways priorities have been repaired or resurfaced. We have protected a number of green spaces including Crow Nest Park.

Through the district committee we have funded young people's activities, a dementia care project, year 6 study clubs and contributed to job clubs and town centre regeneration projects. 

We also started the work for this year looking at the issues of child and adult mental health and how we can work together tackle it. 

In my role as Kirklees Council delegate to the Environment Agencies Regional Flood and Coastal Committee, I highlighted the effect of the Christmas and new year storms to the committee and lobbied through council for greater funds to tackle Kirklees flooding issues. 

Nationally, the government have been reducing the funding to Kirklees Council every year since 2010 and the annual grant cut to the council will continue over the next few years. Council services we have all been used to will change and the Council will not deliver all the services in the same way. 

This year more than ever the Council and its communities will need to work together to improve our ward.

Cllr Mumtaz Hussain - Speech to Budget Council 2016

Cllr Mumtaz Hussain

Speech to Budget Council

2016

 

"I think it’s interesting that the Lib Dems have followed the Conservatives in pulling funding from our town centres, which benefit all our residents, to spend on unviable projects in their own wards.

As councillors, we have a responsibility to think about all of our residents, and when making decisions with such large sums of money, we should be strategic, not parochial.

It’s disappointing that the Lib Dems don’t seem to realise this.

Investment in Dewsbury and Huddersfield town centres is much-needed and will benefit everybody, from the businesses and traders who have increased footfall, to the residents and tourists who have a better town centre, to the local people who gain employment.

It’s the council’s responsibility to support regeneration schemes like this, not to scrap them." 

Annual Report 2014-2015: Cllr Mumtaz Hussain

It has been a privilege to continue representing local residents over the past 12 months.
 

I have had an extremely busy and productive year serving my constituents in the Dewsbury West Ward. The areas I cover are: Ravensthorpe, Scouthill, Westtown, Dewsbury Moor, Westborough and Thornhill Road. 

Meeting so many groups and individuals in the area has been a very enjoyable experience. It has provided me the opportunity to meet some fantastic people in my ward. 
 

I would once again like to thank staff in the Labour Group Office and Kirklees Council for their continued support in helping me address and deal with my constituent's issues.
 

Ward Work 

• IMMIGRATION ISSUES - Supporting constituents on issues relating to help completing and attesting Passport and Citizenship forms. Working with different groups.  
• PLANNING - Liaising and working with planning officers in addressing issues for residents. Issues with planning applications and committees and also writing letters of support regarding applications.  
• EDUCATION - Written letters of support for families relating to educational appeals and also working with the local schools.  
• ROAD SAFETY - Working with officers and local people to keep our roads SAFE. I have continued to address the need to improve road safety, traffic calming.  
• POLICING - Dealing with issues around anti-social behaviour, alcohol and drugs, as well as thefts and burglaries from dwellings. Working closely with the Neighbourhood Policing Team and other agencies in addressing this issue.  
• ADAPTATIONS AND GRANTS - Supported families with adaptation needs and disability related issues, ranging from help with completing forms to liaising directly with the relevant officer on the behalf of my constituents.  
• COMMUNITY GROUPS, ORGANISATIONS AND CLUBS - I have supported and worked with Ravensthorpe Community Centre, Salfia Centre, Parochial Hall, Westtown and School Croft Centre. 

Achievements During the Year 

Resurfacing of Westpark Street, speed rumps on Ravenshouse Road, resurfacing of Broad Street, Scouthill, new crossing on Ravenshouse Road, Speed Indicator Device on Boothroyd Lane, Westtown. 

Members Surgeries 

I have held regular street surgeries throughout the year. 

Training and Development  

• Introduction to Licensing and planning 

Annual Report 2014/2015: Cllr Darren O'Donovan

Firstly, having recently been re-elected for Dewsbury West Ward to Kirklees Council, with the boroughs largest majority, I am looking forward to my second term representing local people and the authority. 

The past year has been a challenging yet productive year. I have attended all full council meetings. At February's budget meeting I took the debate for investment in Dewsbury Town Centre forward to secure the towns future development. 

Over the past year I have chaired the new Dewsbury and Mirfield district committee. Working with cabinet we continue to develop the notion of devolution at district level. 

I also sat on the Environment and Development Scrutiny Panel and worked to address issues such as waste management, building services , library and museums and CSE. 

I have also carried out my roll on the Environment Agency Regional Flood and Coastal Committee and secured new funding towards flood alleviation schemes in Kirklees.  

My role as executive board member at YPO proved to be an exciting time as we set up a limited company section at YPO to allow us to trade with different organisations; I now sit as a board member here also. 

I have continued in my role as a LA govenor at St Paulinus RC Primary School and Carlton Road Primary School. 

Regular and ad hoc surgeries have been held around the wards in 2014/15 and an immeasurable amount of case work for local people has been completed.

If you need to contact me please call, text or email me. Otherwise, the Dewsbury west surgery is the last Thursday of each month from 7-8pm at St Paulinus Parochial Hall, High Street, Westtown.

KNH Toy Store

The annual KNH toy store - helping families have a brighter Christmas

List of Planning Applications Decided, by Planning Sub-Committee (Heavy Woolen Area) Compiled on 18 December

List of Planning Applications Decided, by Planning Sub-Committee (Heavy Woolen Area) Compiled on 18 December 2014

Land off, Meadowbank, Dewsbury Moor,Dewsbury, WF13 3SJ

Erection of 20 dwellings, formation of

access and private pumping station

CONDITIONAL FULL APPROVAL 

on 18 December

 

19, Heather Court, Birstall, Batley, WF17 9BD

Erection of 2 detached dwellings and 1

detached double garage

DEFERRED on 18 December 2014

Heaton Avenue First And Nursery School,Westcliffe Road, Cleckheaton, BD19 3EP

Outline application for demolition of existing

school building and erection of residential

development

 GRANTED 18 December 2014

Dewsbury Arts Centre Site, Upper Road,Batley, WF17 7LT
 

Outline application for demolition of existing

derelict arts centre building and erection of

residential development and car parking

GRANTED18 December 201

 

2, Thornton Road, Thornhill Lees,Dewsbury, WF12 9HR

Alterations to convert first floor to nonresidential

institution mosque and

madrassa (D1) and external alterations

DEFERRED on 18 December 2014
 

 

1, Carr Street, Liversedge, WF15 6EE

 

Change of use from tile and bathroom shop to hairdresses and beauty salon

CONDITIONAL FULL PERMISSION on 18 December 14

 

Shannon Mathews - BBC have put an hold on their intended Shannon Mathews fiction

 

Due to the iminant negotiations over licence fees the BBC have put a "tempary" stop on the productuction of a fictitional version of the Shannon Mathews story as they think it's bad taste might upset their negotiations. Given that the events were inspired by a story line in the program "Shameless" the proposed program asks all sorts of questions, as to the level of taste at the BBC.

Another issue is their casting department, they do list the program as fiction yet the person chose to play Shannon's mother (above) does show how far they intend to move away from reality. 

 

 

Annual Report 2013-2014: Cllr Karen Rowling

I have had a very rewarding and enjoyable second year as a councillor for the Dewsbury West Ward.  The knowledge and experience I gained in my first year has enabled me to deal with a far greater range of issues to help individuals and community groups in my ward.

I have supported many community groups in the past year including attending all the Tenants and Residents Associations as well as other groups such as Ravensthorpe Residents Action Group, Friends of Westtown, Friends of Crow Nest Park and Dewsbury Moor Big Local Lottery Group. 

I am the chair of the Dewsbury West Neighbourhood Management Group and also of Dewsbury West Children’s Centre Advisory Board.  The Neighbourhood Management Group is a multi-agency group involving Police, Fire Service, Young People’s Services, Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing and Environment Services, and is designed to share information to ensure we are taking a joined up approach to tackling all the major issues in the ward.  The Children’s Centre offers a wide variety of services for young people and families in Dewsbury West from nursery and day care services to parental skills training.

I also spend a large amount of time out in the ward carrying out street surgeries and speaking to residents to ensure that I am always aware of all the big issues affecting the lives of my constituents.  We hold a monthly surgery at St Paulinus Parochial Hall on the last Thursday of every month and I am always contactable by phone or text on 07778 927660 or email at Karen.Rowling@Kirklees.gov.uk.

Participation at Council Meetings:

I have attended every full council meeting since my election and in addition to this I sit on the following bodies:

Heavy Woollen Planning Committee

Dewsbury Area Committee

Scrutiny Committee – Development and Environment

Dewsbury Regeneration Board

I am also a Director of Kirklees Schools Services Ltd alongside Cllr Viv Kendrick

Training and Development:

I regularly attend Labour Group meetings to keep up to date on ever changing policy and procedures and I have also attended the following training sessions:

Planning Committee update

Safeguarding Children and Young Adults

The Future:

The council faces a difficult future due to very significant budget cuts and I am committed to working alongside my colleagues as we look at the implementation of these cuts and how best to protect the most vulnerable within Kirklees, and to continue to provide the first class service that the council has become recognised for. 

I have been appointed as Chair of the Wellbeing & Communities Scrutiny Panel for the year 2014 / 2015 and I am looking forward to taking up this role and dealing with the challenges and rewards it will bring.

Annual Report 2013-2014: Cllr Mumtaz Hussain

It has been a busy year 2013/2014 representing the local community over the past 12 months. There have been many issues in my ward that I have had to deal with, around Ravensthorpe, Scout Hill, Dewsbury Moor, Westborough and West Town.

It has been a very challenging year, and I have gained a lot of experience by meeting different communities for the past 8 years.

I would like to thank staff in the Labour Group Office and Kirklees Council for their continued support in helping me address and deal with my constituent's issues.
 
Participation at Council Meeting Committees
 
Full Council meetings
Labour Group Meetings
Dewsbury Area Committee meetings
Chair of Licensing Committee meetings
 
Participation on Outside Bodies
 
Ravensthorpe Action Group
Scout Hill Action Group
Dewsbury moor TRA
West Town TRA
NMG
Local Mosques and Churches
 
Ward Work
 

North Road zebra crossing (Ravensthorpe)
Temple Road resurfacing
Calder Road resurfacing
Improvement in lighting Dewsbury West
Resurfacing Labernum Road (Dewsbury moor)
Christmas Tree in Westborough
Repaint the bridge on Thornhill Road
Renew the footpath on Olster Street (West Town)
Working very closely with the planning team
Working very closely with the police to keep the community safe

Working with young people in different sports

Members Surgeries Door to door surgeries around the ward, throughout the year. Training and Development Licensing Planning

Annual Report 2013-2014: Cllr Darren O'Donovan

This report reflects my third year as a Kirklees councillor representing Dewsbury West.

Over the past year I have continued assisting residents with housing applications, waste collections, planning applications and school appeals to name just a few.

Locally I have secured funding and set up five new groups - Beckets TRA, Pilgrim TRA , 20/20 Foundation , Westtown Irish dancing club and St Paulinus parents group. The latter of which have just run a year 6 study support group for pupils at St Paulinus School.

I have continued to support the Dewsbury Moor big lottery partnership and took part in interviews for a new development worker. I will also take up my position as a trustee in due course.

I have continued to support the various resident, sports, schools and faith groups. 

Further afield I have played a valuable role in my position on the Environment Agency flood and coastal committee, in securing funding for feasibility studies to protect communities and businesses in Dewsbury and Huddersfield.

I also helped to steer YPO through a major development year in it's formation as a limited company, where I now sit as a director.

In my fourth year I will take the role of Dewsbury and Mirfield district committee chair. A role which I am really looking forward to.

 

Dewsbury Hospital - How can 33,000 local people be wrong?

Following the heavily flawed consultation process carried out by the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust last year the full picture relating to the downgrading of services at Dewsbury & District Hospital is now much clearer. The Trust has been tasked with presenting the horrific Tory cuts to our services with a positive spin. Here is their vision of a “vibrant” hospital at Dewsbury:

• Severely downgraded Accident & Emergency (40% less capacity) • Severely downgraded Maternity Unit (expectant mothers, if you need a Consultant then pack your bags and go to Pinderfields) • Complete closure of our Children’s Ward • Sell-off of numerous Hospital buildings • A 69% reduction in total beds

If the plans go ahead it will mean 250 out of 360 beds removed from our hospital by 2017, with Pinderfields’ bed numbers boosted by only 70 to cover the shortfall. This is a 69% cut in bed numbers at Dewsbury Hospital – these are the Trust’s figures, not ours.

Over the past two years your Labour team has been at the forefront of the battle to save our local services, with our Save Dewsbury Hospital campaign.

Kirklees Labour's Cllr Cathy Scott, a founder member of the campaign, said: “The true scale of the cuts has been hidden at every point in this shambolic consultation. Lengthy and expensive material was produced with no mention of this dramatic reduction to services. It’s quite clear the impact this will have on Dewsbury – it will cost lives.”

Last October, the Wakefield and Kirklees Joint Health Scrutiny Committee took the decision to refer the Trust’s plans to the Secretary of State, who will review the plans. The cross-party Committee said it was not convinced that the proposals were in the “best interests” of local people.

Remarkably, with almost 33,000 signatures on our petition to save services, Dewsbury’s part-time MP Simon Reevell openly supports the Trust’s plans. Sadly, Mr Reevell has put politics before people. He has even gone so far as to lobby the Health Secretary, asking him to impose the huge cuts to our hospital without hesitation.

Scrutiny Committee member Cllr Eric Firth said: “A judgement by Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt is expected in late March, we will keep local residents updated.”

Reports in the local media have revealed just a glimpse of the crisis that our local NHS services have been plunged into by the Tory government.

In December a local man asked a paramedic why an emergency ambulance had taken so long. The paramedic replied: “Why don’t you ask your MP?”

Cllr Karen Rowling said: “Our sources within the Trust and our Hospital all say the same thing; staff are being stretched to breaking point and morale is at rock bottom.”

In January a Freedom of Information request from your Labour team revealed that last year the Trust was forced to spend £2.3million on highly paid, temporary A&E locums, a 50% increase since 2010. This is symptomatic of a management crisis. This has been brought about by radical Tory re-organisations, arguably designed to lay the foundations for mass privatisation of our NHS.

Cathy said: “We all want to save money in public services, but this gross waste has been brought about by Tory cuts and bureaucratic meddling. The same work could be done by permanent staff at a fraction of the cost.”

The figures also show that our local A&E departments were the fifth busiest in the country in January. With waiting times rocketing up past FOUR HOURS David Cameron and his Dewsbury MP Simon Reevell still believe that Dewsbury Hospital should see a beds reduction of 69%.


Related Articles:
Cllr Simon Alvy: Campaigning to protect Dewsbury District Hospital
Dewsbury and District Hospital to lose 250 beds
Health bosses approve radical plans for Dewsbury and District Hospital



 

Yvette Cooper MP visits Dewsbury Moor

Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper MP visited Dewsbury Moor last month to discuss crime and other local issues with Councillors Karen Rowling and Mumtaz Hussain and also Labour’s Parliamentary Candidate Paula Sherriff.

During the visit Yvette walked around the area with the Labour team, meeting with local residents and PCSOs to find out what the main concerns are in the area concerning crime and anti social behaviour.

Yvette and Paula also discussed what could be done to support victims of crime, an issue close to Paula’s heart given her experience in victim support. Yvette praised the work already been done to support victims in Dewsbury, but pledged much better support for victims of domestic abuse if Labour win the next General Election in 2015.

 

Spirit in Dewsbury 2014

Spirit in Dewsbury on Saturday 12^th April 

 

The Spirit in Dewsbury will this year feature a Tour de France themed performance by Belgian company Theater Tol.  It has been chosen as one of the 20 Peloton events in the cultural programme.  It will be promoted as part of the main Tour programme  so Dewsbury will also get international media exposure.

 

Check out the YouTube video below to see last years Spirit in Dewsbury, and get a taste of what a fantastic treat you could be in for this year.

 

 

 

 

Dewsbury Town Centre: Bringing empty properties back into use

Excellent news for Dewsbury Town Centre with further investment in Bringing Empty Clusters into use. The Pioneer Buildings Annex is prominent building owned by the council in the centre of Dewsbury; it has been empty for a number of years and was previously used for storage as part of a former mill. The building is connected to Pioneer House.

The proposal is to convert Pioneer Annex into residential accommodation, providing 6 one bed apartments. 

This once again is an achievement by Dewsbury Regeneration Board of bringing empty properties back into use.