Well, it has slackened off a bit over two last weeks on the council front, mainly through me having a not too serious hospital procedure which had me out of action for a few days. The outcome was fortunately reassuring so you’re stuck with me yet awhile!
Did my usual monthly surgery, meeting up with a couple of residents, after which I had a mini meeting with parents, both ex-governors, to start looking at how to set up a credit union collection point in one of the local junior schools. I expect some of you will have noticed the following irony – at the same time as payday loan companies are on the increase, who prey on those in financial difficulties to persuade them they need a loan fast which gets them into more debt than they were before, yet finally credit unions are getting the press coverage they need & deserve. Even the Archbishop of Canterbury has been promoting them (although this was a tad spoilt by the revelation that some of the Church’s money is invested in Wonga!)
In this last week, after my recuperation, I have slowly got back into the swing of things by attending a few meetings. One of these, on Wednesday, was concerning a scrutiny panel that I am on – Wellbeing & Attainment of Children & Young People. We are nearing the end of this process, which is yet again a first for me. Over the months we have done a lot of work to assess how well educational establishments are ensuring the wellbeing of their pupils & students, how this relates to attainment, gathering of a large amount of information & evidence, and consulting with many relevant professionals along the way. So at that meeting we made a good start on deciding what recommendations we are going make as the way forward. These will eventually go to cabinet with the aim that they then get actioned.
Finished off with something else new. Yesterday saw the first Uplands Street Market, supported by all the local councillors, and it appeared to be very successful indeed. Great variety of stalls, from craft to food, also giving visitors the chance to fraternise the shops as well, which in these difficult times must have been a welcome boost. Hopefully as a market one of many more.
Les
As you all know I’ve been a councillor for over a year now but I’m sure most of you will understand when I say there’s still lots to learn – indeed I’m sure you never stop! And sometimes you might move to another committee covering an area of the council’s remit which you haven’t done before. And so it is with me, with yet another new learning curve for me to get to grips with, and with which I may need some help. As it happens one of the meetings I was at last week included looking at specific training requests from councillors, so we could decide how these are to be met. I am certainly very pleased that the authority takes this seriously, clearly understanding the importance of enabling us to effectively carry out our roles.
Of course even at those meetings & events where I feel confident in myself, that is I have gained a good understanding and can ‘feel’ the purpose of meeting hence can contribute to its goals, this still requires a high level of commitment on my part. So it’s always good to have a bit of light relief such as an event in the ward last week, where I turned up too early to draw the raffle so went away again. And even better, there was the meeting later the same day in a community centre, where we ended up holding it in the kitchen (don't ask!) whilst being blasted from both sides by loud music!
And fortunately the rest of life has its bright spots – a lovely long weekend away, great weather for our annual BBQ chez nous, the Lions winning the rugby test series, and at last a British Men’s Tennis Champion at Wimbledon. (After 77 of years of waiting I really don’t think I could have faced another year of the TV commentators going on, and on, and on … )
Les
