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
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