End of the Last Quarter 2022

My New Year’s resolution is to restart doing this blog every month but this last one in 2022 is a brief rundown of the last three months!  I thought I’d hone in on things I’ve been involved in other than the usual meetings …

October

You may recall the serious incident which occurred last year on the border of Townhill and neighbouring ward Castle.  I’ve always felt it’s easy to overlook streets on the edge of any ward, and since then we have been looking carefully at ideas to improve both the look & feel of the area but always in consultation with local residents.  One initiative has been put forward by a group representing forces veterans to develop a community growing project.  A site visit included a helpful discussion with group organisers, leading to an agreement for it to go ahead.  So watch this space for that scheme and others that are slowly but surely making progress.

For various reasons I haven’t always got there but this month I managed our Friends of group’s monthly litter pick at the pond & picnic area.  Just to remind you the group was originally was set up a few years ago to combat individuals from outside the area dumping their rubbish there.  Along with the community food garden at the bottom of the hill, this has been a real success, all thanks to a core of brilliant volunteers whose enthusiasm has kept up the good work ever since.

November

Over the years the ward has had a number of changes to police personnel so it’s not been that easy to develop a good working relationship with them.  But through having for a while an inspirational female PCSO things have definitely been looking up.  Even though she’s moved on to pastures new, since the newest local policing inspector has come on board there’s been a continued sense of a better relationship.  We are now having regular meetings, and met with two new female PCSOs who both seem keen to get stuck in.

Over the last few months I have been involved in preparing for the launch of Unity over Division Charter which the full council voted for late 2021, in part to develop an even better partnership between council staff, councillors and unions Unite, Unison & GMB, alongside all other organisations such as Peace Mala.  As the council’s Diversity Champion I had the privilege of attending the launch, opened with remarks by Leader Cllr Rob Stewart, included the reading of the charter followed by the signing ceremony, and closing comments by Lord Mayor Cllr Mike Day.  But the stars of the event were the pupils of Hafod Primary School with their brilliant Peace Mala inspired performance.

December

Unfortunately I couldn’t attend myself but I’m pleased to see all the hard work done by other councillors and officers come to fruition with the declaration at SwanseaStadium.com of Swansea as a Human Rights City, the first in Wales.  Attended by First Minister Mark Drakeford, our Leader Cllr Rob Stewart summed it up when he said “there is a real determination for Swansea to be a city where everyone is equal, where everyone understands they have human rights and responsibilities, what they are, and where we all respect the rights of others.”

But for me the highlight of the year was definitely attending the ceremonial council to award Kev Johns the Freedom of the City.  For various reasons this had been delayed for quite some so it felt good to at last recognise the best advert we have for Swansea!

Les

End of an Era

 Just where does the time go?!  August seems like the long and distant past, and as it happens there weren’t many meetings anyway.  But we carried out our usual monthly litter pick and tidy up at the pond, and also took photos to celebrate getting the Green Flag Community Award for the 4th year in a row.  

On a completely different note, I attended in interesting fundraising evening in support of Liberia.  Activists from that country who now live in Britain have set up a charity in order to help some of the more vulnerable people living over there, such as the young, or disabled.

September was more back to normal, with the usual smattering of meetings.  The exception of course was the sad event of the Queen passing.  Whilst not a die hard royalist I believe she was a decent woman who took the role, and the duty that went with it, very seriously, and such an excellent ambassador for the UK.  She will be sorely missed.

Les

The start of a new term

 Well I am back but not quite as soon as I had hoped.  As it was 5 years ago since the last time I began a new term as a councillor, its really not that surprising that I’ve forgotten just how much induction training – or in my case re-training – takes places in the first couple of months.  And this is on top of the usual statutory meetings.  But it’s a bit ‘calmer’ now it’s August so time for a quick roundup …

As is often said you never stop learning so even the longest serving councillors are expected to attend a number of induction sessions.  And of course it’s also means those of us returning councillors can help others new to the role.  I’m pleased to be on the same committees as before so not had to go through a huge learning curve but it’s amazing how there’s always something new that you haven’t come across before.

Apart from that there has been a smattering of meetings, like Audit, and two Councils including our annual general meeting.  I’ve also attended Armed Forces Day, held this year outside the Guildhall building at the rotunda, a drop-in session on the housing development of the former Townhill Campus, a ceremonial council to award the Freedom of the City to the Merchant Navy Association, and most recently an Open Day at TOPIC House to inspire volunteers to help with the raised beds and polytunnel to grow their own food.

And I’ve been able to restart my monthly surgeries in the Phoenix Centre, which I link up with Cuppa with a Copper.  Whilst I don’t get many takers I still feel it’s a useful way of showing myself in the community should a resident need me, and get an update from the police at the same time.  Hopefully we will get Street Surgeries up and running, where we go doorknocking and ask if there are any issues that we can help with, either late August or early September, and my mini litter picks.  Apart from anything else I need the exercise!

Les

An end to another era

Lots of the usual meetings over the last month and a half, but also attended some one-offs such as
- recognising the amazing life of Norma Glass, of Race Council Cymru, with a civic reception given in her honour
- meeting with officers to look at how to carry out refurbishments to improve the environmental impact of all the shops across the ward, something we have long been aiming for.

But the highlight has to be the recent official open day of the new play equipment in Mayhill Park.  It’s been a long time coming, with a phenomenal amount of work behind the scenes, all made worthwhile by the fact it’s been used every day since its completion, and often to capacity.   And an additional positive is seeing the community getting involved not only in the deciding on the current play equipment but also in looking to provide other improvements for the park.  Exciting times!  

Well it’s time for a break now that election time is round, but I do hope to be back after the May 5th!

Les

From Quiet to Busy

 Leading up to Christmas the Phoenix Centre gets very busy, what with preparing for a number of events including the Lantern Parade, Christmas Breakfasts, and so on.  On 3rd I was happy to join staff and Swansea West MS, Julie James, in launching the Supporting Our Community campaign which was able to supply food hampers to those families across the ward who needed them.  The rest of the month was much quieter on the meeting front, with my usual three policy development committees, and licensing.

Things have definitely picked up during January, and alongside the ‘usuals’ I attended quite a few one-offs ;
- a good seminar on Swansea’s local health board; the presentation itself was a bit dry but the questions afterwards were all very pertinent, and helpful
- really positive site visit to discuss the refurbishment of Gors Avenue shops; we intend giving other shops in the ward a similar facelift
- electric bike trial at the Phoenix Centre, where I sensibly left it to Jeff to do the ‘trialling’!

I also managed two litter picks, a new bi-monthly meeting with the police, Friends of Washing Lake AGM, and door knocking on Longridge & Highview to see what the residents would like to see the green space used for.

The best news of the month has to be that the play areas for Mayhill Park have at long last been constructed.  A formal launch is planned in February but apparently by the afternoon of the day it opened the area was jammed full of children, so it looks like they have definitely given it the thumbs up!


Les