Autumn Calling

Across the ward there have been quite a few proposals cropping up over the last two months.  We’ve been told of a possible solution to the ongoing parking issues around Seaview School, and we’ve had one meeting with another planned to consider using a grant to help green up Graiglwyd Roundabout and possibly around the shop railings opposite.  Maybe the most and most interesting is the idea of setting up a goat project – early stages as no actual site been suggested for Townhill yet so watch this space!

That time of year again for Dylan Thomas Community School’s governors AGM, a fairly short and sweet affair.  And managed to get to monthly litterpick and general tidy up at the pond in October, a nice sunny afternoon.

The highlight at October’s surgery was spotting football manager Harry Redknapp in the café at the Phoenix Centre.  Apparently he is doing a grass roots football documentary, and it was good to see how he took time with anyone who approached him.  I’m sure lots of visitors to the centre will now be proud owners of Harry Redknapp Selfies!

And I’ve attended most of my usual committee meetings including council, licensing, and the one which often has the longest agenda, Governance & Audit - definitely an endurance test this last one!

Les

Summer Season

 As mentioned in previous blog here’s two month’s worth ie for July & August …

July saw all the usual committee meetings come and go including our monthly Friends of group meeting.  All chuffed to bits on hearing that we had been awarded the Green Flag Community Award for the 5th year running.

These ‘regulars’ were followed by a handful of one-offs including …
 - attending a school governors meeting to confirm the permanent appointment of head Paul Davies at Dylan Thomas Community School, who in my humble opinion has been doing an inspirational job there.  So well pleased that he’s not going anywhere!
 - participating in Licensing Safeguarding training online which was very interesting, and especially important for emphasising the role of our committee in making sure that taxi drivers across the city are ‘fit & proper’.

In contrast August has been quieter partly as we were away for a lot of it, but also as not many meetings are held in this month.  However I had a licensing sub committee meeting, which generally start with a briefing then the applicants join the meeting.  It should have started at 9.15, but because of technical issues finally got off the ground at 11.15, and in the end was almost a formality as the main issue had been sorted out between applicant and officers in the interim.  If only they were all so straightforward! 
In addition I still held my monthly surgery in the Phoenix Centre – don’t usually get many takers but like to think it’s worth it as people get to see me out in the community.  And went to an excellent fun day also in the Phoenix Centre.  Claim to fame that day?  See photo of me with Lee Trundle, ex Swans footballer, now excellent ambassador for the club.

Les

Rather than trying (and failing!) to do these every month I’m now going to give bi-monthly a go.  Fingers crossed!  So just had a look at the meetings and other activities I’ve attended over the last couple of months and quite surprised at how many and how varied they have been:

the ‘regulars’
- Governance & Audit Committee, and its subcommittee the Strategic Governance Group
- Financial Inclusion Steering Group, organisations across Swansea, alongside the council, supporting residents so they can get the financial and any other help they are entitled to
- Local Policing
- General Licensing, to consider taxi licences
- Statutory Licensing Subcommittee, to consider varying a venue’s licence agreement
- Council Annual General Meeting
- catch-up meeting with housing staff and our ward local area co-ordinator
- Surgeries, Phoenix Centre Café, to meet any residents who want to raise an issue
- Governors Meeting, Dylan Thomas Community School, usual term meeting
- Hill Community Development Trust, supporting the Phoenix Centre management team
- Equalities Board, takes a broad look at the work of the council to ensure a diverse and open culture
- Trustees, where we now have a pot of money which we can use to help those affected by domestic violence
- Corporate Services and Financial Resilience STC, to work on providing a stable financial future for the council

and not so 'regular'
- two site visits Site visits, Waun Wen Road, to confirm the environmental improvements we will be making, and Pantycelyn Road to agree traffic measures for the new housing development
- Phoenix Fun Day, another great day out with activities for all the family
- member briefing on Chief Officer Job Evaluation Scheme (a bit ‘dry’!)
- Co-production training (my current pet project)
- Ceremonial Council, to elect Lord Mayor

and finally two events in my capacity as Diversity Champion, namely to get a better understanding on refugees, and an excellent event to look at the progress and discuss an action plan to continue the work being done as a Human Rights City.

Les

Spring Catch Up

 I was hoping to do these blogs every month as promised, but as you can see that didn’t work. As I get older time seems not just to pass quickly but disappears altogether!  

So to keep this round up reasonably short I’ll stick to some of the stuff I’ve been involved with outside my regular statutory meetings.

Starting with a real success story, our local police monthly meetings are really going well, and its so much better now we see the local inspector on a regular basis.

My ward colleagues and I are very pleased with the improvements made down the ravine - see left - in improving the pathway so it’s now both cycle and footpath.  Building on this we are now getting involved in various environmental initiatives such as ‘Wild about our Ward’ and looking at planting more trees where appropriate.  And of course the Mayhill pond still gets its regular monthly TLC session every second Sunday.  

One of my pet interests is co-production where representatives from both organisations and residents are involved, on an equal basis and from the outset, in developing a policy, or solving an issue etc.  As a council we are at early stages and appreciate that it will take some time to set this up, to ensure we get it right.

I have also attended two regular meetings, one each at the Phoenix Centre, and Mayhill community Centre.  All three of us are keen to show and give support to those running these centres, particularly as the volunteers & paid staff all work so hard.

But have to mention one council meeting where we debated the budget, possibly the longest I’ve ever been at 4 and a half hours!

Les

New Year, and a new promise!

A new year and a new promise which I will do my best not to break, and that is I aim to restart doing this blog every month.  So a brief review of January (even if mid February already!) …

Quiet first week then a fair few meetings in the second week, the ‘usual suspects’ including Audit & Council.  But a bit of variety followed with two briefings which couldn’t have been more different.

The first was on Crimestoppers, which I’ve only just realised how useful it is, being accessible both online or phone and completely anonymous.

The other was about how our officers tackle damp & mould in our council properties.  Lots of myths about this problem and quote often tenants can help themselves but as always it’s getting that message across which is the main stumbling block.

And on the last Friday of the month I was privileged to attend Holocaust Memorial Day, with truly amazing presentations given by pupils from across schools in Swansea.  As long as they remain that passionate I feel reassured that those who suffered because of that atrocity which took place all those years ago will not be forgotten.

Les