A long time in politics

Apologies for missing my regular bi-monthly councillor blog end of April - I don’t know where the last four months have gone!  So here’s 4 months worth …

From March onwards there were all the usual council meetings, Governance & Audit (G&A), Licensing, Local Policing, Trustees, Social Care & Tackling Poverty (SCTP), Equalities group (SEFG), and council itself.  And in the community I held my monthly surgeries, and attended other meetings such as for the Phoenix Centre trust, Mayhill Community Centre, Dylan Thomas Community School’s governor’s meeting, and our local Friends of group. 

In April the subcommittee I sit on which looks at how best to use the lighting for the Guildhall to recognise the wide variety of groups in Swansea met this month.  There are so many requests from our widely diverse groups across Swansea, everything from armed forces to Chinese New Year so from time to time we review the list to be as fair as possible, especially when responding to new requests.
This month also saw some streets in the ward taking part in a new waste management trial in collecting other plastic that cannot go in the usual pink bags.  I fully support this initiative as in my view anything that helps clear away unsightly & often unhealthy rubbish from our streets has to be a good thing.

I attended our annual ceremonial council in May, carried out with much pomp & tradition, with invited guests including the High Sheriff, Lord Lieutenant, and the Lord Mayor’s chosen chaplain.  I always feel that the original council chamber in the Guildhall, with its formal layout and furnishings, is exactly the right setting for such an event.  

And two notable community events which I went to were the now regular annual Phoenix Funday, well attended and a good day out for all local families who came.  Also the official opening of Gors Avenue Play Area where we gave out goody bags to the children from Gors Community School (GCS) who definitely enjoyed trying out the new equipment.

June saw a very varied month for other activities, starting with visiting Ynystawe Primary School as vice chair of Trustees to see how they had used money from a recently accessed fund to provide a community reading room – very impressed with the pupil friendly layout, and diversity of books available.
Also I had the opportunity to sing the praises, in the main, of Swansea when attending the session organised by the Welsh Local Government Association – the feedback from the peer local authority asking the questions was very encouraging.
Another very interesting session I went was looking at declaring some new Local Nature Reserves across the city, including Hillside which would cross Townhill ward.  This would incorporate the area our Friends of group currently cover, which may well secure a positive future for some time to come.
I attended Armed Forces Day flag raising ceremony at the Rotunda.  This was the start of a week recognising all armed forces, currently serving, retired and those lost in times of conflict.
As Diversity Champion I attended the LGBTQ+ forum meeting.  This followed on from the excellent Pride parade along St Helens Road, and the event in & outside the Brangwyn Hall, held earlier in the year.
I’m already governor on DTCS but have also joined the board at GCS which feeds into the senior school.  On the last day of June attended my first training session on the process of dealing with staff Disciplinary hearings, the first of many no doubt.

On a final note, a letter to the local paper recently gave the impression that door knocking was the only way we as councillors get feedback from the electorate.  Hopefully anyone who has read my blog will realise that we have other ways such holding regular surgeries where residents can raise issues, and public meetings, drop-in sessions, surveys, or petitions, to find out views on a particular issue.  We do our best to take those views into account when deciding what action to take, but obviously cannot what always do what a resident wants us to.  As my Dad used to say we can’t please all the people all of the time!

Les

More than just council meetings

Over the last few years Swansea Council have been able to provide many more

play areas. Townhill has certainly benefited, and it was lovely to attend the official opening of another one in the ward at Longridge.  We were joined by children who once given the go ahead obviously enjoyed trying out all the play equipment.

As well as my usual committee meetings, I attended two scrutiny working groups including one which looked at how we engage with the public.  These are usually take up just the one session – a snapshot of what’s happening at the time, and a chance to suggest any possible improvements.

It’s always good to react positively when prompted by a resident.  This was the case when one commented on Facebook which led to doing a street surgery along their road.  This is where we, as councillors, call on residents rather than where they come to us such as in the Phoenix Centre.  I’ve always found it a positive experience, as we are offering help, and reminding them how to get hold of us if they need it in the future.

Les

Another year comes to a close

It’s already a week into January so not too long an account going back to the start of November.

All the usual cropped up, including my monthly surgery, plus local policing, Audit, Trustees, and the Equality Board.  As well as that meeting, I’m also on its subcommittee which decides on the theme of the illumination of the Guildhall, using different coloured lighting to celebrate events such as Remembrance.  

Had two ‘trios’.  Just by chance General Licensing met three Friday’s in a row!  And also three bites if the cherry with the Friends of group.  Our AGM welcomed a new committee member, then attended a site visit to find out at long last how to lower the flag pole at the pond in order to check the camera, and as usual we had a stall at the Green Fair – good way of promoting our group and supporting the environment.

At the final council of the year all councillors responded to the traditional request to wear festive apparel and donate towards the Lord Mayor’s charities.  A colourful way to finish off 2024.

Les

Autumn Calling Again

Lots of regulars over the two months, including finally managing to attend the Hill Community Development Trust meeting in the Phoenix Centre after not being able to get to for a few months.  They do such good work for the community I feel only right that I do my bit to help support them.

Another ‘regular’ had a new twist, October’s council meeting.  I attend most meetings online but council is the one which I feel I should be there in person.  However I was actually having a few days away so joined via Teams, the system the council uses.  Interestingly even though miles away and in a caravan surrounded by mountains, the connection was fine, better in fact than it often is when in Swansea!

And pleased to be back on another ‘regular’, the Social Care & Tackling Poverty committee, which for some reason I was taken off this back in May.  This takes a proactive look at what we can do in this area, and I have always considered tackling poverty to be so important.

Although I’ve now been on the Governance & Audit committee for quite a while I still make the effort to get to any training that’s put on, and there’s been quite a few sessions lately.  There’s always something new to learn, or a subtlety that you’ve not spotted before.

The council has been able to provide more funding for one-off community initiatives to provide more skateboard parks across the city.  The Phoenix Centre currently has a small one which is looking pretty tired, so very pleased to attend a meeting to kick off plans for a brand new park.  

A special event I attended with Jeff and other members of Townhill’s Friends of Mayhill Washing Lake & Community Food Garden was a Thank You Afternoon Tea in the Brangwyn Hall.  There are lots of community groups across Swansea many of which are Friends of groups which have proved very successful over the years.  These volunteers have done sterling work, so only right their efforts have been recognised.

Les

Summer Season

 A busy July off an on, including attending an online session on the regional transport plan. 
As transport doesn’t just sit neatly within the boundaries of one local authority but of course  interconnects with others, this is taking the logical approach by viewing any plan for the future on a regional perspective.

Jeff came with me to the Family Funday at TOPIC House.  Members of Circus Eruption were there to entertain the children (& adults!).  Held in the garden partly to review how to make use of it for growing flowers & vegetables, it was well attended despite the on/off rain.  They even had a couple of goats!

To fit in with my Diversity Champion hat, I find it far easier to attend the LGBTQ+ Forum meetings now they are held online.  And this meeting was so positive it was well worth be there.

Other than that was the usual mix of other meetings & events, including Licensing, two committees which in part look at tackling poverty, and Governance & Audit training – we’ve been having quite a few sessions and whilst refreshers for me still very useful.

August, whilst normally a quieter month, still had some council work, starting with a Trustees meeting, but as it happens we do a lot now is by email.  The dedicated officer has been working hard at opening up access to more of the funding from legacies left in the past which have become dormant.  Two funds I’m especially pleased about both give one-off support to those financially struggling, usually families where it means both parents and children benefit.  It is so gratifying to be able to make even just a small difference, and I feel very fortunate that I am able to do so simply by being on this committee.

Les

From Council to Campaigning

May is the time we have the council’s annual general meeting (AGM), followed by the ceremonial council where the new Lord Mayor and their deputy get sworn in on the next day.  It always pleasantly surprises me how councillors rise to the challenge of carrying the Mayor’s duties, much of it as ambassador for the council out & about the people.

In May I also attended some of the ‘regulars’, such as Local Policing – still proving to be a great way of keeping in touch, and working with the police – the management team who run the Phoenix Centre who provide such a useful service to the community, and the Equality group who look at ensuring the council carries out its duties in an even handed manner.   

Then, like buses, no elections for ages then two come along!  Of course the one for the next regional Police Commissioner had been planned for some time, but the General Election came out of the blue as a snap decision by the then Prime Minister.  Early days for both so we will have to wait and see how they pan out.

Les

Promising Projects and more

As well as the usual meetings progress has been made on a couple of projects:
 - Firstly the tired play area in front of the Phoenix Centre has had a complete overhaul, with a vastly improved surface and lots of play equipment.  The three of us local councillors attended the official opening ceremony in March, with lots of children making good use of what’s on offer.
 - The second ongoing project is to green up Graiglwyd roundabout and now the funding has been confirmed it’s definitely going ahead.  The idea is to ensure plants & trees are low maintenance whilst still making the area more attractive.

This is now my 5th year as the representative from Governance & Audit on to a sub-committee, where I help prepare the Annual Governance Statement, a very wordy lengthy report aiming to show that the council’s work has been carried out properly.  Over the years I have developed a key role as I seem to be very good at spotting date errors!

Other events and meetings in brief:
 - wore something purple to council in early March to recognise International Women’s Day
 - attended two sessions so far looking at future development across the city
 - went online for the local policing meeting, which has always been a very useful way of being kept uptodate on police activity in the ward, and to raise any issues face to face
 - at my March surgery in the Phoenix Centre met up with the latest PCSO recruited to the area

Les