Fits & Starts

Interesting start to the month when alongside other councillors we met with the body who looks into the pay & conditions of councillors.  One way they do this is by going around different authorities to get feedback off us, both cabinet members - those who lead on particular area of the council such as Education - and the rest of us 'backbenchers'.  It felt good that they were listening to our comments, and definitely not just a box ticking exercise.

The rest of the month has been one of fits & starts - some weeks few or no meetings or appointments, another week full to capacity (well it felt like it!)

I attended two council meetings which do not meet very often during the year.  Also with both it was the first time since May so we needed to elect new chair/vice chair, and it turns out that I am now vice chair on both.  As it happened I then chaired the Trustees meeting, which administers specific pots of money that have been entrusted to the council to allocate to worthy applicants.  A bit of a challenge to do this without any prior notice or preparation but I think I managed it quite well.

In the busier week that followed I had Student Liaison - my other vice chair - Poverty group, and full council.  Just a bit more on the Poverty meeting as this can be quite a heavy topic yet we had two excellent & inspiring presentations.  One of these was on how a Swansea community, helped in the main by a local

housing association, managed to provide meals during the summer to bridge the gap between term time. Such a positive project, and a positive outcome.

Les