Two weeks become three - oops!

I know, I know, late with the blog again!  Have I any excuses?  Loads probably but let’s just get on with it …

Talking of excuses, in the first week of October I had an excellent one for missing a meeting – I managed to fall UP a hill!!  My knees aren’t great at the best of times, and after my fall the left one looked like I’d done a few rounds with Mike Tyson, so Doctor Jeff advised rest.  Funnily enough I didn’t disagree!

But before you get the wrong idea, the last three weeks have been pretty busy with a number of formal council meetings, one lasting almost 4 hours, and informal meetings with officers, fellow ward councillors etc etc, plus other events, surgeries, and doing casework.  And there is the small matter of running a business, including working on my tax return!

And yet still something new – finance sub-committee for Seaview.  I’ve been to hundreds of meetings in my time and read lots of financial reports so this one stands out.  Why?  It was the first time I can recall having looked at one and more or less understood it before an explanation.  And there have been plenty where I’ve still not got a clue AFTERWARDS!

Whilst not my in role as a councillor I will finish by saying I had what I feel was a very worthwhile Saturday spent in London on the A Future that Works march.  Question is, unless something drastic happens, will it?

Les

Being a councillor can be fun!

Pretty busy these last two weeks ie up to the end of September (OK I know this blog posting is three days overdue!) what with having quite a bit of business work as well as council duties.

Mainly meetings outside council eg regular Phoenix Centre surgery, branch meeting, and yet another first – Seaview Governors meetings.  A lot of it was taken up with what sub-committees we would be prepared to go on.  Now I just need to do the training to help me know what I’m going to be doing!

And of course it’s not just meetings and surgeries which show you are bothered about your ward – socials can play a role too.  The former Fairfield Club, now the West End Football & Social Club, on Townhill Road, had their relaunch on the 22nd.  I’ve passed it many times and never knew just how big it is, with a ‘tidy’ sized function room.  It was an evening with a difference – as well as your standard food, drink, disco & raffle, they held a question & answer session with a panel of football players present and past including current Wales Coach Chris Coleman.  Beat that!

Les

Time still flying!

You will probably have noticed that again my posting has taken two weeks – as meetings will settle down you’d get bored (if you’re not already!) with me saying the same old stuff so to ensure a bit of novelty is allowed to creep in I’ll stick to this from now on.

In any case, the last two weeks have gone like a flash, yet interestingly not had so many council commitments – a useful reminder that I also run a business and do have some kind of life outside politics! 

Another first even though I’ve now been a councillor for a while now – went to a Student Liaison Forum meeting.  But then these are in a way governed by student activity which of course is virtually negligable in the summer months.  As most of you will know Swansea has a large student population and with it brings both good and bad.  The forum aims to bring together interested parties to help prevent in the first place but also resolve issues that residents raise eg parking, rubbish, recycling, and housing in general.

Those who know we well will be aware that I take being a councillor very seriously, and have done my best to be fully active in this role.  But of course it had to happen eventually, and so I’ve finally blown my 100% attendance record – not bad though after 4 months!

Les

PS I thought I'd posted this on Tuesday but obviously gremlins in the works - hopefully you agree better late than never!

Doesn't time fly!

Anyone who follows my postings regularly will notice that I haven’t managed one yet this week.  This has been for a number of reasons (bank holiday & others too tedious to mention so I won’t!) so here are two weeks worth …

The last fortnight has gone from the ridiculous to the sublime – from 8 council related events the week before last to only two this week.  But of course this is just how it goes.

And you will I’m sure be very pleased, even grateful, to hear that I’m not going to tell about them all, just two examples on procedural matters, both new for me, that I actually found quite fascinating (but feel free to yawn at any point!)

At full council last week it was the first occasion I was party to a ‘named’ vote.  It needs 10 councillors to stand up to indicate that everyone present has to verbally state their voting intention.  It felt a bit like being back in school as the appropriate council officer read out our names, and by the time it got to me – I’m second but last – I was convinced I was going to say the wrong thing!  (Another first – I can now say I have actually spoken at full council!!)

This week’s only formal council meeting was the full planning committee which can also potentially be attended by all councillors.  As with all such meetings, councillors are guided by recommendations made by the officers who are experienced in planning law and its many nuances.  However there are times when they might still get voted against, at which time there has to be a second vote on the reason for doing so.  This was a new experience for me, and curiously it actually relied to a certain degree on the same officers supplying the appropriate valid reason, but then this is politics!

Les

Which one?

Cymbals, rather than meetings, 'clash'
(Sorry the picture's naff - ran out of ideas!)

In a previous blog post I mentioned that I often have to make a decision whether to attend an event or not – you simply cannot go to everything.  What makes this process just that bit more interesting is when two or more events, or meetings, clash.

It was again a fairly quiet week council wise, with one meeting on Monday.  Still learning in that we did an exercise on how to plan of piece of scrutiny work – they call it ‘scoping’.  The real work is soon to follow.

The problem came on the Tuesday - two meetings, both important, so which one?  As it happened I had arranged to meet a resident at one, the PACT meeting so felt that it was important not to let them down.  Another time I don’t think it will be so straightforward!

Les

All Quiet on the Council Front

Well almost!  Just the one meeting, and that was an additional Labour Group. 

The idea is to have this one every month where us ‘backbenchers’ can have the chance to get & feel more involved - ask our questions, air our opinions, and put forward our suggestions.  I even managed to air mine, which was good practice for the day, which I guess will come, when I actually say something in full council!

Downside?  Yet another meeting, of course.  But for all of us non-cabinet members, both newbies & oldies, I think it’s a good move.

Les

Behind the Scenes

No official council meetings all week – chance to do some of the ‘background’ stuff …

Until I started to run my own business I never really thought I was an ideas person.  And even then it was only when a business advisor friend of mine pointed this out.  Even now I’m still not quite convinced I have original ideas but I do know I can take one that already exists and, in the words of my Dad, do a ‘mod’ on it.  So what’s this got to do with anything?  Well, I’m sure all councillors have parts of the role they like best.  For me, one of mine is I get a buzz out of creating ways to improve how we interact with residents - I've got a real 'bee in my bonnet' when it comes to communication, and how ineffective it so often is.  By rethinking or developing processes I’m forever coming up with ‘mods’ when producing literature, or planning surgeries, or putting on events, etc etc to help get the message across.

And it will often be something quite simple.  One of our surgeries was in the evening and very few ever went.  We’re now trying it out in the morning when it’s busier, and because the main meeting place is in a café I can put flyers on the tables & the counter.  So I was well chuffed when the other week a guy picked up my flyer and said ‘thank you, will keep this in case I need it’ – small beginnings but big potential.

And isn’t just great after you’ve delivered a direct mail letter, or general newsletter, when someone responds to it, even if they aren’t very happy about something - at least this proves you have actually managed to communicate with them so they know who you are and how to get hold of you!

To finish the week, and after the last few weeks' steep learning curve, it was great to have a relaxing get together with ‘the girls’ on Friday – swap stories, issues, problems, and good practice (and of course gossip!)

Les