Our Street-Surgery programme has now seen teams of Lib Dem activists joining me to knock on doors to hear from local residents.
Here is where we have called so far:
In Westgate part of Division
Scarlin Rd, Wigston Rd, Gedge Close, Godolphin Close, Bedell Close, Covell Close, Blagge Close, Hasted Close, Gardiner Close, Abbotsbury Rd, Kirstead rd, Sherborne Rd
In Southgate part of Division
Home Farm Lane, Hardwick Park Gardens, Mayfield Rd, Nowton Rd, Hickling Drive, Townlane Rd, Broadland Rd, Woodside Close, Ridgeway Close, Copse Close, Links Close, Runnymede Green, Canterbury Green, Lincoln Green , Salisbury Green.
It is our aim to call at every household in the Division between now and the anniversary of my election on 4th June - and then to do it all again every year.
This is how we as Lib Dem Councillors do things. The Street Surgery has already generated scores of individual pieces of casework, dealt with either by myself or my Borough Council colleagues.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Copy of my Letter of Cllr Graham Newman, Porfolio Holder for Children and Young People's Services
As the County Councillor of the children who we were planning to move to Risby I wanted to get in touch following this week’s news in the EADT.
I am aware of Councillor Ereira’s communication on the day the story broke. I share his concerns, as I believe do all Councillors. As `corporate parents’, we risked acting in a way not consistent with the trust placed in us by the law, which is, of course, deeply regrettable.
However, my view, as someone who runs an organisation himself, is that things do occasionally go wrong - in all organisations. I also know for a fact that the most successful organisations are those with the capacity to review serious incidents and deal with them in a calm, rational and open way. Such organisations recognize that while human-error often has a role to play, serious incidents are mostly attributable, at root cause level, to bad information systems, unstable processes, weak internal management or an operating culture in which there is insufficient built-in challenge. Or, often, a combination of all of the above.
What is the right response? Well, a fevered, panicked atmosphere of recrimination simply succeeds in diverting energy away from problem-solving and encourages back-covering. Blaming a particular person normally fails to lead to any long-term reduction in risk of repeat.
Far more preferable, I would argue, is a calm, deliberative and transparent review of the chain of events in the context of the whole system which led to this situation. The quid-pro-quo here is that the Council needs to be open with the Opposition, CYP Scrutiny and the wider public about exactly what happened and work together, with all Members and external appointees, particularly from the various relevant Scrutiny Committees, to avoid a repeat.
As those children’s Councillor, I do not, personally, want to see heads roll. That, I believe, will solve very little. Rather, I want to be confident that we, as a Council, have the built-in ability to learn. This is the best way to contribute to children’s well-being . Therefore, I would plead that we, as a Council, go about dealing with the fall out from this issue in the right way: Collaboratively. Calmly. Openly. And, perhaps most important of all, inclusively.
I am aware of Councillor Ereira’s communication on the day the story broke. I share his concerns, as I believe do all Councillors. As `corporate parents’, we risked acting in a way not consistent with the trust placed in us by the law, which is, of course, deeply regrettable.
However, my view, as someone who runs an organisation himself, is that things do occasionally go wrong - in all organisations. I also know for a fact that the most successful organisations are those with the capacity to review serious incidents and deal with them in a calm, rational and open way. Such organisations recognize that while human-error often has a role to play, serious incidents are mostly attributable, at root cause level, to bad information systems, unstable processes, weak internal management or an operating culture in which there is insufficient built-in challenge. Or, often, a combination of all of the above.
What is the right response? Well, a fevered, panicked atmosphere of recrimination simply succeeds in diverting energy away from problem-solving and encourages back-covering. Blaming a particular person normally fails to lead to any long-term reduction in risk of repeat.
Far more preferable, I would argue, is a calm, deliberative and transparent review of the chain of events in the context of the whole system which led to this situation. The quid-pro-quo here is that the Council needs to be open with the Opposition, CYP Scrutiny and the wider public about exactly what happened and work together, with all Members and external appointees, particularly from the various relevant Scrutiny Committees, to avoid a repeat.
As those children’s Councillor, I do not, personally, want to see heads roll. That, I believe, will solve very little. Rather, I want to be confident that we, as a Council, have the built-in ability to learn. This is the best way to contribute to children’s well-being . Therefore, I would plead that we, as a Council, go about dealing with the fall out from this issue in the right way: Collaboratively. Calmly. Openly. And, perhaps most important of all, inclusively.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Fighting the Last War - The Schools Organisation Review in Suffolk
Following the defeat of the motion put forward by the two other non-Tory Bury County Councillors, Suffolk County Council re-iterated its commitment to moving Bury's "poorly performing schools" (their words not mine) to two tier, regardless of whether or not that funding appears.
Quite how that will be achieved is anyone's guess. Two-tier education is, I would presume, best delivered, in a context where buildings and teachers can be organised into two systems - primary and secondary. In Bury this will be difficult without running split sites. Not unusual I know but not ideal either.
Perhaps more importantly, moving to two-tier now, at great cost, is an example of the Conservative County Council fighting the last war - rather than the one ahead. The coming crisis in public spending is going to be very tough for schools. Big reorganisations will be difficult to fund.
And more fundamentally the direction of policy from an incoming Tory Government (the most likely outcome I believe of next year's General Election) will be a new policy for schools which essentially gives power to local communities to have the schools they choose. And if not to open one themselves using state funding - regardless of what the local authority says.
This is revolutionary stuff. For years, Councils have dictated what kinds of schools our kids will attend. The move from three to two tier is one such diktat. Soon it will not be the business of Councils to say how schools should look. Parents will more likely choose. And in Bury this would mean the retention of a much-loved middle school system.
I can never understand the Suffolk Tories on the need for all our schools to follow a particular model. This isn't the case in the independent sector (as many of them will know). Diversity flourishes (3-18, 5-18, 8-18) all these models flourish in Suffolk in the independent sector. The changes proposed by the Tories will cut across the one-size-fit-all of the move to two-tier.
There is hope yet I believe for local self-determination - from the most unlikely of sources!
Quite how that will be achieved is anyone's guess. Two-tier education is, I would presume, best delivered, in a context where buildings and teachers can be organised into two systems - primary and secondary. In Bury this will be difficult without running split sites. Not unusual I know but not ideal either.
Perhaps more importantly, moving to two-tier now, at great cost, is an example of the Conservative County Council fighting the last war - rather than the one ahead. The coming crisis in public spending is going to be very tough for schools. Big reorganisations will be difficult to fund.
And more fundamentally the direction of policy from an incoming Tory Government (the most likely outcome I believe of next year's General Election) will be a new policy for schools which essentially gives power to local communities to have the schools they choose. And if not to open one themselves using state funding - regardless of what the local authority says.
This is revolutionary stuff. For years, Councils have dictated what kinds of schools our kids will attend. The move from three to two tier is one such diktat. Soon it will not be the business of Councils to say how schools should look. Parents will more likely choose. And in Bury this would mean the retention of a much-loved middle school system.
I can never understand the Suffolk Tories on the need for all our schools to follow a particular model. This isn't the case in the independent sector (as many of them will know). Diversity flourishes (3-18, 5-18, 8-18) all these models flourish in Suffolk in the independent sector. The changes proposed by the Tories will cut across the one-size-fit-all of the move to two-tier.
There is hope yet I believe for local self-determination - from the most unlikely of sources!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Getting Out There
I am always taken aback by how pleasantly surprised people are to see their Councillor. I am, it seems, the only one they have ever met. Outside election time that is - and even then they seldom call.
The good thing about getting out there is that you quickly find out what's happening in an area. People tend to raise similar things. Also, you get to find out about the difficulties people might be having, especially those who depend on the Council for vital care or support services.
Today, we knocked on all doors in Scarlin Road and the closes off of there. We met a lot of people and I now have three or four bits of casework to do. My plan is to cover every street in the Division at least once each year of my four year term.
This was Friday afternoon. The day ended on a positive note. Upon arriving at Glastonbury Ct play area I found that it had been repainted - in part anyway. The rest to follow. This was following some case-work with local residents.
Elsewhere it is all action. Schools are the big issue at the moment. The ruling Tories have suspended the Schools Organisational Review until new funding is clearer. That won't happen so the review is up in the air. Which means a lot of uncertainty for parents, children and their teachers. I met one such teacher on Friday and she told me the effect this was having on morale.
My hope is that the Council will give Middle Schools another ten years. My fear however is that the impending cuts in schools budgets will force two-tier on us anyway, with split sites being introduced alongside a `federal' system - where a single head covers a number of schools.
Of course, the freeing of schools from Council control would mean that we could choose the kind of school system we wanted both as a community in Bury and as individual parents. But that is something a long way away for now.
The good thing about getting out there is that you quickly find out what's happening in an area. People tend to raise similar things. Also, you get to find out about the difficulties people might be having, especially those who depend on the Council for vital care or support services.
Today, we knocked on all doors in Scarlin Road and the closes off of there. We met a lot of people and I now have three or four bits of casework to do. My plan is to cover every street in the Division at least once each year of my four year term.
This was Friday afternoon. The day ended on a positive note. Upon arriving at Glastonbury Ct play area I found that it had been repainted - in part anyway. The rest to follow. This was following some case-work with local residents.
Elsewhere it is all action. Schools are the big issue at the moment. The ruling Tories have suspended the Schools Organisational Review until new funding is clearer. That won't happen so the review is up in the air. Which means a lot of uncertainty for parents, children and their teachers. I met one such teacher on Friday and she told me the effect this was having on morale.
My hope is that the Council will give Middle Schools another ten years. My fear however is that the impending cuts in schools budgets will force two-tier on us anyway, with split sites being introduced alongside a `federal' system - where a single head covers a number of schools.
Of course, the freeing of schools from Council control would mean that we could choose the kind of school system we wanted both as a community in Bury and as individual parents. But that is something a long way away for now.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Middle Schools - A Reprieve
This week saw a victory for common sense. And for the people of Bury who, against the trend county-wide, elected three County Councillors who publicly opposed to the closure of our Middle Schools. As you will read in this week's BFP, Suffolk County Council has just pulled-back its proposed Schools Organisation Review (SOR) for Bury and Stowmarket.
Quite late in the day, the penny seems to have dropped that that millions of pounds in `Building Schools for the Future’ money will probably no longer be available from central government. This money was key to the whole SOR which, if you remember, sought to do away with our Middle Schools in 2013 (creating a hotchpotch of temporary split-site secondary schools) and open a range of brand-new school buildings in the second half of the next decade .
A policy which now, like the public finances, looks pretty ruined. While we congratulate Suffolk County Council on their good sense at kicking the ball into touch for now, we believe that they need to actually go further - and boot it publicly and permanently it into the long grass. Because even Suffolk’s ruling Conservatives know in their hearts that the Building Schools for the Future money isn’t coming. Not next year or any other year.
To pretend this policy is still intact, as the Council is doing, prevents the discussion moving on on how we actually improve what we have already working well in Bury – as evidenced by excellent exam results last month.
So come on Suffolk County Council, call a spade-a-spade, and declare this ailing SOR policy dead.
Quite late in the day, the penny seems to have dropped that that millions of pounds in `Building Schools for the Future’ money will probably no longer be available from central government. This money was key to the whole SOR which, if you remember, sought to do away with our Middle Schools in 2013 (creating a hotchpotch of temporary split-site secondary schools) and open a range of brand-new school buildings in the second half of the next decade .
A policy which now, like the public finances, looks pretty ruined. While we congratulate Suffolk County Council on their good sense at kicking the ball into touch for now, we believe that they need to actually go further - and boot it publicly and permanently it into the long grass. Because even Suffolk’s ruling Conservatives know in their hearts that the Building Schools for the Future money isn’t coming. Not next year or any other year.
To pretend this policy is still intact, as the Council is doing, prevents the discussion moving on on how we actually improve what we have already working well in Bury – as evidenced by excellent exam results last month.
So come on Suffolk County Council, call a spade-a-spade, and declare this ailing SOR policy dead.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Friday 11th September 2009
Days starts with Bury Press Press. YES!! The Horsecroft Road Safety Group are in there. Sure, only page 27 but there they are. I totally support their quest for 20mph and traffic calming. Its a no-brainer if you actually go there and see how unpleasant it really is there.
Then off to Horringer Court Middle School. What a lovely building. And such orderly kids. Puts most workplaces to shame! Spent an hour with the excellent Head Tania Johnson. HCMS is due to close in 2013 when Middle Schools are to end in Bury St Edmunds. A difficult four years to bridge as staff leave and morale slips. An achievement chasm is due, believes Tania. I am to join the Board of Governors in October. Hopefully I will be able to help this school make the best possible job of taking itself out of existence. This is unfortunate and, in my view, unnecessary but Suffolk County Council Tories will not change their minds on this.
Next its West Suffolk House and a ten-point agenda to go through with County Engineer. Roads, pavements, safety issues right across Hardwick. The good news is that I think we might achieve something on the crossing on Hardwick Lane (near Wilks Rd. A Zebra crossing is £30k and we have a strong chance of getting it in the Transport Strategy for 2010-11 which will give it a much bigger chance of implementation.. A lot of the rest is just about making sure St Eds are doing the work committed to undertaking. Traffic calming for Horscroft Rd feels like a possibility. I just want a 20mph to start-off with calming later if necessary. The police will oppose without calming on the grounds that it isn't particularly enforceable. But in my view 20mph without calming is better than 30mph without calming and a start. Calming won't be cheaper than £20k.
Then on to meet young family in the Division trying to get their child assessed for a Statement of Special Educational Needs. Presently the Council won't even assess this child. I am helping the family to first challenge this then appeal to an out-of-country body if this goes nowhere.
Following this, I get embroiled in the page 3 story in the Bury Free Press. Southgate Community Centre has just evicted Fighting Fit, the martial arts company that has been running classes for 45 local kids each week for 20 years - all because they have complained about dirty floors at the Community Centre. Fighting Fit may have to relocate to another part of town and I am trying a) to persuade them to stay in this community and b) to find them an alternative venue.
Mid afternoon, I join two of our volunteers to go `Reaching Out', knocking on doors in Abbotsbury Rd and Kirkstead Close. We find quite a few people in. Most are surprised to find a Councillor calling outside election time. For those that are out we leave a Sorry We Missed You leaflet. Plenty of issues. Saddest was the case of an 82 year old WW2 hero distressed by drunken teens outside his house all hours of the night.
Finally I meet with Dan Gaul of Suffolk County Council Grounds Maintenance plus two residents to discuss the terrible state of the Glastonbury Rd play area. We get agreement to improve cleaning, to repaint the equipment, to replace bins and benches using some of my Locality Budget. All by the end of October.
A good day's work.
Then off to Horringer Court Middle School. What a lovely building. And such orderly kids. Puts most workplaces to shame! Spent an hour with the excellent Head Tania Johnson. HCMS is due to close in 2013 when Middle Schools are to end in Bury St Edmunds. A difficult four years to bridge as staff leave and morale slips. An achievement chasm is due, believes Tania. I am to join the Board of Governors in October. Hopefully I will be able to help this school make the best possible job of taking itself out of existence. This is unfortunate and, in my view, unnecessary but Suffolk County Council Tories will not change their minds on this.
Next its West Suffolk House and a ten-point agenda to go through with County Engineer. Roads, pavements, safety issues right across Hardwick. The good news is that I think we might achieve something on the crossing on Hardwick Lane (near Wilks Rd. A Zebra crossing is £30k and we have a strong chance of getting it in the Transport Strategy for 2010-11 which will give it a much bigger chance of implementation.. A lot of the rest is just about making sure St Eds are doing the work committed to undertaking. Traffic calming for Horscroft Rd feels like a possibility. I just want a 20mph to start-off with calming later if necessary. The police will oppose without calming on the grounds that it isn't particularly enforceable. But in my view 20mph without calming is better than 30mph without calming and a start. Calming won't be cheaper than £20k.
Then on to meet young family in the Division trying to get their child assessed for a Statement of Special Educational Needs. Presently the Council won't even assess this child. I am helping the family to first challenge this then appeal to an out-of-country body if this goes nowhere.
Following this, I get embroiled in the page 3 story in the Bury Free Press. Southgate Community Centre has just evicted Fighting Fit, the martial arts company that has been running classes for 45 local kids each week for 20 years - all because they have complained about dirty floors at the Community Centre. Fighting Fit may have to relocate to another part of town and I am trying a) to persuade them to stay in this community and b) to find them an alternative venue.
Mid afternoon, I join two of our volunteers to go `Reaching Out', knocking on doors in Abbotsbury Rd and Kirkstead Close. We find quite a few people in. Most are surprised to find a Councillor calling outside election time. For those that are out we leave a Sorry We Missed You leaflet. Plenty of issues. Saddest was the case of an 82 year old WW2 hero distressed by drunken teens outside his house all hours of the night.
Finally I meet with Dan Gaul of Suffolk County Council Grounds Maintenance plus two residents to discuss the terrible state of the Glastonbury Rd play area. We get agreement to improve cleaning, to repaint the equipment, to replace bins and benches using some of my Locality Budget. All by the end of October.
A good day's work.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Reaching Out in Hardwick Division
From September 11th, myself and my Lib Dem Councillor colleagues will be engaging in outreach work across the Division. A list will soon be posted of the streets we are intending to call on in the next six months.
The idea of Reaching Out is to give you, the people we represent, the opportunity to speak to us about issues affecting you personally, your family or your community.
We will always listen, we may well be able to help and we can ensure your views and concerns are fed into the right places.
Over the four years of my term I hope to call on every house in the Division at least once.
Of course, if you want to see me or my colleagues just email me on craig.dearden-phillips@suffolk.gov.uk or call on 0776 420 3969.
Liberal Democrats, unlike the main parties, are year-round politicians. We don't just call at election time!
The idea of Reaching Out is to give you, the people we represent, the opportunity to speak to us about issues affecting you personally, your family or your community.
We will always listen, we may well be able to help and we can ensure your views and concerns are fed into the right places.
Over the four years of my term I hope to call on every house in the Division at least once.
Of course, if you want to see me or my colleagues just email me on craig.dearden-phillips@suffolk.gov.uk or call on 0776 420 3969.
Liberal Democrats, unlike the main parties, are year-round politicians. We don't just call at election time!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Glastonbury Rd Play Area
Met yesterday with a young Dad who is very cross with Suffolk County Council (SCC) for not sorting out some problems with the local children's play area. I wanted to go see it for myself so met him yesterday. Broken glass, graffiti, a general air of neglect. The Dad has been in touch with SCC since May on the issue and various things have, apparently been actioned - but with no resultant impact on the problem.
Today therefore I have written to the responsible officer of SCC suggesting we get together with the Dad - and any other concerned residents - and agree a way forward that we all feel we can stick to and support.
I actually think we need to go one better than no-glass and dog-poo. The whole place needs facelift. The equipment - as well as being scarred by explicit graffitti is faded and needs a lick of paint. New bins are needed and benches. My suggestion will be to get the residents and council working together to relaunch the play area very soon. It won't require a lot of money - and we could do a lot to make the place better.
I am very passionate on play areas. I have two young kids and use them all the time. None of the play facilities in Hardwick are amazing compared to ones I have seen elsewhere but they are all clean, safe and useable. Except this one. Time for action.
Today therefore I have written to the responsible officer of SCC suggesting we get together with the Dad - and any other concerned residents - and agree a way forward that we all feel we can stick to and support.
I actually think we need to go one better than no-glass and dog-poo. The whole place needs facelift. The equipment - as well as being scarred by explicit graffitti is faded and needs a lick of paint. New bins are needed and benches. My suggestion will be to get the residents and council working together to relaunch the play area very soon. It won't require a lot of money - and we could do a lot to make the place better.
I am very passionate on play areas. I have two young kids and use them all the time. None of the play facilities in Hardwick are amazing compared to ones I have seen elsewhere but they are all clean, safe and useable. Except this one. Time for action.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Horsecroft Road
There are only a couple of roads without proper pavements in Bury St Edmunds. Horscroft Rd is one of these. It sits on the southern edge of town and is the first bit of Bury you hit as you drive in from the villages just South of Bury.
Over the years, Horsecroft Road has become an increasing worry for the people living there. Speeds are high, given that people enter round a bend having been driving in rural, higher speed areas. Walking up or down the road has become more of a risk, espcially for the young and old. Pulling out of your drive even is now quite difficult.
In short, the road is too fast, too busy and something needs to be done. Thankfully there is the Horsecroft Rd Safety Group, a team of local people who have collected 157 signatures and are already lobbying St Eds BC. As the County Councillor I have been brought on board to add my weight to their cause. And as such I will be helping to raise the profile of the campaign and to argue for Quality of Life funding for Horsecroft Rd to become a 20mph zone.
We need many more such zones. This leads to a feeling of `shared space', the only real option in areas without pavements. Watch this space for updates
Over the years, Horsecroft Road has become an increasing worry for the people living there. Speeds are high, given that people enter round a bend having been driving in rural, higher speed areas. Walking up or down the road has become more of a risk, espcially for the young and old. Pulling out of your drive even is now quite difficult.
In short, the road is too fast, too busy and something needs to be done. Thankfully there is the Horsecroft Rd Safety Group, a team of local people who have collected 157 signatures and are already lobbying St Eds BC. As the County Councillor I have been brought on board to add my weight to their cause. And as such I will be helping to raise the profile of the campaign and to argue for Quality of Life funding for Horsecroft Rd to become a 20mph zone.
We need many more such zones. This leads to a feeling of `shared space', the only real option in areas without pavements. Watch this space for updates
Friday, July 24, 2009
Hardwick News 24.7.09
Today I was dealing with variety of issues across the divisions.
CLANKING DRAINS on Sicklesmere Rd (opposite Governors Mews) causing a MASSIVE racket and forcing at least one resident of Bury Park Drive to be seriously considering putting his house on the market.
DODGY FOOTPATHS (again) at Rembrandt Way. Hardwick Division seems to have the worst pavements in the country from what I have seen! Hardly anywhere has nice ones. All I can do is get damage patched. It isn't what people want to hear - they understandably want replacement - but the County Council only re-tarmacs a handful a year.
PARKING ON THE GREENS near the Hospital. This is a big inconvenience for the people up there. Visitors avoid car parking fees by leaving their cars on the Greens, often blocking people in and generally disrupting this quiet area. Residents only signs would make a real difference I feel, like they have in London.
SPEED ON HARDWICK LANE. This road is now busier and faster than ever. People don't feel safe crossing without refuges I am finding. One resident at Stonebridge Avenue wants a refuge and I am going to get our activists to check demand in the area as these things are hard to finance.
CROSSING AT HARDWICK LANE/BARONS RD. We have about 150 signatures for this now and need at least the same again. This road is now very fast due to widening and people feel decreasingly safe there. I think there is a good chance we can get this in the next year or two. Not a moment too soon, either.
TOWN GREEN AT LONGMEADOW. A group of residents is seeking to secure land near Longmeadow as a Village Green. This is very much in the hands of the lawyers as it is a legal matter over which Councillors have little power. But I feel sympathetic overall to the preservation of common land as such if it is generally used and valued by the local population in a built-up area such as this.
GUN-NOISE IN HARDWICK. One lady in Hardwick Park Gardens is complaining that the guns from the nearby farms are causing a nuisance to local residents who tire of the extreme noise. I am going to ask for the police's views on this matter.
GREAT FEEDBACK from my leaflet to all houses in the division. Really good to hear from so many people.
I AM NOW OUT OF THE OFFICE TILL AUGUST 10TH. EVEN COUNCILLORS HAVE TO TAKE A BIT OF TIME OUT.
I AM BACK ON THE STREETS THEN AND WILL BE SEEING PEOPLE ON FRIDAY 14TH AUG IF YOU WISH TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT JUST EMAIL ME ON CRAIG.DEARDEN-PHILLIPS@SUFFOLK.GOV.UK
CLANKING DRAINS on Sicklesmere Rd (opposite Governors Mews) causing a MASSIVE racket and forcing at least one resident of Bury Park Drive to be seriously considering putting his house on the market.
DODGY FOOTPATHS (again) at Rembrandt Way. Hardwick Division seems to have the worst pavements in the country from what I have seen! Hardly anywhere has nice ones. All I can do is get damage patched. It isn't what people want to hear - they understandably want replacement - but the County Council only re-tarmacs a handful a year.
PARKING ON THE GREENS near the Hospital. This is a big inconvenience for the people up there. Visitors avoid car parking fees by leaving their cars on the Greens, often blocking people in and generally disrupting this quiet area. Residents only signs would make a real difference I feel, like they have in London.
SPEED ON HARDWICK LANE. This road is now busier and faster than ever. People don't feel safe crossing without refuges I am finding. One resident at Stonebridge Avenue wants a refuge and I am going to get our activists to check demand in the area as these things are hard to finance.
CROSSING AT HARDWICK LANE/BARONS RD. We have about 150 signatures for this now and need at least the same again. This road is now very fast due to widening and people feel decreasingly safe there. I think there is a good chance we can get this in the next year or two. Not a moment too soon, either.
TOWN GREEN AT LONGMEADOW. A group of residents is seeking to secure land near Longmeadow as a Village Green. This is very much in the hands of the lawyers as it is a legal matter over which Councillors have little power. But I feel sympathetic overall to the preservation of common land as such if it is generally used and valued by the local population in a built-up area such as this.
GUN-NOISE IN HARDWICK. One lady in Hardwick Park Gardens is complaining that the guns from the nearby farms are causing a nuisance to local residents who tire of the extreme noise. I am going to ask for the police's views on this matter.
GREAT FEEDBACK from my leaflet to all houses in the division. Really good to hear from so many people.
I AM NOW OUT OF THE OFFICE TILL AUGUST 10TH. EVEN COUNCILLORS HAVE TO TAKE A BIT OF TIME OUT.
I AM BACK ON THE STREETS THEN AND WILL BE SEEING PEOPLE ON FRIDAY 14TH AUG IF YOU WISH TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT JUST EMAIL ME ON CRAIG.DEARDEN-PHILLIPS@SUFFOLK.GOV.UK
Friday, July 17, 2009
Friday 17th July 09
Day started at the Fire Station with St Edmundsbury Commander Ali Mosely. He showed me around the place and we discussed the particular fire-challenges facing people in Hardwick. The area is mainly residential and has a lot older citizens so a big challenge is basic safety around the home - not overloading plug sockets, turning off rings, general awareness. There are also a lot of young people and work takes place in all our schools educating teens about the risks and consequences of road traffic accidents. Rescue is a big part of the Fire and Rescue Teams' work and RTAs involving youngsters are a big problem in St Edmundsbury.
Then off to Priory School to meet the excellent Head there Roger Mackenzie. Roger has been at the school not far off 20 years and became head about five years ago. Priory is a lovely school which caters for children with special educational needs. The atmosphere and environment are fantastic and a credit to the staff there.
In the afternoon I tour the Nowton estate with our local Police Community Safety officer. She knows the area extremely well and is well respected by locals, as evidenced by our hour-long walkabout. Police-presence is deeply valued by the commu nity, particularly foot-patrols.
Then off on visits. I see a young woman who is organising a petition for a crossing near Hardwick Lane/Wilks Road. Then a lady who feels intimidated by speeding cars on Hardwick Lane. Then a man who wishes to create a Town Green in the Longmeadow area and has been dealing with SCC for some time on the matter. He wants my support and he has it.
Finally get home to see my letter on the high court's view that the West Suffolk option must also get full consideration in the local government review has been printed. Also come home to a large pile of mail from constituents following my letter to all 3500 houses this week. Good end to a busy day!
Then off to Priory School to meet the excellent Head there Roger Mackenzie. Roger has been at the school not far off 20 years and became head about five years ago. Priory is a lovely school which caters for children with special educational needs. The atmosphere and environment are fantastic and a credit to the staff there.
In the afternoon I tour the Nowton estate with our local Police Community Safety officer. She knows the area extremely well and is well respected by locals, as evidenced by our hour-long walkabout. Police-presence is deeply valued by the commu nity, particularly foot-patrols.
Then off on visits. I see a young woman who is organising a petition for a crossing near Hardwick Lane/Wilks Road. Then a lady who feels intimidated by speeding cars on Hardwick Lane. Then a man who wishes to create a Town Green in the Longmeadow area and has been dealing with SCC for some time on the matter. He wants my support and he has it.
Finally get home to see my letter on the high court's view that the West Suffolk option must also get full consideration in the local government review has been printed. Also come home to a large pile of mail from constituents following my letter to all 3500 houses this week. Good end to a busy day!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Meeting the Minister - and more
Not a Government one, the Minister in question being Peter Gibson who is vicar of Southgate Community Church. SGC is a vibrant congregation of 150 which worships in the Community Centre. Peter is new to the area and deeply committed to outreach work helping the community. We agree to work together where we can. Churches are key players in our communities and, as I have in the past, I sense I can work with this particular church.
Then met BSE Youth Council. All very bright young people, many of whom were entrepreneurs of various sorts. If only all SCC Councillors had so much going on. They give me a list of things they feel are important for SCC to know about in Bury, most notably how poor the main Connexions-run youth facility `46' is in the Town. I promise to raise it.
Finally met residents of Byefield Way who feel encroached upon by the garden centre which is seeking to increase its opening hours. The centre's gradual expansion over the years has added more traffic and people to this residential area and the people living there are a bit worried that St Eds is taking too soft a line. I agree to ensure a united front with my Borough Colleagues.
Three new bits of casework this week.
1. Crossing on Wilks Rd/Hardwick Lane near Hardwick Primary School. Residents want a zebra crossing where the refuge currently is. Traffic flows and usage make this a reasonable proposition but this is currently not in the pipeline. Have advised residents to start a petition that if they can start our activists will complete using door to door.
2. Traffic in Vale Lane. Lorries and cars use this road as a car-park which causes danger and inconvenience to residents of Byefield Way. Agreed to raise this with Police and Council (who seem to think this is the others' responsibility!)
3. Policing. There is strong feeling from many residents that there just isn't a particularly strong police presence/response in the town. My Green colleague Mark Ereira has expressed this view and I will hopefully join him soon in a formal meeting with the town's police.
Then met BSE Youth Council. All very bright young people, many of whom were entrepreneurs of various sorts. If only all SCC Councillors had so much going on. They give me a list of things they feel are important for SCC to know about in Bury, most notably how poor the main Connexions-run youth facility `46' is in the Town. I promise to raise it.
Finally met residents of Byefield Way who feel encroached upon by the garden centre which is seeking to increase its opening hours. The centre's gradual expansion over the years has added more traffic and people to this residential area and the people living there are a bit worried that St Eds is taking too soft a line. I agree to ensure a united front with my Borough Colleagues.
Three new bits of casework this week.
1. Crossing on Wilks Rd/Hardwick Lane near Hardwick Primary School. Residents want a zebra crossing where the refuge currently is. Traffic flows and usage make this a reasonable proposition but this is currently not in the pipeline. Have advised residents to start a petition that if they can start our activists will complete using door to door.
2. Traffic in Vale Lane. Lorries and cars use this road as a car-park which causes danger and inconvenience to residents of Byefield Way. Agreed to raise this with Police and Council (who seem to think this is the others' responsibility!)
3. Policing. There is strong feeling from many residents that there just isn't a particularly strong police presence/response in the town. My Green colleague Mark Ereira has expressed this view and I will hopefully join him soon in a formal meeting with the town's police.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Small Gains
Came off the phone just now to Steve Boor, St Eds roads and highways man.
He has agreed:
1. To drop a kerb outside Hardwick Primary
2. To repair unsafe pavements outside the school.
3. To do jet-clean of the pavements outside Hardwick shops
4. To do a sweep-clean of the pavements at 1 Constable Rd.
All within a few weeks. Nice to get something done.
He has agreed:
1. To drop a kerb outside Hardwick Primary
2. To repair unsafe pavements outside the school.
3. To do jet-clean of the pavements outside Hardwick shops
4. To do a sweep-clean of the pavements at 1 Constable Rd.
All within a few weeks. Nice to get something done.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Why we need to save our schools
Spent time this week with Tony Ballard of HC3 Community Church. HC3 meet at Horringer Court School and would like to build shared facilities on the site for use of the wider community. There is no community centre in that part of the Division, unlike in Southgate. And it shows. There is less going on, particularly for the young and the very old. B
Both Tony and the Head know this and aspire to develop the school into a hub for community action. However, the ongoing uncertainty around the Middle Schools is stalling anything major happening. At the moment, we don't know if the site will be adapted as a primary, an annexe to an Upper School or sold for development.
Of these three options, the last is the least palatable. For take away the school and you remove the only significant community resource in the area. The shops will close (they are already struggling) and the area will be simply a suburb.
This would be OK if it was an area without needs. But it isn't. Many old people live there, many not at all well off and often isolated. Young people have very little to do. Every area, and particularly those where there are social needs, needs institutions that are supported by the whole community. This is one such area.
So I am supporting HC3 and Horringer Court Middle School to fight for a future. A future in which, hopefully, there will be a Middle School on the site, or, failing that, a permanent school or community resource.
Both Tony and the Head know this and aspire to develop the school into a hub for community action. However, the ongoing uncertainty around the Middle Schools is stalling anything major happening. At the moment, we don't know if the site will be adapted as a primary, an annexe to an Upper School or sold for development.
Of these three options, the last is the least palatable. For take away the school and you remove the only significant community resource in the area. The shops will close (they are already struggling) and the area will be simply a suburb.
This would be OK if it was an area without needs. But it isn't. Many old people live there, many not at all well off and often isolated. Young people have very little to do. Every area, and particularly those where there are social needs, needs institutions that are supported by the whole community. This is one such area.
So I am supporting HC3 and Horringer Court Middle School to fight for a future. A future in which, hopefully, there will be a Middle School on the site, or, failing that, a permanent school or community resource.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Pavements outside Hardwick Primary
Visited 85 year old Doreen Roberts today who lives near Hardwick Primary. She uses an electric scooter to get around and had called me to see if I could help improve the terrible pavements just outside the school.
And what an awful state they were in too. Plus a big need for a dropped kerb for wheelchair / scooter users. SCC has a budget for hazards and I hope to tap into this.
Promised to come back to Mrs Roberts week after next. Turns out she is a former Lib Dem activist who recalls the days when we first won the ward in the early 70s.
I really like the area around there. It feels like a proper community. Kids play out. Old people walk round unmolested. No sense of threat. At its heart is a school, a church, a community centre and local shops. Take any of these out and the place would be diminished. As it is, it is a vibrant area which residents really like.
And what an awful state they were in too. Plus a big need for a dropped kerb for wheelchair / scooter users. SCC has a budget for hazards and I hope to tap into this.
Promised to come back to Mrs Roberts week after next. Turns out she is a former Lib Dem activist who recalls the days when we first won the ward in the early 70s.
I really like the area around there. It feels like a proper community. Kids play out. Old people walk round unmolested. No sense of threat. At its heart is a school, a church, a community centre and local shops. Take any of these out and the place would be diminished. As it is, it is a vibrant area which residents really like.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Pavements and Weeds - The Dirty Dozen
My letter in the Bury Free Press certainly did the trick!
I asked people send in photos of dodgy pavements and roads and I have had quite a few people get in touch.
Not quite a Dirty Dozen yet but well on my way!
Mrs M of Long Meadow sent in 20 pics of weed-infested pavements there.
And I have just had Mr R of Constable Rd asking me to go along and see pavements not replaceed in 42 years!
He tells me the old folk are terrified of falling and injuring themselves.
Will see if I can get the Free Press interested in this story. Will do a few pics and see if I can get the Council interested in sorting it out.
I asked people send in photos of dodgy pavements and roads and I have had quite a few people get in touch.
Not quite a Dirty Dozen yet but well on my way!
Mrs M of Long Meadow sent in 20 pics of weed-infested pavements there.
And I have just had Mr R of Constable Rd asking me to go along and see pavements not replaceed in 42 years!
He tells me the old folk are terrified of falling and injuring themselves.
Will see if I can get the Free Press interested in this story. Will do a few pics and see if I can get the Council interested in sorting it out.
Friday, June 26, 2009
DIary of My Week
This my fullest week yet since election.
On Wednesday I attended a briefing from the heads of the various Council heads. Perhaps the biggest message was on finance and how hard it is going to be for the next ten years. The boundaries of what the Council does are going to have to be redrawn. Spending has gone up 47% in real terms these last ten years. It will probably fall in real terms in years to come.
In the evening I attended the School Organisational Review Stakeholder briefing. In short, the programme to replace three-tier with two tier education in Bury will last the next ten years. The first stage of change will be the expansion of all primaries with capacity by two classes and the movement of others to new sites. This will be accompanied by the expansion of secondary schools to take two years at the other end of the Middle School spectrum.
The challenge for all of us is that the secondaries do not all have the current space to do this and that split sites are likely for most schools. Indeed this could be a use for current Middle Schools, creating a three-tier, two tier system!
The permutations are not yet decided and to the Council's credit they have gone out early on this to ask for ideas and create engagement. I suspect the options are narrower than we think but it feels better to be going out at this stage than later.
From here a formal proposal will be generated in October, the Cabinet will vote in June and implementation will actually take place by September 2013.
But this is just the very first phase. The Building Schools for the Future Programme (BSF) is what is planned to make all of this work long term. This is the multi-million capital programme for rebuilding all schools in Suffolk over the next decade. The worry of course is that capital programmes are the most vulnerable now we know the scale of the crisis in public finances.
The worst case scenario which was confirmed by Suffolk County Council officers at the event was that the interim solution - the split sites etc - would end up the permanent solution.
This isn't particularly desirable. It will mean lot of disruption for not that much material change. Parents will have to live with a lot of uncertainty and there will be many odd arrangements. Take my own daughter. She would have gone from Hardwick Primary to Hardwick Middle then onto King Edwards Grammer. Now she may end up at some annex of King Edwards in Westley (a village outside town) or some other place in town not very convenient. Split sites schools are harder to manage and one site generally feels it is `losing out' in terms of time and attention.
But perhaps most of all, this SOR programme without the BSF funding isn't giving our children the quantum leap in educational gain that would justify the investment in change. Indeed there is major risk of `collatoral damage' to children like my own who will be going through the system during ten years of change. Their interests are not being sufficiently addressed in this exercise. They are not even mentioned.
My view on this is that if SCC knew the way the economy would go they wouldn't have embarked on this. So unsatisfactory is the interim situation which could become permanent that it could not be justified to change the status quo. Unfortunately, SCC are part-way down the road and feel unable, I think, to change tack at this stage. Particularly given that there has so far been no confirmation that BSF is vulnerable.
Full Council on Thursday. I can't say I really enjoyed it that much. It is quite traditional in format and runs in a very process-based way. I guess this has to be so, to an extend, but it doesn't make for a particularly interesting or accessible spectacle.
Friday was spent visiting businesses and schools in my Division. I managed to get to all but one retail outlet and introduce myself. Attended Hardwick School Fair and met their excellent head Peter Dewhust. I will be formally visiting all schools before the end of term I hope.
Yesterday was, I confess, probably the most enjoyable of my days. It feels the essence of what being a Councillor is. Being out there.
On Wednesday I attended a briefing from the heads of the various Council heads. Perhaps the biggest message was on finance and how hard it is going to be for the next ten years. The boundaries of what the Council does are going to have to be redrawn. Spending has gone up 47% in real terms these last ten years. It will probably fall in real terms in years to come.
In the evening I attended the School Organisational Review Stakeholder briefing. In short, the programme to replace three-tier with two tier education in Bury will last the next ten years. The first stage of change will be the expansion of all primaries with capacity by two classes and the movement of others to new sites. This will be accompanied by the expansion of secondary schools to take two years at the other end of the Middle School spectrum.
The challenge for all of us is that the secondaries do not all have the current space to do this and that split sites are likely for most schools. Indeed this could be a use for current Middle Schools, creating a three-tier, two tier system!
The permutations are not yet decided and to the Council's credit they have gone out early on this to ask for ideas and create engagement. I suspect the options are narrower than we think but it feels better to be going out at this stage than later.
From here a formal proposal will be generated in October, the Cabinet will vote in June and implementation will actually take place by September 2013.
But this is just the very first phase. The Building Schools for the Future Programme (BSF) is what is planned to make all of this work long term. This is the multi-million capital programme for rebuilding all schools in Suffolk over the next decade. The worry of course is that capital programmes are the most vulnerable now we know the scale of the crisis in public finances.
The worst case scenario which was confirmed by Suffolk County Council officers at the event was that the interim solution - the split sites etc - would end up the permanent solution.
This isn't particularly desirable. It will mean lot of disruption for not that much material change. Parents will have to live with a lot of uncertainty and there will be many odd arrangements. Take my own daughter. She would have gone from Hardwick Primary to Hardwick Middle then onto King Edwards Grammer. Now she may end up at some annex of King Edwards in Westley (a village outside town) or some other place in town not very convenient. Split sites schools are harder to manage and one site generally feels it is `losing out' in terms of time and attention.
But perhaps most of all, this SOR programme without the BSF funding isn't giving our children the quantum leap in educational gain that would justify the investment in change. Indeed there is major risk of `collatoral damage' to children like my own who will be going through the system during ten years of change. Their interests are not being sufficiently addressed in this exercise. They are not even mentioned.
My view on this is that if SCC knew the way the economy would go they wouldn't have embarked on this. So unsatisfactory is the interim situation which could become permanent that it could not be justified to change the status quo. Unfortunately, SCC are part-way down the road and feel unable, I think, to change tack at this stage. Particularly given that there has so far been no confirmation that BSF is vulnerable.
Full Council on Thursday. I can't say I really enjoyed it that much. It is quite traditional in format and runs in a very process-based way. I guess this has to be so, to an extend, but it doesn't make for a particularly interesting or accessible spectacle.
Friday was spent visiting businesses and schools in my Division. I managed to get to all but one retail outlet and introduce myself. Attended Hardwick School Fair and met their excellent head Peter Dewhust. I will be formally visiting all schools before the end of term I hope.
Yesterday was, I confess, probably the most enjoyable of my days. It feels the essence of what being a Councillor is. Being out there.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
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