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.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
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.
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