Parks and Open Spaces:
– the return of paddling has gone through a financial process, but we have no construction dates yet, still;
– a list of all possible projects and repairs for Parks & Open Spaces has now been collated; Nonsuch Theatre have won money for the Bandstand;
– officers are closing the bowling green; but there are discussions to be had, including just what we intend to do to look after the pavilion and get it used more fully;
– progress on a play zone has gone quiet;
– we need a new community based organisation to make a bid to renew the Meadows Youth Centre, and then operate it;
Street Scene etc.:
– we have toured from QWCC to the Fire Station with a Police Commissioner candidate to explain various issues and successes regarding neighbourhood policing; progress against drug dealing in public has been sustained;
– ward walk was held in the south-west of The Meadows today;
– the streets are a mess especially around the north end of the Old Meadows; Meadows ward was typically served by 3 members of staff, but we are now at 2;
– community wardens are not having the impact they once did;
– we are concerned about management of Henry Court by Longhurst Housing Association;
Street works:
– officer capacity to implement the already agreed scheme for residents parking permits for the New Meadows home zones, and for Mundella Road & Mundella Court, is unavailable until April;
– an e-bike stable for Bridgeway Shopping Centre has been designed;
– we’ve identified the sites for dropped kerbs most likely to help the less mobile;
– some surprise at change in policy to the use of ANPR cameras.
Welcome:
– we welcome new residents at Station House on Crocus Street and Quays Close off Meadow Lane.
Looking forward:
– the budget is set at full Council on March 4th, 2pm, with protests starting at 12:30pm;
– there is a community volunteers and activists meeting on March 6th, 4pm at Meadows Library;
– re-surfacing of parts of Bathley Street starting 4th March;
– new electric bus fleet to serve NCT Green 11 in April;
– I have been talking to a new council officer about a forthcoming Local Area Energy Plan.
Struggling to keep up with duties. Did not manage to issue a community progress report to community activists during February and I am not keeping up with all policy queries from the public.
Focus has been attending budget meetings (incl. witnessing Exec Board; reviewing previous budgets), (Health and Adult Social Care scrutiny committee,) Audit committee (and preparations), preparing for the imposition of national Government officials to run the City Council (at a cost to the public of £2/3 million), supporting calls for more money to be granted to the City Council including the petition being presented to national government.
I have published a cuts impact statement.
Notable that the budget paper for agreeing at full council are still not published.
I am pleased that FoML have started a protest about Meadows Library.
We should maximise the advice to people in financial difficulty.
TO BE REVIEWED AND POSSIBLY SOME PHOTOS TO BE ADDED
News and political views 