DRUIDS HEATH GETS £1/2 Million GRANT

The Government announced last week that they will be giving Birmingham City Council nearly £1/2million to spend on sorting out some of the serious problems in the area.

I’m very pleased at this move by The Government, but I have real concerns that some senior council officers will squander this money on wages and consultants, without anyone who lives locally seeing any REAL improvements..

I believe that residents should have a MAJOR say in how this money is spent. 

What I will say is that this grant shows a commitment to making sure, that OUR community and its people know, Labour are on their side. No favours. No privileges. No special interest groups. Just fairness.

CHINN BROOK CLEAN-UP

On a damp Sunday morning recently, an intrepid group of residents, council officers and myself tackled some of the rubbish and junk dumped in to the Chinn Brook over the summer months.
Whilst we don’t claim to have cleared away all of the rubbish, we did for the time being, allow the brook to flow freely. The continual dumping in the area of the Chinn Brook, is not only unsightly, but in a real good downpour of rain, it could lead to flooded gardens and possibly houses of residents nearby.

LOCAL COMMUNITY AWARD WINNERS

Congratulations to Michael Finnemore, who recently won outright the community leader’s award at the United Streets of Birmingham. Michael is a glowing example of someone who regularly goes out of his way to help others living in our community.

South Birmingham Community Radio, whose producer is Penny Whelan and operates from The Maypole Centre were also an award winner at the same event.

NEW SCHOOL CROSSING

Bells Farm School Crossing

At long last a new school crossing is going into place shortly, after me and Steve McCabe MP highlighted the need for one, with the support of concerned parents earlier this year.
Work on the new crossing should start early December and will making crossing the road for the many children who attend this popular school much safer.

NEIGHBOURHOOD OFFICE TO CLOSE

Birmingham Council is now threatening to close Druids Heath Neighbourhood Office and the one at Yardley Wood and replace it with a new office for you to go to in Selly Oak!!!!!!! This programme is all part of "Customer First" a project originally thought up by some of the business consultants engaged by the council to spend your taxes. So far they have cost over £500 million in the last four years.

I will be the first to say It’s bad enough having to queue for an appointment at our local office, but closing this and our other local office is the last straw.

WHERE IS THE HELP ?

Over £220 million Borrowed For Council Houses – But Yet Nothing for Owner Occupiers

The Council has spent more than £220 million on repairs to 65,000 council houses, which fail minimum housing standards. I will be the first to admit that previous Labour administrations didn't help to improve things for many tenants.
Yet the current administration will not give any support to the 153,000 privately owned home owners whose homes also fail new minimum standards.
What annoys me most is that owner occupiers are generally first to pay council tax, first to pay all bills, but for this council, owner occupiers are always last in the queue for grants or support, which I find totally unacceptable. What do you think?

LEANDER GARDEN SUCCESS

NEW FENCE ERECTED
New metal fencing has been installed in Leander Gardens alongside Cocks Moor Woods golf course, after I was  approached by local residents to help them. Youngsters, using the golf course as a short cut, had been tramping down plants in residents gardens, while bursting through the dilapidated fencing put up many years ago.
The new fencing will give some added security to a number of older residents, who were concerned about tackling the youngsters about their behaviour.