W.C 16th February

Monday

Well it seems that residents in All Saints Road and Abbots Road have taken matters in to their own hands again, by parking cars on the road, legally I must add, to prevent TWM using these residential roads. TWM then decided to divert buses down Colmore Road, which is just as bad.

Sooner rather than later, I'm sure, TWM will realise that these roads are totally not suitable for them to run as bus routes.

Link to residents blog site; Http://www.busesallsaints.blogspot.com

Here is a link to the latest planning applications received by last Friday, look at them it does seem that the purse strings have been pulled very tight, with only three applications and then only small works, so to speak. Http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/media?media_id=282008

There are still serious problems with Dawberry Fields Park, this time, not the skatebowl, but land drainage, where rainwater is lying on top of the soil ( which has a very high clay content), but after persistent rain starts to run off and threatens to flood near by homes. With the amount of Council money spent on this park, one would have assumed that they could have got it right.

Had a session in the Labour Members room this afternoon, discussing campaigning and preparation for next years elections, how we should proceed and what we're already doing, how effective and target setting. I thought it was quite a proactive session.

Tuesday

Attendance at Housing and Urban Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee, was in order, on the agenda were a number of key items affecting the private sector housing area. However the one in to which I got my teeth, was the support from the Housing Department towards "independent Living", this is when older residents, both Owner Occupiers and Council Tenants, ask to have things done in their homes to help them remain there, rather than being pushed or shoved in to care homes. I questioned officers about the lack of support and that original documentation from "Occupational Therapists" detailing what was necessary, was being ignored by "non-professional O.T's". It seems that I hit a raw nerve, as Councillor John Lines, the Cabinet Member for Housing, came out with a diatribe of abuse, so much so, that The Committee Chair had to tell him to shut up, to which he stormed out of the meeting, taking several of his key officers with him. He really is one hell of a bully, or at least tries it on with me, but he's met his match here.

Later in the day I sent out a press release calling on The Government to relax the controls on Council House building and I'm sending an invite to Margaret Beckett to come and see for herself, talking to council tenants and some of the 30,000 on the Council's waiting list for homes.

On the Evening I attended Druids Heath Housing Liaison Board, who are a group of residents living in the area, both Council tenants and owner occupiers, all of whom care deeply about the area. We heard that a number of litter bins paid for by the HLB have been installed and quite soon up to ten planters will be located around the area, to brighten up the place.

Wednesday

Just been reading what Council Officers think should be done to rejuvenate the whole of south west Birmingham, with some of the tens of millions of pounds given to this council to create jobs and training opportunities, by The Government. It amazes me the time it takes to get things moving with officers and reading this report, it will take even longer. Is it a case that those in employment, don't see the importance of timing and getting people back in to either employment or training.

I've been invited to participate, with a small number of other Councillors in "The Comprehensive Area Assessment" peer review, being undertaken by the Improvement and Development Agency, to see how effective Birmingham Council actually is.

Thursday

Contacted by a couple of residents from All Saints Road area again this morning, to see if I knew anymore about what TWM are doing regarding buses down their road. I do have a planned meeting next Wednesday (25th February) to discuss further any new proposals they may have on this matter.

Just been notified that The Government is taking a dim view of Birmingham Council's devolution measure, whereby residents are able to strongly influence decisions. Unless things change soon, I can see them imposing measures to ensure that residents do have more say in what gets done and how it's done in their area.

Spent the afternoon, working on behalf of residents at my advice centre at the Dell Meadow Centre and not everything is Rosy in the garden for this council, with damp and mould in houses, people threatened with eviction, because one department is incapable of talking to another.

Friday

Today is anti-graffiti day, or at least it is in Druids Heath. A large squad of adults and youngsters from bells farm Community Centre set off in teams, I was in Team 1, to litter pick and remove graffiti from specific areas. Not quite all of Druids Heath has been covered, but nearly three quarters.

The team I was assigned to, Team 1 was sent to the Manningford Road area, around Manningford Road, Eagle Croft, and Bicknell, whilst some of the team set about litter picking we started on removing graffiti from the play area, then moved to gable walls, telecoms boxes and finished off over painting fences, covered in graffiti. Although I wasn't able to stay the whole day, having to leave at 2:00 O'clock, a great deal was achieved by then.

I would like to put on record my thanks to Sgt Markham, her team and all of the adults and youngsters who worked really hard at making a tremendous impact.

As I said previously I had to leave Druids Heath early to attend a meeting of Labour Party Spokespersons at The Council House, to dissect the proposed budget at next weeks Council Meeting. While Mike Whitby may well be talking about the lowest Council Tax rise in the country, he forgets to mention the significant cuts in service that goes along with it. Remembering though The Labour Government has handed over probably the highest "Rate Support Grant" in decades to this Council, more than £70million than last year. If only they used that money to provide services than spend on "Business Consultants" all residents would be better pleased at what they were achieving. I'm still adamant that this years council tax rise should be ZERO, particularly given the current climate and that The Government has given an additional £70million to spend on services, that's an increase of more than 3.3% in "Rate Support Grant", this along with money spent on Consultants would enable them to continue to provide Day Care Centres, Children Services, where too many have either died or been injured, assist some owner occupiers with essential building repairs and allow older residents to remain in their own homes.