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Welcome to my Blog

Welcome to my blog. This is a new feature and my first attempt at 'blogging'. Please feel free to email any comments or suggestion that you may have on the blog to hpca@tory.org

I hope that it will give you an insight into my work as the Parliamentary Candidate and also Councillor for the Chapel West Ward. Also I hope to use it to give you a slightly light hearted look at politics and local Govt. as when amusing incidents occur, as they tend to do in life.  

ANNUAL MEETING OF HIGH PEAK BOROUGH COUNCIL

Following Cllr. John Faulkner's decision to stand down as Council Leader, tonight's meeting is when a successor is chosen. At the meeting Cllr. Tony Ashton was elected as Council Leader with Emily Thrane as his Deputy. John has done a great job and we are all looking forward to building on the foundations already laid

POST OFFICE DISCUSSIONS

Over the last few weeks I have been meeting with postmasters across the High Peak to discuss the impending announcement regarding closures. I would like to stres here that I have not sought to obtain any privileged information, nor have I been offered it. What I have sought to do is to speak to the Post Offices about their hopes and fears for the future and how they believe the network should be taken forward in the bet economical way without the wholesale decimation that this Government seem hell bent on !

THORNSETT SCHOOL

A visit to Thornsett school to discuss the fact that they have been left out of proposals for new schools in Derbyshire. Thornsett does really well but the premises are completely unsuitable. They in no way meet any diability criteria for access. Both myself and my colleague and ward Councillor Tony Ashton got involved with the school a couple of years ago when we were led to belive that they were a priority for a new school. It has come as a hammer blow that they are not on the list in the present consultation

PRIDE OF WHITFIELD

This is a great community group who are working hard to raise funds for a new allwether surface play area in Whitfield. The thin that impresses me particularly is the involvement of young people. They occupy all the committee places and adults are their purely to guide and advise. They have already raised a lot of the money they need, they are awaiting a decision from the Football Foundation on the rest

WARD ISSUES - BURRFIELDS ROAD

A visit to a resident on Burrfields in Chapel to check on the continuing problems regarding emissions being experienced by the neighbourhood. There does seem to be some improvment, but it is too early to say that the problem has gone away. I will continue to work with the residents to monitor the situation and work towards a solution

ST GEORGES DAY PARADE

Despite the torrential rain, the St. Georges Day parade through Buxton is a well attended event with Scout troops from across the Borough in attendance. Following the parade there are speeches and presentations in the Dome in Buxton. I along with the Mayor. Cllr. Jean Wharmby accompanied by her consort George march with the scouts.

MEETING WITH RENT SERVICE

The Rent Service attend the meeting with Officers of HPBC and also Members to discuss the situation regarding Local Reference Rents. I invited Members of all Political Parties to demonstrate that I am intent on working towards a solution and not making political capital out of what is a very serious problem for many people in and around Glossop. I was impressed that the Deputy Chief Executive himself came from London to the meeting. The discussions were very productive and the Rent Servie Officers were made very aware of the posiiton. They repeated their early assurances given to me that they would review the situation as a priority 

STOCKPORT HOMES

As part of the study we are undertaking into the way in which High Peak Community Housing operates, I and my colleagues Cllr.s Robin & Linda Baldry and Cllr. Chris Webster today visit Stockport Homes to see how they operate. As an ALMO they have a lots in common with HPCH and the visit is not only interesting but provides a valuable insight into things that we can look at for HPCH

ASSAYING IN BIRMINGHAM

A day away from politics. As well as my Council work and that of Parliamentary Candidate, I work as an assayer. This is interesting as it enables me to get into companes and industry. The things I learn are very often useful in my political roles. Today it i smy job to supervise the loading of Aluminium scrap for recycling. As the price of metal continues to rise, so does its scrap value. I notice every time I do this work how the security at these sites increase as their stocks become ever more valuable

CANCER SELF HELP GROUP

I have been invited to the furst meeting of a new self help group being set up in Buxton. There were only a few of us there but I hope that as it progresses then the group will grow. Groups like this can provide and enormous source of help and comfort to not only cancer sufferers but also their families as they fight the disease and its symptons.

AN EVENING WITH MICHAEL PORTILLO

Appearing at Buxton Opera House, Michael talks about his times in politics and his subsequent career as a broadcaster. Following this he takes question from the audience. Several friends an collegaues from High Peak Conservatives are in audience to listen to what is a fascinating evenings entertainment.

BUXTON FESTIVAL LAUNCH

Along with several other Councillors I attend the official launch of this years Buxton Festival. As ever there is a wide range of producytions on offer. Well worth a visit. Check out their website www.buxtonfestival.co.uk for more details. I would encourgae anyone reading this to visit Buxton. The festival receives universal acclaim acros the country, coem and see what the fuss is all about !

FREE SCHOOL BUSES IN GLOSSOP

Following representations from local residents, I walk the route from Shirebrook estate to the Hadfield campus of Glossopdale Community College. Derbyshire County Council have doen some restoration work on a footpath making it, in their eyes, a suitable route for children to walk to school. By using this path the route is now less than 3 miles making the children from Shirebrook ineligible for free bus travel to and from school. I have concerns over the safety of the footpath in the winter months when short days mean that children travel to and from school in the dark.

RENTS SERVICE - HOUSING BENEFITS RATES

As you will see form articles in the news section there is a big issue over area rents and housing benefits levels. I am absolutely furious with The Rents Service. I have tried repeatedly to get them to come the APril meeting of the Social Inclusion Select Committee of the Council on April 14th. Thye continue to refuse point blank! WHat chance has democracy when these people refuse to come and speak to ELECTED Councillors to tell us what the situation is and what we can do. It typifies the way that the country is being run in a centralist top down manner. Many things in politics make me frustrated and annoyed - this attitude has made me angry beyond belief. So much so I will not put any more in the blog today for fear of using 'unparliamentary language' ! ! ! 

SUPPORTING PEOPLE / WHITFIELD / SIMMONDLEY

First thing a meeting of Supporting People Commissioning Body in Matlock discussing things that are being doen to help people across the High Peak and Derbyshire. Following that meting its off to WHitfiels and Simmondley to look at the proposed sites for the two Multi User Games Areas suggested for these two areas.

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