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HELP FOR STUDENTS

My idea for an E Book for first time students has already caught the imagination of some as I visit a household in Glossop where they have had the expereince of their daughter going to University away from home and struggling to adapt to a new way of life. I will be releasing more detail of this project next month, but in the meantime I wrote an article for our latest newsletter suggesting the idea. I am delighted to see that there does appear to be a need for it.

FRIENDS OF THE EARTH

I have been invited to address the High Peak Friends of the Earth meeting. I talk to them about the Conservative party's wish to have a new climate change bill included on the Queens speech. Only this lunchtime, David Cameron has questioned the Prime Minister as the whether he will include such a bill. A request that he declined to answer. The FOE group raise many issues as I go through our thinking on climate change. They are very committed to the ideals and whilst we agree of many things there are other points that they make which I had not considered, this gives me more food for thought.

MORE MISERY FOR FARMERS

I have always tried to operate an 'open door' policy where people can always contact me direct with their problems and issues. Consequently I visit many different people from different walks of life. Today it is farming as I visit a farmimg family in Birch Vale. We discuss lots of their problems, over the course of my visit not leats the scandal of the Single Farm Payment scheme that has been so badly managed by the Government that not only are there farmers on the brink of bankruptcy, the rest of us will also have to foot part of the bill as the Governments incompetence has landed us all with a £130,000,000 bill ! ! !

DERBY UNIVERSITY

I am honoured to be asked to the first prize giving ceremony of the Buxton Campus of the University of Derby. It is a fabulous occasion as we parade through the streets for a church service. We then return to the Dome for the prize giving. As an ex student of what was the the High Peak College of Further Education, I am delighted to not only meet many local people but also to run into a coupld of my old lecturers from thos days.

MAYORAL RECEPTION

The annual Mayoral Reception is a chance for the Councillors of all Parties to support the Mayor and to get together outside the heat of the Council Chamber. Thsi years mayor, is my friend and Conservative colleague Derek Udale. It has been a long time coming for Derek having served as Deputy mayor for the last three years. The Pavilion Gardens provide an excellent meal and Derekis well supported by many Councillors

LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEK IN FULL SWING

A week of visiting local schools and explaining to students all about local democracy and how it al works. As ever I am always impressed with how interested young people are in political issues. I think it is the Party politics that they seemd turned off by. However after several school visits this week, I feel that it has been as much as a benfit to me as it has to the students

LOCAL DEMOCRACY WEEK

At this time of year the Council always asks for Councillors to go into the local schools to speak to students about local democracy. Today we go through the exercises that we will be doing with the students across the High Peak over the next week

MORE FOOD HALL

EMDA do further presentations open to all Members of the Council. I and some of my Conservative colleagues insisted that all the Members had this opportunity. I am disappointed to see that many Councillors from other Groups failed to take this chance. Yet again my views are reinforced. The proposals are flawed and the idea will not work. I also believe it is not what the town wants !

CATCHING UP

Several days in Bournemouth mean that I have plenty of work to catch up on. I visit several people within my Council ward who have issues that they want me to look at

HIGH PEAK RADIO / FOOD HALL / BBC-4

I speak on High Peak Radio about the Conference. I relate to the listeners what a happy and optimistic conference it was. I cant remember such an upbeat conference for many years.

BOXING DAY !

The hotel is a lot quieter in keeping with true Boxing Day style. All I am missing is a hand knitted jumper so often seen in houses up and down the country on Boxing Day.

CHRISTMAS DAY !

Merry Christmas is the cry that resounds around the hotel. The menu for the evening meal is full Christmas Dinner and the hotel is full of festive spirit. Meanwhile at the Conference, word seems to have got out about my hotel, and people who see me are wishing em a Merry Christmas and shaking my hand at every turn ! The whole situation is becoming the subject of much mirth and merriment amongst my fellow delegates. I have even been offered some mince pies !

CONFERENCE DAY 2 (CHRISTMAS EVE!)

At the Conference there are more interesting dicsussions and meetings. Things in the hotel take a bizzare twist. Apparently I am booked in on their 'Tinsel & Turkey' special. This entails the hotel recreating Christmas in real time for all their guests. I seem to be the only Conference delegate at the hotel. Further enquiries reveal that the hotel is owned by a coach company who specialise in coach holidays and this is the season for Christmas breaks. That means today is designated Chritstmas Eve !! The evening meal menu has Christmas Eve emblazoned across it and the food has a festive edge to it. I think I will devote my blog to the Christmas aspect of my hotel as the Conference will be well reported elsewhere

CONFERENCE - DAY 1

The Conference starts in earnest and its a whirl of meetings, discussions and fringe events. I always plan well ahead to ensure that i dont miss any fringe events of debates that concern issues affecting the High Peak.

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