As a resident of Greenhead Ward, it has been a privilege to represent the ward and its residents. As a resident of the ward, I use the same services as you and caring passionately about protecting our services from cuts and constantly fighting for better value for money for residents.
I have been working hard in our area for many years now, forming an effective team with my ward colleagues, Judith Hughes and Mohan Sokhal. Our aim is to instigate improvements for local people, ensuring that these improvements happen.
We work all year round on issues such as community safety, road and pavement improvements, better leisure facilities, community clean up’s and much more. We have been working hard to reduce crime, improve litter and the removal of rubbish and for the provision of better more accessible services for families and older people.
Planning
My fellow ward Councillors and I have assisted many local residents with individual planning applications and we deal with many other planning issues, for example:
Working with the Clayton Fields Action Group to protect the Village Green from development as this is an important part of our area’s natural heritage. The registration as a Village Green is being contested in the courts.
We have fought all planning applications for hot food take-aways in the Marsh area and prevented another take-away from opening on Blacker Road, Birkby.
Streetscene
We hold monthly Streetscene meetings with the various council departments responsible for the maintenance of the public realm. These include highways, road safety, Public Rights of Way, leisure, parks and open spaces, cleaning and refuse collection.
I have Chaired the Greenhead Streetscene meeting at which we consider the issues raised by residents and work to implement cross council solutions to tackling these concerns. Improvements have been made to tackling grot spots in various parts of Greenhead Ward and improving the removal of litter and refuse bins left on pavements. This meeting is also an opportunity for officers to consult us on road and pavement improvements.
We conduct regular walkabouts in all parts of Greenhead Ward to carry out an audit of the environment so we can then arrange for any problems to be remedied. We constantly report issues such as graffiti, blocked gullies, faulty streetlights, refuse and litter problems and missed bins to the council.
Surgeries
Residents contact me by telephone, post or e-mail to ask for help and advice and each Saturday my Ward colleagues and I proactively visit several streets to ask residents if we can provide any advice or assistance. This also helps us to keep in touch with what is going on in particular areas and listen to the feelings of local residents. I also pick up a significant amount of Ward work when visiting local groups.
Judith, Mohan and I work as an effective team and we have made progress on local priorities that matter most to residents.
External Bodies
I represented the council on the Local Government Association (LGA), which is the body that represents the interests of all councils in England and Wales. I am the Vice Chair of the LGA and sit on the Leadership Board and the Executive Board. I am Chair of the LGA Safer Communities Board and have worked on a number of initiatives during the year, such as bringing in legislation for anti-social behaviour and streamlining regulation for businesses to flourish.
As Chair of West Yorkshire Fire Authority we have worked to implement an integrated risk management plan which meets the efficiency targets set by central government, and reorganisation of numerous fire stations.
I also represented the council on the Association of West Yorkshire Authorities, Leeds City Region Board and the Local Enterprise Partnership. These sub regional partnerships have focussed on lobbying the Government for investment in our infrastructure and to provide support to local businesses to create new jobs. Discussions with central government have resulted in the Government offering devolution on aspects of economic development subject to the creation of a combined authority.
Local Achievements
· We introduced the one way system on Blacker Road and a customer parking scheme for people who visit the Shops.
· We successfully campaigned to remove the boulders which were blocking the access to the car park in Marsh.
· We worked with shop owners in Marsh and Birkby to improve security and enhance the local area and have prevented any new take-aways from opening in Marsh.
· We successfully campaigned to prevent a large wedding banqueting hall from opening and attracted a new business to the former DIY store in Marsh.
· Successfully combining the children centres of Birkby/Fartown & Paddock
· Many roads surfaces have been renewed such as Springwood Hall Gardens, Blacker Road and Thornhill Road.
· Greenhead Park improvements: supported a new Petanque Court and a New Bowling Pavilion was also opened.
· Every year we arranged for Christmas trees in Paddock, Marsh and Birkby.
Challenges for the year ahead
Our communities in Greenhead Ward are facing many challenges, these are:
· Poor condition of private sector housing
· Increasing poverty
· High rates of burglary and car crime
· Adult skills levels are low
· Lack of 1st choice on school places
· Isolation in the elderly community
· Cleanliness of public spaces and condition of roads
- Poor primary care and poor public health leading to too many residents with long term conditions such as diabetes and heart disease
I have been working hard in our area for many years now, forming an effective team with my ward colleagues, Judith Hughes and Mohan Sokhal. Our aim is to instigate improvements for local people, ensuring that these improvements happen.
We work all year round on issues such as community safety, road and pavement improvements, better leisure facilities, community clean up’s and much more. We have been working hard to reduce crime, improve litter and the removal of rubbish and for the provision of better more accessible services for families and older people.
Planning
My fellow ward Councillors and I have assisted many local residents with individual planning applications and we deal with many other planning issues, for example:
Working with the Clayton Fields Action Group to protect the Village Green from development as this is an important part of our area’s natural heritage. The registration as a Village Green is being contested in the courts.
We have fought all planning applications for hot food take-aways in the Marsh area and prevented another take-away from opening on Blacker Road, Birkby.
Streetscene
We hold monthly Streetscene meetings with the various council departments responsible for the maintenance of the public realm. These include highways, road safety, Public Rights of Way, leisure, parks and open spaces, cleaning and refuse collection.
I have Chaired the Greenhead Streetscene meeting at which we consider the issues raised by residents and work to implement cross council solutions to tackling these concerns. Improvements have been made to tackling grot spots in various parts of Greenhead Ward and improving the removal of litter and refuse bins left on pavements. This meeting is also an opportunity for officers to consult us on road and pavement improvements.
We conduct regular walkabouts in all parts of Greenhead Ward to carry out an audit of the environment so we can then arrange for any problems to be remedied. We constantly report issues such as graffiti, blocked gullies, faulty streetlights, refuse and litter problems and missed bins to the council.
Surgeries
Residents contact me by telephone, post or e-mail to ask for help and advice and each Saturday my Ward colleagues and I proactively visit several streets to ask residents if we can provide any advice or assistance. This also helps us to keep in touch with what is going on in particular areas and listen to the feelings of local residents. I also pick up a significant amount of Ward work when visiting local groups.
Judith, Mohan and I work as an effective team and we have made progress on local priorities that matter most to residents.
External Bodies
I represented the council on the Local Government Association (LGA), which is the body that represents the interests of all councils in England and Wales. I am the Vice Chair of the LGA and sit on the Leadership Board and the Executive Board. I am Chair of the LGA Safer Communities Board and have worked on a number of initiatives during the year, such as bringing in legislation for anti-social behaviour and streamlining regulation for businesses to flourish.
As Chair of West Yorkshire Fire Authority we have worked to implement an integrated risk management plan which meets the efficiency targets set by central government, and reorganisation of numerous fire stations.
I also represented the council on the Association of West Yorkshire Authorities, Leeds City Region Board and the Local Enterprise Partnership. These sub regional partnerships have focussed on lobbying the Government for investment in our infrastructure and to provide support to local businesses to create new jobs. Discussions with central government have resulted in the Government offering devolution on aspects of economic development subject to the creation of a combined authority.
Local Achievements
· We introduced the one way system on Blacker Road and a customer parking scheme for people who visit the Shops.
· We successfully campaigned to remove the boulders which were blocking the access to the car park in Marsh.
· We worked with shop owners in Marsh and Birkby to improve security and enhance the local area and have prevented any new take-aways from opening in Marsh.
· We successfully campaigned to prevent a large wedding banqueting hall from opening and attracted a new business to the former DIY store in Marsh.
· Successfully combining the children centres of Birkby/Fartown & Paddock
· Many roads surfaces have been renewed such as Springwood Hall Gardens, Blacker Road and Thornhill Road.
· Greenhead Park improvements: supported a new Petanque Court and a New Bowling Pavilion was also opened.
· Every year we arranged for Christmas trees in Paddock, Marsh and Birkby.
Challenges for the year ahead
Our communities in Greenhead Ward are facing many challenges, these are:
· Poor condition of private sector housing
· Increasing poverty
· High rates of burglary and car crime
· Adult skills levels are low
· Lack of 1st choice on school places
· Isolation in the elderly community
· Cleanliness of public spaces and condition of roads
- Poor primary care and poor public health leading to too many residents with long term conditions such as diabetes and heart disease
