West Midlands Regional Conference

One of the great things about being a Labour Party member is the opportunity to represent the local branch as a delegate to regional and national conferences.  This year, I was fortunate enough to be a delegate to the West Midlands Regional Conference, which took place at Warwick University.  This was a completely new experience for me, and I had no idea what to expect.

On arrival, we were greeted by stalls from unions such as Unison and the GMB and parties such as the Co-operative.  There was opportunity to chat and to network with colleagues from other parts of the region.  The hall was packed, and there was a real buzz about the place; proof, I think, of the angry passion that the ConDem cuts have injected into Party members.

I was very eagerly anticipating Ed Milliband's opening speech; not since I heard John Smith speak in my first year of university have I had the opportunity to hear a party leader speak.  He did not disappoint - he spoke with integrity and passion and all without notes for at least 25 minutes.

Other MPs spoke too - and Tom Watson had a standing ovation before he even arrived, and I was very excited to get the opportunity for a brief chat and a photo with him during one of the breaks.

It  wasn't all photo opportunities and speeches though.  If you are into politics, social policy and like a good debate then conference is a great day out.  I attended two policy forums and put the world to rights (if only it were that simple!) with delegates from across the region in a group facilitated by Jack Dromey MP, shadow minister for Housing.

I left the conference feeling invigorated and inspired, particularly by Labour's 5 point plan for jobs:

 A £2 billion tax on bank bonuses to fund 100,000 jobs for young people

 Bringing forward long-term investment projects

 Reversing January's damaging VAT rise

 A one year cut in VAT to 5% on home improvements,

 A one year national insurance tax break

When I joined the Labour Party I felt like I wanted to make a difference, and at the conference I really felt like I had the opportunity to influence policy and discuss my views with MPs - joining the Labour Party isn't just a paper exercise, but a chance to make your voice heard.

Want to join?  Click here and start making a difference.

Coventry Labour

I love seeing political leaflets from the past, particularly my father's first election campaign leaflet from 1972.  Nice beard, dad.  This however, is truly amazing and could almost be used today, albeit with some minor changes.  We'd have to change the bit that talks about us all being in it together, it all sounds a bit too much like David Cameron.  Still, I think we are the only party that could truly claim that.  

Back then we were fighting social injustice and striving for economic security.  As I said, we could almost use it today, as the coalition cuts deepen and the economic problems worsen.  If you aren't a party member, and are concerned by the cuts and want to help fight against social injustice, join us now!

Thanks to BY from Warwick Labour Students for this picture.  

Is there a need for a Women's Group?

This is the topic up for debate at the first meeting of the Warwick and Leamington Women's Group, which meets for the first time on 17th October 2011 at The Warwick Arms, on Warwick High Street at 7.30pm.

Non-members of The Labour Party will be warmly welcomed, but please not that for the time being at least, our group is open only to women.

We'd like this group to act as a means for challenging and eradicating discrimination and promoting equality, and act as a discussion group on topics of interest to us. Please contact me for more information, or join the Facebook group here.

Cuts to Legal Aid threaten us all

Warwick Branch Labour Party met this evening, where we discussed the proposed changes to the Legal Aid system, following a very informative and interesting speech from Catherine Stephens, a local solicitor.  She outlined how the proposed cuts will go to the heart of a fair and just society, and create a situation where only those with the ability to pay will have access to justice.

The right to legal representation is a fundamental principle of a civilised society and is a cornerstone of our way of life.  Legal Aid was established in 1949 following with progressive legislation around access to health care and education, regardless of means.

If these proposals are implemented, individuals will no longer be able to access legal aid for help in cases relating to debt, employment, housing and clinical negligence, which has a far-reaching impact on the most vulnerable in society.  Legal Aid will be removed from big chunks of family law, such as divorce and private children act applications.  Additionally, eligibility for legal aid will be tightened, meaning that  far fewer people will find themselves eligible.

Disproportionately, women and children will bear the the brunt of these cuts, which is becoming a hallmark of the coalition government.  So why, then, are we not hearing more about these cuts?  Perhaps it is because we don't know how important Legal Aid is until we need it: when we are at our most vulnerable and in need of help and advice.

The Government, as always, expects the Big Society to pick up the pieces, but I cannot see how this woolly concept can provide an effective infrastructure to meet the needs of people seeking resolution to their problems.  Alternative sources of advice, such as the CAB, will be dramatically hit by the cuts and so we can see avenues of help and support disappearing, and individuals left floundering and silenced.

If you don't think this affects you, you are wrong.  It affects us all.  Are you employed?  Many people fight unfair dismissal cases with the support of Legal Aid.  With these cuts, there'll be nothing you can do to challenge unfair dismissal unless you can afford to pay a solicitor, and of course, if you've just lost your job this may well be unlikely.  Are you married?  Got children?  There'll be no more legal aid for family matters like divorce, custody and access.

Everyone should have access to justice.  Legal Aid is an integral part of a fair and just society, which is threatened by these cuts.  What can you do?  Make your voice heard.  Write to your MP, your local paper, tweet and make others aware.  Sound off For Justice have a petition, a blog and more information about this threat.  Locally, we'll be campaigning against these cuts and if you'd like to join us, contact me for more information.

Save the trees

It really has been a while since I've blogged, in fact, my blogging hiatus has lasted just a little longer than the school holidays, and this is no coincidence.  Normal service will now resume.

I should declare an interest here.  I live in a relatively new housing development in Warwick West.  We're lucky in that the development has a few wooded areas, a lake with swans and ducks and a bit of other wildlife.  Just next to the park, there are around 80 trees that must be as old as the estate itself, so around 15-18 years old.  They are mature, nice-looking trees and the local children love running around in them, and here I should add that my 4 year old and his friends run through on the way home from school.  There are squirrels, hedgehogs and all the usual things you find in a wood.

Anyway.  I was at a meeting on Monday night to discuss the funding arrangements for our new community centre, when the Conservative District Councillor Higgins announced that she had good news: the trees are to be felled.  I immediately asked for clarification and she told me that it is what the residents want and it is tough, the trees are to go.

On my way home, I canvassed for opinions and everyone is in favour of keeping the trees, but in the absence of any real information about why, or the number of trees at risk, I felt a real sense of injustice.

The land is currently owned by the developer, who are yet to hand it over to the District Council for ongoing maintenance.  I gather that the Poplar Trees are at risk of being destroyed as the Council will not take on the land while they are there.  I fired off a load of emails to anyone I could think of, and finally established that there are 20 trees to be felled in October.  The developer told me that the trees were grown for wind protection for the other trees, and having served their purpose, they must now go.

Now, I know nothing about trees, but one thing I do know about is managing change from my former career in HR.  First off, if you want to do something deeply unpopular, you need to sell the benefits to stakeholders. WDC and the developer agreed something and failed to consult with the people most affected by this: the local residents, who learned about the decision from someone who did not understand the emotional attachment people have to their environment.

Secondly, and this is perhaps the most galling, it has been presented to us as a fait accompli.  There has been no consultation, or discussion, just a decision.  One of our neighbours had to get planning permission to convert his garage into a room, which requires consultation with neighbours, yet the felling of 20 trees, which has such a significant impact on our community, requires no such process.

Following my increasingly irritated emails to council and to the developer, a letter will now be sent to all local residents in the vicinity, and, to the residents association.  I've also arranged to meet with the officer responsible for woodland management, in the hope of finding out the reasoning behind this decision.

What has been encouraging is that all of the local residents are ready to fight this decision, and I have had emails and facebook messages from people needing to know more.  I think our next step is to listen to the advice from the WDC officer, and consider whether he can present a compelling argument to fell the trees.  If he can't, then it seems like this is one community ready to fight to keep the trees.

News update

It has been a while since I've blogged on what we've been up to as a Labour group, working for the residents of Warwick West.

In the last few weeks, we've had a flurry of complaints from residents about road safety, both within the town centre and in Chase Meadow.  As town councillors, we don't sit on a council that has any control over the roads but what we can do is help residents lobby for road safety measures.

In Chase Meadow, the road in question is the main road through the estate and current parking arrangements mean that residents are having difficulty in crossing the road safely, as parked vehicles are impossible to see through.  In the morning school children compete with the traffic and quite a few people have remarked that double yellow lines and a pedestrian crossing would make this road a lot safer for everyone.  We've contacted the Highways team and have started to lobby hard for this.  I am very glad that the Chase Meadow Residents Association are in agreement with this, and hopefully we will be able to report an update on this soon.

I've also had contact with the District Council about the grass cutting, weeds and other maintenance issues around the Chase Meadow estate.  The officer agreed to talk a walk around with me and we identified quite a few problems that need addressing, including overhanging branches, faulty streetlights and unadopted roads.  He wrote it all down and promised to work with the County Council to resolve these issues.

It doesn't really matter that some of these things are County or District functions.  Personally, I am happy to take up any issue that is concerning residents and find a way through to a resolution, and I know that this view is shared by my Labour Party colleagues in Warwick.

virtual Rhyme Time

Oh, and I thought this deserved a post all of it's own. The report states that people want to access services in their own homes, and that people want to "participate in Rhyme Time in their homes and nurseries."

Thud.

Rhyme Time is great. I've been to loads of them with my children over the years. It is a chance for parents, caters and children to learn new songs, sing them, have a chat with others and get out of the house. It is the kind of service that becomes a lifeline for parents and caters of young children, not to mention the added bonus of getting young children into the library habit at a young age.

WCC don't specify how they will deliver this in homes but if they are thinking that this is the sort of thing that could be done effectively through the Internet they are wrong. Children don't need more screen time, they need less. My optician is always going on about the rising numbers of children with eye problems, which he blames on TV and computers. No. We should be doing all we can to encourage parents and carers of young children get out of the house and into libraries and childrens centres.

Once again, families and young children are the victims of the Tory cuts.

Libraries in Warwickshire

I'm sure that by now, you've all devoured all 326 pages of the Warwickshire County Council report outlining the future for libraries in Warwickshire? I know a few people will have done so already, in preparation for Overview and Scrutiny on Monday, but I suspect most people have their attention on the current hacking scandal.

Firstly, many sympathies to the WCC employees who are now at risk of redundancy. I worked for Warwickshire Libraries for quite a few years as a HR Manager, so I know at first hand how hard-working, committed and skilled library staff are. They've also been through significant change over the last few years: the introduction of RFID and one-stop-shops have impacted negatively on morale and have reduced the number of qualified librarians in our libraries. I hope that suitable alternative employment is found for the displaced libaries staff, but I suspect that this will prove impossible. I wonder what the combined costs of the redundancy and pension fund will be, against the anticipated savings? It is a question that should be asked.

I feel very sorry for the communities who will lose their libraries. The report states that some groups have come forward to take over the library for the benefits of their communities. I have grave concerns about the ability of volunteers to run an efficient and effective library service. Who decides when it will open? Will volunteers seek to exclude users, either accidentally, or by design? What if a volunteer can't be bothered to get out of bed one day? Who checks on the quality of the service, and who is accountable for the things that happen there?

WCC states that these groups will be able to rent the current library building at a peppercorn rent for up to 5 years. How will these libraries continue past this magic 5 year point? I fail to see how a volunter group will be able to sustain the service beyond 5 years, given th need to maintain IT, pay for utiliies, insurance, and all the other things that local authorities are able to pay for more effectively through economies of scale.

Sea Scouts HQ Myton Fields

Last Thursday night I was asked to attend a meeting of the Town Council, at which the 2nd Warwick Sea Scouts presented their vision for their new HQ at Myton Fields.  It was clearly a meeting in which tensions were likely to run high; residents of Myton Road were invited and they have already been to the press with their concerns.

The current position of the Sea Scouts is one of uncertainty.  They have a deteriorating clubhouse, situated at the far end of St Nick's Park.  Their membership is full, and they have a 175-strong waiting list.  Their current clubhouse is at the end of its life, and probably contravenes all sorts of modern-day building regulations.  A purpose-built, modern clubhouse would allow them to reduce their waiting list and provide the sorts of facilities that a modern day scouting movement requires.  

They outlined their plans for the clubhouse: a building on Myton Fields that is bigger than their current clubhouse and would allow them storage for their kit.  From the drawings they presented, the building is no taller than the tallest house on that side of the road (and of course, Warwick School towers over them all) but it is clear that the residents are not happy with the proposed site, so to an extent, the size of the building is irrelevant.  

So what is the problem with building on Myton Fields?  Well, clearly for the residents in that area, flooding is a real, and very serious issue.  The current building is in Flood Zone 1 and the proposed building is in Flood Zone 2.  Now, I don't claim to understand the Flood Zones at all, but before the building commences, there will have to be a proper assessment of the risks involved.  Needless to say, any building in this area will have an impact on the flood risks for the future, and that is worrying for everyone.

Secondly, parking was highlighted as a real concern for everyone.  During the summer, Myton Fields is turned into an overflow car park for people using St Nick's and it is always full.  During the winter, it is usually too muddy to use and is locked.  The residents raised some very valid points about access to the new building, and at this stage there appear to be no real answers.  Clearly, Warwick School looks like the most sensible solution, as they have adequate parking onsite and a drop-off area.  If a negotiated solution with Warwick School could be agreed, then this might mitigate some of the impact.  How possible this might be, I don't know.

One very interesting proposal emerged during the meeting: the possibility that the Sea Scouts might be able to demolish their existing building and re-build there.  We'd understood that the landowner (Warwick District Council) had previously wanted this but Cllr Doody agreed to discuss this possibility with the Sea Scouts.  Clearly, this was welcomed by the residents and it was finally agreed that all sides would sit down and discuss again.

Quite where this will leave the Sea Scouts is another matter.  I very much hope that a solution is found.  I don't think anyone would disagree that they need this new HQ.  That a youth organisation is flourishing at this time, and has such great aspirations for its membership, should applauded and supported.  I very much hope that a way can be found to make the HQ and its neighbours co-exist happily.

This meeting illustrates for me very clearly the very difficult decisions that planning committees have to make.  I'm not a member of the WTC planning committee, and it is the Warwick District Council that will pass or reject the planning application, and I certainly don't envy those that will have to make the final decision.  The Sea Scouts were not compelled to hold the meeting, and I think it is was sensible of them to reach out to their neighbours and seek their views.

The Great Fire of Warwick

Most people think of London when they hear the words "Great Fire" but Warwick was also decimated by fire in 1694. With this history, it is somewhat surprising that the decision was taken to close the Warwick Fire Station.

This week, at the Warwick Area Forum, we discussed the District Council's Local Plan. More information on this can be found at . Within the plan, there are three suggested scenarios which outline low, medium and high growth for Warwick District, which means at least 250 new homes and 4 hectares of land for new business. In the high growth scenario, around 800 new homes would be built and 5 hectares of land would be found for business.

So what does all this mean for Warwick? Well, for a start, what people have told me is that there is a severe lack of affordable housing, and we need more low-cost housing, not expensive new housing. With 3,000 people on the waiting list in the District for council housing, there is a demonstrable need for affordable housing.

One resident remarked at the meeting that it would irresponsible of the council to build more houses in Warwick without a fire station to protect us. She wasn't arguing the case for no development, far from it, but expressing frustration with the consultation process which asks for residents and stakeholders to state preferences for levels of growth without clarity regarding the infrastructure requirements.

After the Great Fire, Warwick was re-built and the designs were declared a "triumph for urban design," and the town planners were praised for their vision. We should aim for the same praise with this Local Plan.

Warwick Town Council and Twitter

After a long wait, I shall attend my first committees next week as a Town Councillor.  I am a member of the Economic and Tourism Committee, which plays an important role in the economic development of the town.  From using Twitter, I've had some tweets from local businesses concerned about the number of empty shops in Warwick and @warwicktweeter tweeted me with her fantastic idea to utilise these empty shops to allow local businesses to showcase themselves in our town centre with a series of pop-up shops.  I think this is a great idea to bring variety to our town centre and to assist local businesses, so I will raise this next week at the committee to see of this is something our Town Centre Manager can work on.

I am also a member of the Finance and Policy Committee, which scrutinises the expenditure of the Town Council.  The town's allotments, crematoria, park benches, war memorial and others are controlled and maintained by the Town Council, as well as a sizeable budget for granting money to voluntary groups in Warwick.

Something that John Holland (fellow Labour Town Councillor and ex District Councillor) and I have noted is the apparent lack of a coherent vision for the Town by the controlling Conservatives, and this is again something we wish to address.  We've noted the inequity, for example, in the provision of play areas; Chase Meadow is about to have 3 separate play areas for children whereas the neighbouring Forbes Estate have none.  Whilst this isn't something the Town Council can control, it is something that it should certainly seek to influence.

We've already had successes in bringing community grants to Warwick West, by helping members of Racing Club's Boxing Club to access funding and by assisting Westgate School in getting money for their new community kitchen.  If you are involved in a community group and would like more information on the Town Council grants, please contact me or John Holland.

Warwick Area Forum

My ward colleague, John Holland and I attended a meeting of the Warwick Area Forum this evening. The purpose of the meeting (I think)is to allow various councillors, council officers, residents and police the opportunity to discuss and debate priorities and issues about Warwick.

Tonight was fairly well-attended, they said. But given that there are 30,000 people living in Warwick I'd remark that the attendance was very low. Every face was white, over 30 and involved in the community in some way, I'd say. It is open to all but I'd suggest that 6pm is a difficult time for parents sorting out young children, people without transport, older people, people who work, in fact, probably most people. In fairness, the people who were there were asked about this but we were all clearly able to get there!

Anyway, tonight's business was fairly unsurprising. The Sgt for the Community Police Team gave an excellent report on community policing, and pledged to do better at communicating with residents. Issues raised by residents included anti-social behaviour by some young people hanging out by the train station, speeding and theft.

An officer from the Council's Community Safety Team told us about a volunteer community speed watch initiative, which funds a minimum of 6 volunteers to provide speed watches. Like other parts of Dave's Big Society, they have struggled to get enough volunteers to make this work.

There was discussion about 3 grant applications from communitty groups. The forum has £8,000 to allocate and tonight there was an application to fund a youth arts project. It seemed like a deserving, and exciting project for youth in the town. Unsurprisingly, there was a disappointing response from two of the Conservative County Councillors who spoke negatively about the application. Luckily the majority of attendees voted to allocate some money, and we meet next week to decide how much.

I picked up strong feelings about the closure of the fire station, and this, and other Conservative cuts, were raised in connection with the Local Plan. Whichever option for growth is decided for Warwick, we need to make sure that the current infrastructure improves, as even the option for low growth involves additional housing and development. Oddly, some of the Conservatives spoke against the decisions made by their own groups. Bit misleading for folk, I think.

What are we up to?

From time to time over the last few weeks I have intended to write a blog post about what we are up to as Town Councillors.  When I agreed to stand for the Town Council I had no idea what the time commitment would be; as a District Councillor, I'd heard that I could expect a commitment of around 20 hours a week.

I've posted previously on my attendance at Mayor-Making at the beginning of May.  Since then, the Labour Group have been allocated places on the various committees.  I'm very pleased to sit on two committees: Economic and Tourism and Finance and Policy.  Both of these committees meet for the first time in mid-June.

I attended an Open Day at The Old Court House at which the plans for Unlocking Warwick were unveiled.  I spoke to various people involved in the project and I put forward a few ideas of my own about how the pubic space can be used by the community.  My 4 year old son put forward an idea of his own: a corner with a few books and toys for children.  I'm looking forward to seeing the building transformed and public use increasing.

This week, Councillor John Holland and I met with the Community Workers at The Packmores Centre in Warwick.  It was very interesting to see the range of services that are delivered from there.  So, we are getting around the town and finding out what the current issues facing residents are.  Clearly, the loss of the evening bus service in Warwick is going to have a detrimental impact on the town, with people unable to get home from work, access services in the evening and access public transport.

I've also been asked to try and sort out the grass-cutting on Chase Meadow verges.  Some are maintained well by the District Council, but some areas were looking incredibly neglected.  It appears that the difference in standards is due to the fact that some roads are unadopted and are therefore maintained by the developers.  I've been asked to write a piece for the Residents Association on this issue, and outline who residents should contact with complaints.  Happily, the area in question has now been cut and I am hoping that this is due to my intervention!  Who knows, it could just be a coincidence.

Next week, we are off to the Warwick Community Forum so I shall blog about that next week.  I've finally got onto the invitation list for these meetings, having missed out on an invitation to one this evening.  I couldn't get childcare at such short notice, but it is quite concerning that the elected representatives aren't invited to these things!

Grant applications

I was approached this week by the Headteacher of a local primary school, who wishes to apply to Warwick Town Council for a grant.  We've yet to meet to discuss the project in detail, but thought I should blog about it here.  It seems that one of the functions of the Town Council is to grant money to voluntary bodies and charities, so long as they meet certain criteria.  One of the functions of the town councillor is to speak to interested groups and sign off applications.

If you are part of a charity or voluntary group and want to know more, please contact me for further information.

Mayor Making

I attended the mayor making celebrations at The Court House, Warwick today.  This also served as my first council meeting.  The purpose of the meeting was to thank the outgoing Mayor, and appoint the new Mayor, Trudy Offer.  More about the office of the Mayor can be found here.

Our robes and gloves weren't entirely what I expected and I'm not entirely sure how I feel about them.  On one hand, Warwick is a beautiful, historic town and the gloves and robes are part of Warwick's rich history.  On the other hand, the ceremonial dress imposes a formality on the proceedings which may serve to exclude the wider community.  However, it is very early days so I shall keep quiet for now.  I wonder what others think?

Mayor making

I received my first bundle of papers addressed to Councillor Clarke today, inviting me to Warwick Town Council Mayor making at the Town Hall. Rather surprisingly, councillors have to arrive early for "robing" which will make what to wear rather less important. I shall blog on Thursday about that!

I've also got the minutes of meetings from the last few months so I'll be able to acquaint myself with current town issues. If you are resident in Warwick and need help with a particular issue, please contact one of your Labour councillors on warwickwestlabour at gmail dot com.

News from the count

We spent a very long, hot day at Stoneleigh Exhibition Centre for the count, which was expertly organised by the Distict Council. I felt very sorry for the count staff, who had to put up with extremely hot conditions and scrutiny by us weary candidates.

Sadly, the Labour Team narrowly missed seats on the District Council, by a tiny margin of just 30 votes. In brighter news, we won two of the Town Council seats in Warwick West and will attend our first meeting on Wednesday, 11th May 2011.

We enjoyed campaigning in the ward immensely and have gathered information on many issues which we will now do our best to address in our new roles as town council members. We promise to work hard to represent the ward.

We'd also like to thank all who voted for us, we very much appreciate it.

Calm down, dear

I wasn't really surprised by Mr Cameron's sexist and arrogant performance today. Sadly, this lack of integrity and values seems deep-rooted in the Conservative Party.

Over the last year, the Tory-led County Council has embarked on a quest to become a commissioner of services, rather than a provider of services. Fire Stations, Libraries, residential homes, home care, the youth service, all reduced or closed and communities left reeling. I'm not particularly surprised by all this. If people vote Tory, then they shouldn't be surprised when services disappear. It's what they do, what they believe in.

Imagine my confusion yesterday, when a leaflet popped through the door from the Conservatives, stating that they DON'T believe in cuts to front-line services. Clearly they've forgotten about all those they've made already. It would be funny, if it wasn't so misleading to voters. I think it is irresponsible to mislead voters in this way, and once again shows a lack of integrity within the Conservative Party.

There is only one party who can provide front-line defence against the cuts. Vote Labour on 5th May.

So what is this election for?

I was asked this question on the doorstep last week.  I was about to launch into my response when I stopped for a moment.  To say that I am the candidate for the town and district council answers the question but perhaps doesn't really give the full picture.  What is the purpose of a district councillor?  This blog post gives far more detail than I gave the Warwick resident as I'd interrupted her lunch, but I thought it was worth blogging about.

The primary role is that of representation of the people living within a particular ward, no matter what party the councillor represents.  So, whether your vote is Labour, Conservative or Independent, the candidate who gets the most votes will be your elected representative.   Your representative is the person responsible for participating in any decision-making relating to District Council business through Council meetings, membership of committees (such as planning) and local voluntary bodies.

Additionally, councillors will take on casework relating to any issues or problems raised by people living within their ward.  If elected, your Labour candidates will hold regular and accessible surgeries so that problems can be discussed face-to-face.  We'll also be at the other end of the phone, email or letter.  It doesn't matter how you contact us, we will do our best to resolve the issue for you.  Between us, we have years of experience of dealing with local government bureaucracy and know how to get things done.

I've blogged previously about our manifesto and what we promise to do if we are elected and gain control of the District Council.  Outlining the vision and strategy for the Council is an important aspect of the work of the Councillor, which is why it is important to vote for the party that not only is passionate about making Warwick District a fair and thriving place, it is also deeply committed to public services.

There are other duties, too.  Councillors are required to scrutinise the work of the council.  This provides a check on the activities of the Executive (sometimes called the Cabinet) through the power to call-in decisions.  Councillors also monitor and review policy formulation and implementation by council staff, including the development of policy and quality.  Councillors are also required to play a regulatory role by participating in things like Licensing Committees.

All of these roles and responsibilities have a direct impact on the quality of life in Warwick District.  We all use council services: refuse and recycling, street lighting, car parking, schools, trading standards, social services - these are all council services.  They aren't all provided by the District Council, of course, but if you have a problem with one of these services you'll probably turn to your local councillor for assistance.  Councillors exist for the Town, District and County, but we'll know how the issue needs to be addressed.

Make sure you play your part in protecting our quality of life, and making Warwick District a fair and thriving place.  Use your vote on May 5th, and vote Labour.  We promise to carry out the role of the councillor in a responsible and effective way, and will work hard to represent the interests of Warwick West residents.  Not only are we a hard-working bunch, we are deeply committed to Warwick.

Youth Service Consultation

The Conservative-led Warwickshire County Council is currently undertaking consultation regarding the proposed closure of Coten End Youth Centre, which is located within Warwick.  Bizarrely, the only public consultation was scheduled to take place at a youth club in Kenilworth.  Close enough, one might say, for those people with access to cars, but probably not for the young people currently using the centre.  Given that we are leading up to the exam period, holding an evening consultation for young people who are probably (hopefully?!) revising for their exams is bad planning, but it is the holidays after all.

John Holland, one of three Labour candidates for Warwick West, raised this at the Forbes Network Meeting and demanded that proper consultation take place within Warwick, so that everyone wishing to attend may do so.

Consultation regarding the closure will now take place at Coten End Youth and Community Centre on Tuesday, 3rd May 2011 at 6.30pm.  One of the Labour Team will be in attendance.

Fire

Sadly, a fire has damaged a building near Friar Street. Hearing about fires like this brings sharp focus to the decision made by the Tory-led County Council to close Warwick's fire station. When I tell people from outside the area that soon Warwick will no longer have a station, they find incredible that a prominent Market town would be without. Those that have experienced gridlock on the road between Leamington and Warwick are doubly so.

Just for fun

You've got to love the iPhone. I'm using a handy app to track the distance travelled while out leafleting and canvassing. Today, I logged the grand total of 3.36 miles out campaigning. I wonder how far I'll walk between now and the election?

A change in the air

I've been reflecting on yesterday's canvassing. Apart from return to the beautifully sunny weather, I've noticed that residents within Warwick West have become more inclined to stay on the doorstep and chat with us. Maybe it is the weather, but I think it is down to the increasing media coverage of the election and the cuts really starting to hurt. We've gained a very useful insight into the local issues concerning Warwick residents, and this will form the basis of our action plan for change if elected. More on than later!

Our first batch of leaflets went out yesterday and just a few hours later one was spotted in the window of a house in the centre of Warwick. Now that is efficient! We are very grateful to those people who show their support in this way, it is genuinely appreciated.

Why stand?

I attended the launch of the Labour Group Manifesto at Leamington Town Hall on Monday.  The manifesto itself was the result of several group away days and it outlines what we promise to do as a group if elected.

Speaking at the event was John Barrott, Leader of the Labour Group at Warwick District Council, and James Plaskitt, the former MP for Warwick and Leamington.  I was asked to speak as someone new to fighting an election, and so the night before I jotted down the main reasons that led me to stand.

Ultimately, I have the coalition government to thank for that.  I, like many people I speak to, feel a sense of disgust that a government without strong mandate is ripping holes in our communities.  I see this election as an opportunity for all of us who are suffering as a result of these cuts to send a strong message to Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg.

We didn't vote for women and children to face a disproportionate burden of the cuts by the Tories.  As a mother of two young boys, I have noticed already the impact of the squeeze on our school budget, and people like me all over Britain will be worried about the impact of cuts to tax credits and child benefit against the rising cost of living.  We didn't vote for that.

In Warwick we stand to lose our fire station, together with a 25% cut to Warwickshire Police.  Even our bus services are threatened.  We didn't vote for that, and we didn't vote for the closure of libraries, youth services and residential homes for the elderly.  Our children, our families, our community, will all suffer when these vital services are slashed.

Only this week I heard on the news that more and more nurses are considering strike action over the cuts and poor morale, and there is fierce opposition to the scale of the NHS reform proposed by the Tories.  We didn't vote for that either.

Now, I stand at the schoolgate with the other parents, chat to my friends, to other businesses and find that suddenly nearly everyone has found politics.  I know I'm not alone in finding a desire to fight back against the destruction of our services and our communities.  Since May last year, over 50,000 new people have joined the Labour Party, fired by a desire to do something against these cuts.  With these elections in Warwick District, we have an opportunity to send a strong message to the Tories.  If you feel powerless and vulnerable by the scale of the cuts, take this opportunity to vote for the party who will be your voice in these tough times.

I'm standing because I care about Warwick and Warwick District.  I care about the services delivered by the local authority, be it County, District or Town Council.  I care about the people who work in challenging public sector roles who are worried for their jobs.  I worked for a local authority for over 10 years and worked with many people facing redundancy.  Almost all of them spoke passionately about the impact job losses would have on the community; without homecarers, social workers, school crossing controls, who would deliver those services?  The need for them doesn't disappear when the service is withdrawn.

I care about Warwick because I live here, run a business here, and want my family to grow in a community that is fair to all and where everyone thrives.  That is why I am proud to be part of the Labour Party and why I chose to stand for election now.

Welcome

Welcome to the blog of the Warwick West Labour Team. Together, we are standing for election to Warwick District Council. We promise Warwick residents:

Homes that will meet local needs
Job opportunities for all our community
Supporting vibrant community and voluntary action
Keeping our district green and clean

The promises above were agreed by the group of Labour candidates and current councillors standing for the District Council. The promises are contained within our manifesto, which outlines what we promise to do for the residents of Warwick District if we gain control in May 2011.

So who are we? Rebecca Clarke is a HR professional who now runs a local business. She is a governor of Newburgh School and a mother of two pre-school aged boys. John Holland works in IT training and is a Director of Warwick Folk Festival. He was previously Chair of Warwickshire Association for the Blind and received an award for his work as a school governor. Catherine Stephens is a child protection lawyer who works with children and families in Warwick. Catherine works primarily within legal aid.

We are currently knocking on doors around Warwick West, chatting to residents about local issues. We are covering around 3 miles a night on foot, so look out for our red rosettes in your street.

We will use this blog to update you on our policies, campaign and local issues. If we are elected then we will publicise our regular surgeries here too.