A new direction for Bury South

I was back at the Hilton Hotel again yesterday in my capacity as Chief Executive of MJCC where we held a very successful fundraising luncheon.  Ian Simpson, architect of the Beetham Tower, Urbis and Number 1 Deansgate to name a few, was the Guest of Honour.  Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council,  who is also involved with the regeneration of Manchester City Centre, also spoke briefly. Over 510 guests attended and the who’s who of the property and finance world were there.    I took the opportunity to speak with Sir Howard about the plans for Heaton Park.    After a very non-eventful Executive Meeting at the Town Hall where the ‘water feature’ in the Longfield Centre was discussed I arrived home early to play a charity bridge match and my excuse for losing is ‘that we didn’t have the cards’.    

On Tuesday night I went to parents’ evening at my younger daughter’s school.  I take great pride in the fact that she goes to the same secondary school that I attended but I still feel in awe when I walk through the corridors and I do like to embarrass her by saying ‘in my day….’

The Department of Health is to release a code of conduct on the use of advertising by individual hospitals to attract patients.  If Fairfield Hospital is allowed to do so and go for celebrity endorsement I wonder who they will choose?   I have today written to find out whether Fairfield and North Manchester General will be allowed to advertise and if so how much of their precious budget they intend to use towards this.  Their reply is awaited ………   

Out last night in Besses with our local campaigner, Geoffrey Berg,  calling on some of the residents to ask them about their feelings about crime in the area, sentencing and police powers.  We received a welcome reception from most residents who were pleased to see us taking an interest in their concerns.  The issue of fly tipping also came up once again.

Off to Cllr Campbell’s favourite meeting tonight - The Radcliffe Area Board – so more about that tomorrow no doubt! 

The wet, cold weather yesterday afternoon did not dampen the enthusiasm of 24 pupils of Whitefield Primary School who merrily dug a ditch along the edge of their playing field, which runs along a public footpath, to plant shrubs which included hawthorne, holly, alder, ash and willow.  When fully grown these will provide an attractive hedge and also have the added advantage of attracting wild life and birds.  This area of the playing field is a magnet for fly tipping and it was encouraging to see the children from this school helping to improve the environment in which they live and learn.  Once again funding from the Area Board made this possible and I was proud as Area Board Chairman to be able to go along and see them at work – I would have helped if only my back had been better!

Thought I would have a ‘night off’ last night and went along to a charity event at the new Hilton Hotel in Manchester - it is an amazing building but a bit disconcerting when the stairs move under your feet – I like to keep mine firmly on the ground!

Last night after the Area Board Chairs Meeting I went off to Cheerz in Tottington for ‘training’ on gift wrapping.  The purpose you may ask – well my colleague Cllr Yvonne Wright, Chairman of Bury Blind Society, has arranged for a Christmas gift wrapping stall to be set up outside M&S in the Millgate in Bury to raise funds for this wonderful organisation and a team of 40 volunteers went along to learn how to ‘wrap’.  So anyone who is in Bury doing their Christmas shopping on a Thursday night, Sunday or Wednesday (day time) do come along to see us and help to support our efforts – the noise of scissors and ribbon is still going through me this morning!

Last night Bury South Conservative Association hosted our Annual Dinner with Den Dover MEP as the guest of honour.

  It was encouraging to see so many CF members there and  Den took the time to speak to each of them individually.  Following an update on his role in Europe and the Conservative’s input he answered a range of questions including ones on energy and financial irregularities and the European audit.   

Last night I was delighted to be the Guest of Honour at the Presentation Evening of Prestwich Arts College at what could have been one of the last such evenings had things turned out differently in July this year.  The achievements of the students who left this year is a credit to their hard work and commitment during a difficult year together with the determination and drive of the staff, parents and Governors.  Mr Geoff Barlow, Head Teacher,  should be an inspiration to us all – well done to you Geoff and everyone involved last night -they are a credit to you and the school.

Yesterday afternoon’s Area Board meeting saw the last ‘guest appearance’ of Inspector David Jones, who has been the Whitefield and Prestwich Township Inspector for the past 10 years.  Dave will be greatly missed and I for one have found him extremely helpful and supportive – good luck Dave in your retirement. 

On Monday I spent the day with some of my Council colleagues visiting Six Town Housing’s offices and the Victoria Estate in Whitefield as part of a piece of research the scrutiny commission I am on is carrying out into anti social behaviour.  The 3 Labour Councillors whose ward the Victoria Estate is in proudly showed off the work that had been done to ‘make it better’.  I would hate the have seen the state it was in before – I would be ashamed to take such pride in it!