A new direction for Bury South

I was amazed, well maybe not, to read that the Labour Government are now proposing a tax on the use of broadband.  This Labour Government’s thinking must be let’s see what people are buying these days that we can tax – oh yes broadband well let’s tax that now.  Many families are struggling hard enough to make ends meet without yet another tax. 

This weekend there will be two more action days at the Radcliffe Boys and Girls Club lots still to do but begining to make a real difference!  See you all there for the community day on the 7th October from 3.30pm if not before.

After a weekend of celebrating the new year with my family it is back to work this morning with the usual Monday morning pile of mail and staff issues to sort out at work.  Thanks to all who came along to help yesterday at yet another Action Day at the Radcliffe Boys and Girls Club the difference we are making is really beginning to show and we shall certainly be ready for the community party on the 7 October.  My daughter went back to Nottingham University today with a car full of left over food and I think some clothes!  She has just texted me to say that she has arrived safely as a mother I do worry about her driving all that way.  It is not so much her driving as other drivers as well taking care and when you hear of so many driving and insurance scams these days it is a concern. 

Talking of driving I was shocked to read about the Government’s plans to vet all parents who drive children to youth clubs or gatherings.  This is something we all do on a voluntary basis and would cost a huge amount of money as well as put most people off acting as a volunteer driver and to target 11 million parents is complete nonsense.  I was not surprised therefore to learn that the Government has said it will back down and dilute the proposals even though the ministers’ words are so vague and will defined that non one will know where the dividing line is and will end up being registered to be on the safe side.  A Conservative Government would review the whole safeguarding process and scale it back so that common sense applies.

Off to the Group meeting tonight.

This weekend will be one of celebrations for many Bury residents with both the Jewish New Year and Eid falling at the same time.  I will be spending time with my family at home this weekend and catching up with news from my son who hopefully is returning from the United States today after a two week holiday.

This week I started off by Chairing the Whitefield and Unsworth LAP on Monday night where one of the main agenda items is the  launch of the Whitefield Traders Group and the I Love Whitefield litter campaign.  A further strategy meeting about this was held the following afternoon.

Tuesday night I went out and about in Whitefield meeting local residents and had the usual round of meetings including two at Six Town Housing where I am a Board member.

I am looking forward to a relatively restful weekend ready to face a busy week ahead next week!

I am somewhat confused!  Not difficult some of you who know me may say but I have read and re-read the notice of motion put forward by the Liberal Democrats for tomorrow night’s Council Meeting entitled ‘Olympics’.  It reads ‘this Council resolves to use this country’s upcoming decade of sport to promote sport and physical wellbeing across the borough’.  Perhaps this should also state ‘as long as it is not in Heaton Park’.  I am not saying that I agree with the use of Heaton Park as a private sports facility and agree that sports should be encouraged and in fact I am delighted that Whitefield LAP in the past few months have given out grants to two football teams to help them develop their facilities.  But I am still confused?

Spent the weekend catching up with casework, post and the newspapers!  Yesterday most of the day was spent a the Training Ground of Manchester City Football Club where we held a tournment to raise funds for the Nicky Alliance Day Centre.  The rain managed to stay off until the last hour and as far as I know it was enjoyed by all our participants. 

This morning went along to a meeting with my LAP Manager to finalise plans for next Monday’s LAP Meeting at 6.30pm at Elms Community Centre.  Tonight is another Group Meeting at the Town Hall.  Tomorrow spending the afternoon at the Boys and Girls Club finalising plans for the community party in October and also seeing what else needs to be done for the club’s renovation!

I took advantage of the Bank Holiday to visit some friends who live near Cheltenham on Sunday.  Well actually they are friends of my husband who he met when they were all out in Israel on a kibbutz 30 years ago this summer!  There was a rather larger reunion 20 years ago when I recall my elder daughter was just a baby in a pram ah!  Well here we all are 20 years later!

Last night I attended the Conservative Group Meeting at the Town Hall where I caught up with my colleagues after the summer and was sorry to hear about the accident that Cllr Yvonne Creswell has had and wish her well soon! Looking out of the window it looks like the summer really is well and truly over!