How busy has your councillor been?

Here is the latest Reading councillor activity information. Front Office is the system that councillor services uses to log requests from councillors – on a whole range of issues from a broken lampposts, to housing issues to education questions.

As others have pointed out this information should be taken with a pinch of salt but I still think it is useful and that the Council should publish it itself, but it doesn't.

So that it displays correctly on my blog I have hidden the columns for the months May to October leaving just the total from May to November and the November column. If anyone is particularly interested let me know and I can send you the whole spreadsheet.

		FRONT OFFICE ENQUIRIES 2011/12
Councillor	Ward	No of enquiries	Nov
ANDERSON, James	KENTWOOD	6	2
AYUB, Mohammed	ABBEY	10	0
BALLSDON, Isobel	THAMES	41	7
BEARD, Peter	TILEHURST	12	1
BENSON, Daisy	REDLANDS	64	5
CHOWDHARY, Jamie	PEPPARD	51	1
CUMPSTY, Andrew	CAVERSHAM	29	1
DUVEEN, Ricky	TILEHURST	32	1
EASTWOOD, Melanie	PARK	24	11
EDEN, Rachel	WHITLEY	59	3
EDWARDS, Deborah	SOUTHCOTE	31	4
EDWARDS, Kelly	WHITLEY	20	0
ENNIS, John	SOUTHCOTE	44	3
GAVIN, Jan	REDLANDS	66	13
GITTINGS, Paul	MINSTER	21	5
GOODALL, Glenn	REDLANDS	35	2
HACKER, Sarah	BATTLE	41	5
HARRIS, Tim	CHURCH	19	1
HARTLEY, Jon	PARK	49	0
HOSKIN, Graeme	NORCOT	7	0
JANJUA, Azam	CHURCH	27	12
JONES, Peter	NORCOT	6	0
KHAN, Gul	BATTLE	27	5
LIVINGSTON, Marian	MINSTER	5	0
LOVELOCK, Jo	NORCOT	79	9
LUCKETT, Dave	CAVERSHAM	18	1
MASKELL, Chris	BATTLE	15	3
ORTON, Mike	WHITLEY	33	2
PAGE, Tony	ABBEY	88	12
PUGH, Frederick	MAPLEDURHAM	5	0
RALPH, Mark	PEPPARD	43	1
RODDA, Matt	KATESGROVE	40	6
RUHEMANN, Pete	SOUTHCOTE	31	5
RYE, Rebecca	KATESGROVE	30	0
RYNN, Jenny	KENTWOOD	24	2
SKEATS, Jeanette	THAMES	1	0
STANWAY, Tom	CAVERSHAM	15	3
STEVENS, David	THAMES	0	0
SWAINE, Warren	KATESGROVE	8	2
TICKNER, Bet	ABBEY	27	8
VICKERS, Sandra	TILEHURST	37	5
WARMAN, Emma	KENTWOOD	16	10
WATSON, Debbie	MINSTER	12	1
WHITE, Rob	PARK	289	27
WILLIS, Richard	PEPPARD	29	4
WOODWARD, Paul	CHURCH	28	1
	TOTAL	1594	184

New Town Primary School Solar Schools Project

A few weeks ago I visited the Newtown primary school Christmas fair. As well as enjoying a number of tasty snacks, I was delighted to find out that they are taking part in the 10:10 solar panel project. See below for more information. I have a book of tickets if you want to buy one in person.

"New Town Primary is engaging in an ambitious fund-raising project over the next few months. We are trying to raise £15,000 to pay for the installation of solar panels on the roof of the school.

This will save us in energy costs, will provide us with some much-needed extra income through the ‘feed-in tariff’, and will help to raise awareness of energy and environmental issues within the school and the local community. The scheme is a pilot being tested by the 10:10 charity which has led a national campaign to get people to reduce their carbon emissions.

The aim of the fund-raising is for people to buy virtual tiles or panels on a virtual school roof – the money then being used to pay for the actual installation of solar panels. Each tile costs £5. Each panel costs £100. The equivalent to sponsoring an individual who was running the London Marathon at £1 a mile could raise £25 or 5 tiles.

The cause is a worthy one. The kids are great. The school is raising money itself, and within the local community. However, New Town is not a wealthy area. We help ourselves, but we need the help of the wider community as well.

If you wish further information, for example about sponsoring tiles or a panel, please use the web link to the Solar Schools site below, or contact the lead governor, Susan Rippon or myself, at: newtownsolar@gmail.com

If you are able to support the project, the easy way to make a donation is via Pay Pal.

Do this via the web site: http://www.solarschools.org.uk/newtown

The site gives further information on the scheme. If you wish, you can track the progress of the project and customise your tile(s) or panel.

If you don’t like to use Pay Pal you can send a cheque, payable to New Town Primary School, to the Bursar at the school.

Solar School Project,

New Town Primary School,

School Terrace,

Reading, RG1 3LS.

Thank you in anticipation for your help and support. It is very much appreciated by everyone connected with the school.

Malcolm Morrison

Malcolm F. Morrison

Chair of Governors"

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year

With massive cuts to public services, rioting and a general strike over pensions, this year has been a tough year for many. And depending on which economists you have faith in we could be going backwards further still to either the 1970s, 1930s or fifth century (fall of the Roman Empire)!

It hasn't all been bad, locally we have been continuing to work with the community to improve the area and have had some success on school places, the perennial issue of parking and with our living wage campaign. And things could always be worse – being a LibDem for example ; )

Christmas is nearly here though. I don't do Christmas cards, presents etc. For me Christmas is about people. Over the last few weeks I have been making an effort to catch up with friends and tomorrow I will be heading off to see my parents in Congleton, Cheshire.

With all of the pressure to have a good time at Christmas, on top of other problems unfortunately it can be a rubbish time of year for many. We can't work miracles, but as always are happy to try and help.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Bins on pavements

In Park Ward one of the worst areas for people leaving their bins on the pavement and blocking it is the Pitcroft/Grange Avenue block. This both creates problems for people getting down the pavement and makes the area look a mess. We have been lobbying officers for the last few years to take action on this issue.

I was pleased to find out recently that officers have been using the approach, piloted in Katesgrove, of writing to persistent offenders. I went for a walk around the area a few weeks ago and the situation was much improved. I hope this can be sustained, but I know it will be a challenge with a high turnover of the population in the area...

October & November update – schools, parking and carols

Christmas is almost upon us so I have been getting along to school and community Christmas fairs with Park candidate Jamie Whitham and Melanie.

December also means Christmas carols. I am a rubbish singer, but the various carols services give me the opportunity to sing my little heart out without anyone noticing how bad I am. In between singing and eating I have been keeping busy in the Ward and in Council meetings – see below.

As always, if you want to be kept updated on local issues please sign up to our monthly newsletter.

Update in numbers:

Council meetings – 4
Surgeries – 2
School governor meetings – 3
Community meetings and events – 25
Enquiries and requests for repairs from residents -- unfortunately I can't get this information at the moment.

Some of our action:

- Greens say "fair pensions are worth fighting for"
- Greens call on Council to mark Arthur Hill Baths centenary by giving them a make-over
- Crescent Road free school moves forwards...a bit
- Reading Borough Council's home insulation rate lags behind national average
- Join the Green campaign for tighter controls on houses of multiple occupation
- Residents' parking in the east of Newtown
- St John's primary school expansion Q&A

Some of our results:

- Greens have living wage success just in time
- Help clear the Kennet Side as part of Reading RESCUE
- Litter picking in Palmer Park this Saturday
- we have continued to work on the bread and butter of local politics getting a fly tipping cleared, street lights fixed and graffiti removed.

Expenses:

None claimed.

Gifts to declare -- over the value of £25:

None.

My interests are published on Reading Borough Council's website.

Basic monthly councillor allowance (pay) including my Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) for being group leader before deductions: £864

Formal residents' parking consultation launched for east Newtown

Following on from my previous posts on resolving parking problems in Newtown, the formal consultation has been launched. I have appended the text of the letter to residents below.

Also, follow these links for a plan view of option A, option B and option C. As mentioned in the letter below large-scale versions of these are available in Palmer Park library.

The explanation for residents' parking rules can be found here.

In addition to the letter Newtown Residents' Group/Kennet and Brunel Community Association have organised a public meeting with speakers on this issue on Thursday December 15 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Warehouse, Cumberland Road.

"Dear Resident,

RESIDENTS’ PARKING IN NEWTOWN - CONSULTATION

We have received many requests for a residents’ parking scheme in individual streets and areas where competition for parking spaces between residents and commuters/shoppers is high.

You may be aware that this issue has been looked at before in your area with the previous consultation being inconclusive. However, your Local Ward Councillors have requested further work to develop three options for residents’ parking in your area.

Following discussions with your Local Councillors, Coventry Road, Filey Road, Freshwater Road, Liverpool Road, Manchester Road, Norton Road and Radstock Road could become part of the residents permit scheme that already exists in Cholmeley Road and beyond.

We have prepared this consultation based on three different residents parking scheme options and it includes possible changes to how Liverpool Road currently operates and changes to some of the existing one-way streets.

Option 1 (Approx 627 Spaces) – One way Liverpool Road eastbound (apart from between London Road and Radstock Road), retain existing one way restrictions in surrounding roads, all junctions protected with parking restrictions.

Option 2 (Approx 627 Spaces) – One way Liverpool Road westbound (apart from between London Road and Radstock Road), reverse existing one way restrictions in surrounding roads, all junctions protected with parking restrictions.

Option 3 (Approx 600 Spaces) – Liverpool Road Two-Way with footway parking areas and restricted areas for traffic passing points, retain existing one way restrictions in surrounding roads, all junctions protected with parking restrictions.

The attached plans show the proposals and they include how many formal parking spaces can be achieved for each option. All of the options shown on the plans will be shared-use between 10am and 4pm Monday to Sunday allowing 2 hours parking for daytime visitors without the use of a permit.

A summary of the rules for a residents’ parking scheme is attached for information.

Please note we are consulting on whether residents want a permit scheme introduced at this stage so please do not apply for a permit.

As the study area is quite large we have reduced the scale to fit on an A4 page which has reduced the clarity of some text. In view of this, large scale plans will be available for inspection at the Library in St Bartholomews Road during normal opening hours. In addition, officers will be available at the Library on 15th December 2011 between 3pm and 7pm to answer any questions you may have.

The next stage will be to analyse the results of this consultation and report back to your Local Ward Councillors on the results. This will follow with a formal report to the Traffic Management Advisory Panel in January 2012.

Your views are really important to help the Council make the right decision on parking in your area so please return the attached questionnaire in the enclosed pre-paid envelope by 23 December 2011.

…"

East Reading after school club threatened with closure

Due to government cuts the Council is considering shutting the East Reading after-school club if the number of children attending cannot be raised. Following pressure from me a parents' consultation meeting was held this evening.

The club is based at Newtown school. The average daily attendance at the club over the last year is approximately nine children. The council says that for the club to break even it needs over 32 children.

The total cost of the whole club is £49,300. Fee income for the whole year is £12,920. The overall predicted cost to the Council for the coming year is £36,380.

Because of the cuts imposed by the Conservative led government the Council has to make millions of pounds worth of savings again this year and closing the club has been identified as a way to save money.

The Council have tried a number of new initiatives to raise numbers including street dance and drama.

Following a constituent alerting me to the fact that the club was in danger I asked for a meeting so that parents could ask questions and the basis for saving the club could be established.

The meeting was well attended and parents spoke passionately about what the club means to them and their children and why it is so important to keep it running.

At the meeting parents were frustrated that the Council hadn't marketed the club more effectively. Going forwards, the Council and parents will be looking at what can be done to promote the club to increase numbers to a more sustainable level. This will undoubtedly be a challenge, but the fact that parents used up a precious evening to come to the meeting gives me hope that together we can win this one.

If there are any parents in the East Reading area that need an after-school club I would recommend giving East Reading after-school club a call on 0118 9015686 to find out more.

End of Movember

After a late start on my Movember moustache growing I settled for one of the handlebar variety. I think the combination of not getting off the blocks as quickly as others, combined with my light hair hasn't made for a true master mo. But I have definitely enjoyed the experience and will be putting in some serious training for a better showing next year!