Monday 1 July – 4pm, Culture Portfolio meeting
6pm, Labour campaigning
Wednesday 3 July – 10am – Meeting residents at Dundee House
7pm – Ip-art, ‘Sherlock Holmes’ play, outside Christchurch Mansion
This week I missed the Full Council meeting as I was on the LGA Leadership Academy – Transforming the delivery of sport in local communities. Learnt plenty, the majority of the councillors were Conservative and it was surprise to see what little respect they have for Eric Pickles. His quick agreement with the Chancellor that means a £10 million cut to Local Government. Wonder what they think today when they hear Pickles department has been fined because of an illegal over draft!
What I did miss at council was Tory Cllr Cenci asking a couple of questions – a surprise as she has plenty to say on her blog about wind turbines but never then ask a question at Full council. But she did take to the floor (as did her partner) to ask question about the Ipswich Bus Service. As I was not present at the meeting I have had to gain my information from Ipswich Spy or two of the Tory blogs. Now Cllr Cenci informed us that she was inviting local residents to hear her question the portfolio holder on transport. She does not say how many turned up but on someone else’s blog she informs us not many as residents already knew the bus route was safe (they knew this thanks to Labour leaflets?) Cllr Cenci also copies a post from Ipswich spy but leaves out the last paragraph- I wonder why? She informed me that she also left out the first paragraph – but that is not the point – what she does miss out is the final summary on the questions >
Where Labour did score a big hit on the Tory position was by reminding people, courtesy of a Tory question, that the Tories had voted against last years budget, without which bus subsidies would be reliant on the county council, who had already indicated they couldn’t, or wouldn’t, afford to support the buses in Ipswich that IBC are currently subsidising. It the Tories had had their way last year, these buses would have stopped entirely come 20th July.
From reading that you would believe that Labour got the best of the questions, no wonder Cllr Cenci did not re-post this paragraph
Showing posts with label Ip-art. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ip-art. Show all posts
Saturday, 29 June 2013
Sunday, 16 June 2013
My week ahead 17 - 23 June 2013
Monday 17 June – 4pm, Culture Portfolio meeting
6pm, Labour Group meeting
Tuesday 18 June – 5pm, Sidegate School, Finance meeting
Wednesday 19 June – 9am – Ipswich Borough Council, Planning meeting – Grafton House
Thursday 20 June – 7pm, ‘Refugee Week’ Quiz with a twist! PJ McGinty and Sons Pub
Friday 21 June – 7pm, Launch of Ip-Art, Ipswich Waterfront
Saturday 22 June - 10am, Labour campaigning, North West Ipswich
Many people moan about the town we live in, but Ipswich has far more going on in it than most towns of a similar size and certainly far more than when I was growing up in the town. The best bit is much of it is free and there is something for all ages to see or participate in.
This week we had the final of the ‘Tour Series’ cycle races and it was without doubt a great success and more pleasing was the organisers stating it was the best event of the whole series. The trick now is in conjunction with the County Council to work towards hosting an even bigger cycling event. Manchester may have the velodrome but when it comes to road events, Ipswich (and Suffolk) is certainly becoming a second home for British Cycling.
This week we launch Ip-Art in the town, again a vast range of events and many aimed at our younger residents and many free. The Sherlock Homes play by the Pantaloons, to be staged outside Christchurch Mansion is the one event that I have pencilled in to attend. But I am sure that even the biggest ‘moaner’ will find something they like happening over the next few weeks.
A number of meetings to attend over the next week, planning will see the thorny subject of yet another application for another bookmakers to be opened in the town. The Government and our local Tory MP keep implying that we (the local council) can do something but this is case, similar to phone masts where the Government needs to give more direction.
I also have a further meeting at Sidegate Primary School, the staff – and the pupils are working so hard to improve standards but often it seems the Tory Government just want to pull the rug from underneath them with the Tory County Council not helping but just saying “how hard to you want the rug pulled?”
Any spare time will be spent campaigning in the five wards that are under threat of seeing a bus route removed or reduced. The Tories seem to have just focussed on one ward and spent most of the time scaremongering rather than looking for a solution. Fortunately Labour run Ipswich Borough council has a fund of £140,000 that can be used to help subsidise bus routes- a fund the Tories did not want us to have!
6pm, Labour Group meeting
Tuesday 18 June – 5pm, Sidegate School, Finance meeting
Wednesday 19 June – 9am – Ipswich Borough Council, Planning meeting – Grafton House
Thursday 20 June – 7pm, ‘Refugee Week’ Quiz with a twist! PJ McGinty and Sons Pub
Friday 21 June – 7pm, Launch of Ip-Art, Ipswich Waterfront
Saturday 22 June - 10am, Labour campaigning, North West Ipswich
Many people moan about the town we live in, but Ipswich has far more going on in it than most towns of a similar size and certainly far more than when I was growing up in the town. The best bit is much of it is free and there is something for all ages to see or participate in.
This week we had the final of the ‘Tour Series’ cycle races and it was without doubt a great success and more pleasing was the organisers stating it was the best event of the whole series. The trick now is in conjunction with the County Council to work towards hosting an even bigger cycling event. Manchester may have the velodrome but when it comes to road events, Ipswich (and Suffolk) is certainly becoming a second home for British Cycling.
This week we launch Ip-Art in the town, again a vast range of events and many aimed at our younger residents and many free. The Sherlock Homes play by the Pantaloons, to be staged outside Christchurch Mansion is the one event that I have pencilled in to attend. But I am sure that even the biggest ‘moaner’ will find something they like happening over the next few weeks.
A number of meetings to attend over the next week, planning will see the thorny subject of yet another application for another bookmakers to be opened in the town. The Government and our local Tory MP keep implying that we (the local council) can do something but this is case, similar to phone masts where the Government needs to give more direction.
I also have a further meeting at Sidegate Primary School, the staff – and the pupils are working so hard to improve standards but often it seems the Tory Government just want to pull the rug from underneath them with the Tory County Council not helping but just saying “how hard to you want the rug pulled?”
Any spare time will be spent campaigning in the five wards that are under threat of seeing a bus route removed or reduced. The Tories seem to have just focussed on one ward and spent most of the time scaremongering rather than looking for a solution. Fortunately Labour run Ipswich Borough council has a fund of £140,000 that can be used to help subsidise bus routes- a fund the Tories did not want us to have!
Sunday, 1 July 2012
My week ahead 2 - 7 July 2012
Monday 2 July 4pm - Culture Portfolio meeting
4.30pm Elections Working Group
Wednesday 4 July 4.10pm - 'Crash of the Elysium, Crown Street Car Park
6pm - East Ipswich Housing Working Group
Thursday 5 July 4pm - Olympic Torch arrives in Ipswich
Friday 6 July 6pm - 'Mayor at Home' Christchurch Park
Saturday 7 July 2am - Depart for Borneo, taking a group of teenagers to SE Asia to work on a community project.
Last week I managed to experience Ip-art for the first time this year. Wednesday I was in Christchurch Park to watch the ‘Pantaloons’ preform ‘The Importance of being Earnest’. The backdrop of Christchurch Mansion made a it a superb venue and other than every church in Ipswich seemed to want to ring their bells on that evening it was a great evening of entertainment. Two years ago I visited Cambridge to watch one of their Shakespeare ‘open air’ plays – no doubt to me that this was far better. Make sure you go next year.
This show was just one small part of Ip-art, this week I am off to the Dr Who show with a group of school kids! Then Thursday is a day I never thought I would see – the Olympic Torch coming to Ipswich. I have tickets for a number of events and the torch arrival now makes me realise how close we are now to the whole event.
This week we continued with our Operation ‘No safe Tory Ward in Ipswich’ – with canvass sessions in Bixley and Holywells. It now seems the Tories are using the same slogan! Trouble for them is that we have never taken any seat in Ipswich for granted.
We continue to have large numbers of members and supporters out campaigning each week, but we also have time to play and on Saturday we held a fundraiser at Roundwood Bowl’s club- somehow my daughter and boyfriend managed to beat/hammer me!
On Saturday I am off to Borneo taking a group of teenagers to work on a community project. So when I return the Olympics will be about to start we may have had an English ‘Tour De France’ winner and the rain may have stopped!
4.30pm Elections Working Group
Wednesday 4 July 4.10pm - 'Crash of the Elysium, Crown Street Car Park
6pm - East Ipswich Housing Working Group
Thursday 5 July 4pm - Olympic Torch arrives in Ipswich
Friday 6 July 6pm - 'Mayor at Home' Christchurch Park
Saturday 7 July 2am - Depart for Borneo, taking a group of teenagers to SE Asia to work on a community project.
Last week I managed to experience Ip-art for the first time this year. Wednesday I was in Christchurch Park to watch the ‘Pantaloons’ preform ‘The Importance of being Earnest’. The backdrop of Christchurch Mansion made a it a superb venue and other than every church in Ipswich seemed to want to ring their bells on that evening it was a great evening of entertainment. Two years ago I visited Cambridge to watch one of their Shakespeare ‘open air’ plays – no doubt to me that this was far better. Make sure you go next year.
This show was just one small part of Ip-art, this week I am off to the Dr Who show with a group of school kids! Then Thursday is a day I never thought I would see – the Olympic Torch coming to Ipswich. I have tickets for a number of events and the torch arrival now makes me realise how close we are now to the whole event.
This week we continued with our Operation ‘No safe Tory Ward in Ipswich’ – with canvass sessions in Bixley and Holywells. It now seems the Tories are using the same slogan! Trouble for them is that we have never taken any seat in Ipswich for granted.
We continue to have large numbers of members and supporters out campaigning each week, but we also have time to play and on Saturday we held a fundraiser at Roundwood Bowl’s club- somehow my daughter and boyfriend managed to beat/hammer me!
On Saturday I am off to Borneo taking a group of teenagers to work on a community project. So when I return the Olympics will be about to start we may have had an English ‘Tour De France’ winner and the rain may have stopped!
Sunday, 24 June 2012
My week ahead 25 - 30 June 2012
Monday 25 June 6pm – Labour campaigning in South West Ipswich
Tuesday 26 June 5pm – Sidegate Primary School – Full Governing Body meeting
Wednesday 27 June 7pm – ip-art – ‘The Importance of being Earnest ‘ Christchurch Park
Thursday 28 June 6pm – Area Committee chair meeting
Saturday 30 June 10.30am – Campaigning in North West Ipswich,
3pm – Labour fundraiser, Roundwood Bowls Club
Last week it was good to be holding a Full Council meeting back in the Ipswich Town Hall, a number of questions from opposition councillors. In hindsight they may need to discuss their questions with their MP first as still not sure if they are supporting our plan to build council houses or against it ( or sitting on the fence).
The Lib Dems also seem to have forgotten what they have voted for in the past, as their question was about development of the Northern Fringe. I expect next May in the County Council elections both the Tories and the Lib Dems will have totally forgotten that they voted for the Local development Framework, which included building much needed houses to the north of the town. Sounds like the start of a NIMBY coalition.
On Monday I attended a play by young pupils from Copleston School, that may not sound that remarkable but what was different about this play was that it was held in an empty shop in the Tower Ramparts shopping centre. The play was based on the myths about the number of tunnels that exist under our town. This was a great use of an empty shop and something that we hope we can repeat in the future.
Thursday, saw a brief return visit to the army as I spent a day on the shooting range in Colchester. Good to be involved in some inter army unit banter but though the jokes had not changed much I also sensed a fear amongst the troops that their units may not exist for much longer. ‘Army 2020’ is the plan that is being put forward to set the army up to operate with the future manning that will be available to Generals after the savage cuts by the Tory Government. The General who has the unenviable task of putting that plan together is General Nick Carter. I first served with him when I was 18 and he was young Captain. Later in 2000 he promoted me to Sergeant Major – so we go back a long way. The changes will not be welcome and he will be very unpopular in the army but I do believe he will come up with the best plan with the numbers that Fox and Hammond have forced upon him. My worry is that once the plan is published, Tory MP’s will end up changing it and saving the wrong regiments. This happened under the last Tory Government where small County Regiments were saved rather than the third battalions of my own regiment or our local unit, The Royal Anglians.
Good luck General Carter- not an enviable task.
Tuesday 26 June 5pm – Sidegate Primary School – Full Governing Body meeting
Wednesday 27 June 7pm – ip-art – ‘The Importance of being Earnest ‘ Christchurch Park
Thursday 28 June 6pm – Area Committee chair meeting
Saturday 30 June 10.30am – Campaigning in North West Ipswich,
3pm – Labour fundraiser, Roundwood Bowls Club
Last week it was good to be holding a Full Council meeting back in the Ipswich Town Hall, a number of questions from opposition councillors. In hindsight they may need to discuss their questions with their MP first as still not sure if they are supporting our plan to build council houses or against it ( or sitting on the fence).
The Lib Dems also seem to have forgotten what they have voted for in the past, as their question was about development of the Northern Fringe. I expect next May in the County Council elections both the Tories and the Lib Dems will have totally forgotten that they voted for the Local development Framework, which included building much needed houses to the north of the town. Sounds like the start of a NIMBY coalition.
On Monday I attended a play by young pupils from Copleston School, that may not sound that remarkable but what was different about this play was that it was held in an empty shop in the Tower Ramparts shopping centre. The play was based on the myths about the number of tunnels that exist under our town. This was a great use of an empty shop and something that we hope we can repeat in the future.
Thursday, saw a brief return visit to the army as I spent a day on the shooting range in Colchester. Good to be involved in some inter army unit banter but though the jokes had not changed much I also sensed a fear amongst the troops that their units may not exist for much longer. ‘Army 2020’ is the plan that is being put forward to set the army up to operate with the future manning that will be available to Generals after the savage cuts by the Tory Government. The General who has the unenviable task of putting that plan together is General Nick Carter. I first served with him when I was 18 and he was young Captain. Later in 2000 he promoted me to Sergeant Major – so we go back a long way. The changes will not be welcome and he will be very unpopular in the army but I do believe he will come up with the best plan with the numbers that Fox and Hammond have forced upon him. My worry is that once the plan is published, Tory MP’s will end up changing it and saving the wrong regiments. This happened under the last Tory Government where small County Regiments were saved rather than the third battalions of my own regiment or our local unit, The Royal Anglians.
Good luck General Carter- not an enviable task.
Friday, 8 July 2011
My week ahead 9- 16 July 2011
This week I will be away with the Military on a camp in North Yorkshire
Last week started with a meeting looking at the provision of sports facilities in the town, a very important matter to many. plenty of forward thinking needs to be done, we held a second meeting on this important matter on Thursday evening.
On Wednesday I found myself at Grafton House on a Planning meeting, good news for many in Rushmere Ward as planning permission for a phone mast close to Rushmere Hall school was refused for the second time.
Seen a bit of rain this week but it has not managed to spoil what has been a fantastic Ip-art festival- next year should even be more fantastic as we also have the Olympic torch coming to town.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)