Week in review, week ahead

It's been a relatively quiet week which is perhaps a good thing as I have managed to injure my back (probably lifting my dustbin - not lucky enough to have a wheelie yet!) which made attending the first meeting post election of the Sustainability Commission uncomfortable but interesting. It is not something I have attended before but I was able to contribute to a discussion on biofuels. The differences of focus across the members of the Commission look set to provide some lively debate in future meetings.

This followed the first meeting of the Community Safety Forum, my first as Opposition Spokesperson, on Monday. There was an important report on the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership and how new legislation will provide for more engagement with local communities on anti-social behaviour, and support the role of councillors as "community champions" in the future.

My duties as Chief Whip ahead of next Thursday's full council meeting have seen me at King's House more often than I have been used to as a largely community-based councillor over the past four years. This week I have been trying to set up a community safety meeting in Manor Farm with residents, police and community safety team officers.

As well as full council next Thursday I will be at the first meeting of the new Major Projects Sub Committee on Tuesday, where I am keen to play a role in progressing many of the major developments - such as the Brighton Centre, Circus Street and community stadium - which have been in the pipeline for many months and which stand to benefit the city an enormous amount in coming years.

Community safety in Manor Farm

I've organised a community safety meeting for residents of the Manor Farm area this Saturday at 10am in The Manor. The five or six streets just below Whitehawk Hill north of St Mark's School form part of the area covered by the Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum, but have had some particular issues over the last year or so that I hope local people will come along to discuss. Senior local police officers and representatives from the local and citywide community safety teams will be there to answer questions and take away the views and requests of residents to act on.

Crew Club trustees

Attended a meeting of the Crew Club trustees last night at the fantastic new building on Coolham Drive. Three new trustees joined the team bringing a wealth of experience in youth work and finance to the group.

Its amazing what is on offer at the Club, with state of the art audio and video recording/editing and playback facilities, healthy eating/cooking in the spacious new kitchens, music/dance/drama courses, sexual health promotion and of course a whole range of sports using the new £500,000 Barclays Spaces for Sport funded multi-use games area. Over 500 young people are members of the club with between 30 to 50 new members each month.

It is not just a safe place for young people to use but a place where they can now get a wide range of training, counselling and guidance on healthy living and future careers. 

Meetings, briefings, interviews and news

After work on Monday went straight to the regular meeting between Sussex County Hospital estates staff and local residents, where noise and parking/deliveries issues were at the fore as usual.

Yesterday started early with a meeting at one of the schools in my ward followed by one with some local residents about a harrassment issue. After following those up with some e-mails to relevant officers and police I headed off to Kings House for a briefing on the Brighton Centre redevelopment project (I am on the Project Board) before finishing off with a meeting with other members of my Group.

This morning I was up very early for a radio interview on communal bins, which have been introduced in some parts of my ward recently, and in a short while I will be off to chair the monthly Whitehawk Crime Prevention Forum, which will be following up on the meeting with Manor Farm residents last Saturday.

Yesterday the council released figures showing how much each councillor received in allowances and expenses last year. I hope that what I've described above gives some idea of the kind of work involved in being a councillor that these allowances cover.