Councillor Alan Whitehead

My attendance at all Council meetings, Cabinet, Board, Committee and relevant outside bodies has been almost 100%. Any absences in the main being caused by other council commitments or serious illness.

I am totally committed to my brief as Chair of the Technical, Economic and Environmental Services Scrutiny Panel, both in terms of time and volume of work: We have just published an important scrutiny report on Tameside Conservation Areas and Policy.

Tameside is and will benefit from transport improvements for which I have worked very hard on the outside body on which I represent the Borough, Transport for Greater Manchester (formally Greater Manchester Integrated Transport Authority), sitting on the Authority, Network and Policy Committees; and the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities Planning, Transport and Environment Executive Members Group.

Already we have more frequent train services, with further improvements to come. Quality Bus Corridors in the Borough are now in place and work on the construction to Droylsden and Ashton Metrolink is now funded and underway.

I have put a lot of effort in the Metrolink scheme, specifically to Ashton, the Ashton Northern Bypass and a shorter version Bypass for Mottram and Hollingworth.
Funding for the Ashton Northern Bypass is now in place and construction has started.

I have lobbied very hard to fill the evening gaps in the present rail timetable. We now have a uniformly spaced timetable. I am constantly lobbying for more services and capacity on our local rail services. We can now see Sunday Services at Mossley for the first time in many many years, via the introduction of the Trans Pennine local stopping service between Manchester and Huddersfield. This also provides a Sunday Service for Ashton to the east of the Pennines, for the first time in many years.

People are now enjoying the benefits of the £1.1M refurbishment of Ashton Railway Station. Hyde Bus Station is now completed and open for services, receiving very favourable comments from the Public. I had considerable involvement in the achievement of both these schemes. Work is progressing well on the design of a new state of the art bus station in Ashton, in conjunction with the major town centre expansion of the Arcade Shopping Centre.

The Rail Network, Transpennine and Northern Rail franchise have major implications for Tameside. Keeping abreast of the various options and their consequences on Tameside's railway services, particularly protection of local services is a key role for my brief. The agreement between First Trans Pennine and GMPTE for £1.5M improvements to Stalybridge Station resulting in major progress already for example: the raising of the platform levels to a safer height. Work on the provision of a new booking office and waiting room is now complete.

I was co-signatory to Tameside's street project along with the divisional commander of Greater Manchester Police. This is part of a major road safety scheme project incorporating speed restrictions, of 20 mph zones etc. It is a key element in our Public Service Agreement with the DETR. We are experiencing a continued, ongoing reduction in serious accidents as a result of these policies.

I take a full and active part in the Ashton District Assembly and am keenly interested in Ashton Town Centre and its issues as well as continually seeking improvements in Hurst ward.

I also chaired the Ashton Town Centre Steering Group which overviews the partnership with the towns' traders, community interests and Council.

I have played a major role in:- the securing of funds of over half a million pounds to transform the redundant Broadoak Primary School into a flagship facility for all ages and for all the community now up and running at peak capacity, so much so, that an extension was required and is now built. I am also Chair of the Management Committee of this Community Association. The Centre is now home to the Police point for Hurst and St Michael’s neighbourhood police officers, thanks to funding from the SSCF – (Stronger Safer Communities Fund) which I also chair. The fund has also provided the local police with an ‘area customised’ spy-hawk vehicle. Local Policing is clearly showing benefits to the local communities.

Following on from the SSCF, I am now Chairman of the Smallshaw/Hurst & St Michaels Partnership Board for working neighbourhoods.

The project of at last delivering a brand new three and a half million pound state-of-the-art Community School to the Higher Hurst/Hazelhurst area of Ashton at Rose Hill is now a reality and benefiting many. I am also extremely supportive of the 2 £30m high schools opening this year in the Ward.

I am heavily involved being the chair of the Ladysmith Community Sports Initiative, on the Rose Hill site in partnership with the school, a local cricket club and junior football club. This project is progressing well and professional Table Tennis coaching is now included as part of the project. My next key task in this area is to help the initiative to make Tennis facilities a reality. I have now managed to aid funding for the initiative, to completely refurbish and floodlight the outdoor Tennis Court. As well as being very instrumental in helping to get the funding for the fire damaged Cricket pavilion.

I am easily and readily available to my constituents by phone and by holding regular surgeries and attending residents meetings. As a result I deal with many issues e.g. housing, environmental, safety, transport etc.

I take every opportunity to affect the improvement of the environment for my constituents.

I am more than ready to gain more knowledge by attending relevant training and seminar sessions both within and outside Tameside.

I also hold the Secretary’s' position on the Council's controlling group.