Councillor Allison Gwynne

Participation at Council Panels and Committees

I hold the position of Executive Member for Children and Families. This is a challenging role which is wide ranging and which commits a considerable amount of my time. I also Chair the Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership, now renamed Tameside Children’s Trust.

• I support and attend the Children in Care Council, the ‘Definite Hopefuls’
• I am on the Children's Panel.
• I am a Trustee of the Friends of Tameside Young Carers
• I have attended as many Full Council meetings as I was able.
• I have attended all Scrutiny Panel meetings that I have been requested to attend and have been invited to committees and panels that my position requires.
• I have attended most pre-Council Labour Group meetings
• I have attended most meetings of the Executive Cabinet and Executive Board

Participation at District Assemblies

I am a member of the Denton and Audenshaw District Assembly. I have attended most of the meetings held.

I have also attended most of the pre-District Assembly Labour Group meetings.

Participation on Outside Bodies

At present I am on no outside bodies.

Participation on School Governing Bodies

For the past 12 years I have been a Local Education Authority Governor at St Anne's Primary School, Denton. I have also been Chair of Governors at St Anne's for ten years.

I am Chair of Governors at Denton Community College and also sit on the Board of Trustees

I also liaise closely with the federated Governing Body of Two Trees, Egerton Park.

Constituency Work

I have attended numerous residents' meetings, public meetings and community events, including:

• Mayoral Events;
• The Annual Denton and Audenshaw Carnival;
• The Denton and Audenshaw Carnival Committee;
• St Anne's Church Garden Party.
• Supported Denton based Youth Service Events

I have responded promptly to all casework given to me. I receive enquiries from constituents over the phone, by email, at surgeries and in person by residents stopping me in the street. The casework is varied, ranging from simple requests - for a blue bin for example - to complex problem solving. In most cases I have to either liaise with officers within the council, New Charter Housing Trust or other outside agencies to resolve the problem.

Achievements during the Year

I was re-elected for 4 years in May 2011and the support and guidance of my colleagues, Vincent Ricci and Denise Ward has been invaluable and I am proud to be able to contribute to the successful Labour team in Denton North East.

In my role of Cabinet Deputy I am honoured to have the opportunity to be able to make changes to improve life for children and young people in the Borough.

I am pleased to have supported the regeneration of Denton and am involved in the on-going developments in the town centre, including the new developments on the Oldham Batteries site.

Members Surgeries

I am committed to being an accessible Councillor and feel that it is important to hold regular advice surgeries. We have held surgeries at Denton Labour Club on the first Monday of the month. Surgeries are accessible to all local residents . I take the majority of casework over the telephone and have an answer phone, on which messages are responded to the same day if possible. Email requests for assistance are also increasing and I have facilities to respond to these.

Training and Development Activities Undertaken

As an 11th year Councillor, I have attended fewer training sessions this year, as I had already attended many of them in my first year. I have attended several sessions organised over the last year refreshing and keeping up with new developments which are key areas for my development.