Participation at Council Meetings and Panels

I have attended as many Full Council meetings as possible, where my parliamentary duties have permitted.

Participation at District Assemblies

 I have attended most of this year's Denton and Audenshaw District Assembly meetings where I have been able to raise issues of concern to local people in Denton West, as well as the other Wards in my Parliamentary Constituency. I continue to believe in District Assemblies as a focal point for local decision-making.

As a former Chair of the Denton and Audenshaw District Assembly, I wish Councillors and community representatives well for the future as they continue to develop devolved township service provision in Tameside. For me, the District Assemblies have been a success story of Tameside Council in recent years. I wish Councillor Margaret Downs as Chair, the Town Manager, Stuart Mollison and the Members of the Assembly well for the future!

Participation on Outside Bodies and Partnerships

I am not a member of any outside bodies or partnerships.

Participation on School Governing Boards

At the request of the school, I have remained a Governor at Denton West End Primary School and attend as many meetings as possible, where my parliamentary duties have allowed. I have also been involved in a number of events at the school.

 Constituency Work

I have continued to deal with a very great number of pieces of casework from residents in Denton West. Along with my Councillor colleagues, Mike Smith and Brenda Warrington, I have conducted regular 'Walkabouts' and street surgeries throughout the Ward, and we continue to keep all residents up to date with our frequent Labour Rose newsletters. I will continue to do so after I cease to be a Councillor for Denton West, supporting the Labour Team in the Ward in my capacity as Member of Parliament.

I have been involved with numerous groups, organisations and events in Tameside, Denton and in the Ward, including:

• Denton Carnival Association, where I continue to serve as President
• Denton Festival
• Denton and Dukinfield Poppy Day Remembrance Services
• Denton, Audenshaw and Dukinfield Christmas lights switch-on
• Official openings of new shops at Crown Point
• Official opening of the new Victoria Park sports courts
• Official re-opening of the bandstand
• Home Secretary’s visit to Denton
• Horses Field Residents Committee open day
• Denton West Cricket Club
• Denton West Boys Club
• Denton District Scouts events

Members' Advice Surgeries

I hold an advice surgery at Denton West Community Centre both in my role of MP and local Councillor, together with surgeries at six other venues throughout the constituency where, from time to time, I also receive casework in my role as a Councillor for Denton West.

Training and Development

I have not attended any of the Council's training courses in 2007/08 as Parliamentary duties have prevented me from attending these mid-week sessions.

Achievements

This was my final year as Councillor for Denton West. It seems a long time ago that, as a young and enthusiastic 21-year-old, I was first elected, but I hope looking back, I have served the Ward well. I have always tried my best – though I admit, on some occasions, not always succeeded.

There have been battles won along the way, particularly Kingswater and Hyde Hall Farm; there have been numerous achievements ranging from the complete redevelopment of our town centre, which was on its knees back in 1996 through to the exciting plans for a new secondary school for Denton on the Egerton Park site, and I have tried to help as many people as possible with casework.

Over the 12 years I have served as Councillor, the Ward has seen many changes – not least thanks to some of the government funding such as SEMMMS, which enabled us to renew more roads and pavements than just the Council’s budgets would ever have allowed; Victoria Park has won eight consecutive Green Flag awards and we have probably the borough's best park “Friends Group” with the Friends of Granada Park, that hopefully will secure massive improvements to that local facility too.

Finally, I want to say a few special thanks:

Firstly to the former Councillors in Denton West who I had the privilege of working alongside: Cath Lister, Stephen Poole and Mike Craven, and to Councillors Mike Smith and Brenda Warrington. I know I leave the Ward in very capable and competent hands!

Secondly, to friends passed on: Brenda Hilditch, Pat Haslam, Derek and Joan Bishop, Len and Joyce Butler.

A special thank you to Allison, my wife whose constant support for me was incalculably invaluable! Special thanks also to the many Officers of the Council and to Angela and Lesley in Member Services.

Finally, to you, the electors of Denton West. It was an absolute honour to serve as your representative on Tameside Council for twelve years. Denton is my home town, and to have been given the chance to put something back into my own community is precious. You supported me throughout the good times and the occasional bad times too. I will always be grateful for that support, which I hope will continue in my other capacity as Member of Parliament for the area.