Participation at Council Meetings and Panels

I have attended all Council meetings and extraordinary Council meetings apart from when I was on holiday or illness and apologies were always given and I have contributed to the business being discussed when I thought it was right to do so. I have also attended Labour Group meetings and as a member of the Technical, Economic and Environmental Services Scrutiny Panel, I have attended briefing meetings and full Scrutiny Panel meetings and also gone on site visits to other Local Authorities.

Participation at District Assemblies

As Deputy Chair of the Stalybridge and Mossley Northeast District Assembly I have attended the Labour Group Members Briefing prior to attending the full District Assembly meeting at Stalybridge Civic Hall. I have contributed to the discussions that ensued, supported the Chair in every way that I could and kept a record of attendance of Labour Councillors and later on forwarded them on to the Chief Whip. I also hold the office of liaison officer for Stalybridge and Dukinfield District Assemblies.

Participation on Outside Bodies and Partnerships

I am a member of the All Weather Sports Committee and also the House Committee for Dukinfield. Due to the illness of my wife and self I have not been able to attend the meetings as regular as I am used to. I am also a member of the Greater Manchester Pension Fund which is held quarterly at Hyde Town Hall and with a meeting of Union representatives prior to the full meeting taking place.

Participation on School Governing Bodies

I am the LEA representative on the governing body and attended the usual quarterly meetings and any other special meetings when required to do so. I have also opened the Stalybridge RC Primary School Christmas Fair on four occasions. My relationship with the school and governors has been very good over the many years that I have been the LEA representative.

Constituency Work

I have attended Dukinfield/Stalybridge Ward meetings held at the Labour Club in Stalybridge and given reports on my activities as a Councillor and kept the members up to date with my colleagues Councillors Shorrock and Sweeton, and any social events that were held I have supported.

Achievements during the Year

Finally, after many attempts along with the Labour Councillors on Stalybridge District Assembly, we have seen many improvements to the Civic Hall and its facilities, i.e. the introduction of warm air heating, licensed bar under the control of Stalybridge, licensing for weddings and widening the use of the Civic Hall for national events and the icing on the cake has been the replacement of fencing at Cheetham’s Park and the re-surfacing of the public path at Chapel Walk

Members Advice Surgeries

Along with Councillors Shorrock and Sweeton I have attended on a monthly basis Councillors surgeries at Gorse Hall Primary School, Yew Tree Primary School, St. John’s Primary School and I have held weekly surgeries at Stalybridge Civic Hall apart from holidays and when the schools were not available.

Training and Development Activities

I have attended training and development meetings at San Rocco in Ashton and taken part in the exercises that were offered when I was able to do so.

Finally

This is my last annual report. I retired as a Member of the Council on the 1st May 2008 and would like to thank everyone for their support and assistance and my special thanks go to Lesley Larkin in Member Services for receiving my reports and then taking steps to see that they were put on deposit for anyone wishing to read them.