I’ve been the councillor for College ward for a year. You’ve been keeping me busy but I am very proud to be able to do this job. I have tried to do the best job I can for the first year and I will carry on trying to do the best job I can for the next three years.

Around the ward

I had the chance to visit Newstead Nursing Home to find out more about the work they do, the challenges of providing care in the current economy and some of their plans for the future. Thanks for making me so welcome.

I was able to show Karen Davis: the new town clerk (who runs the City Council) around College Ward and point out to her some of the issues we face and some of the real strengths of the area. Most of our services are provided by the County Council not the City Council. The City Council can help to influence the County and does have money to spend on community projects. With Karen on board I’m confident the City Council will be working hard for College.

I went hunting for a wandering bench on the Old School Lane park. With Lee from Balfour Beatty we returned the bench to the play park and it was secured back in place. The wandering bench does seem to have been associated with some antiosocial behaviour which got a bit more serious. The police are aware and are working to make sure it is tackled. If you see any antisocial behaviour please report it to 101. You can always let me know too. I meet our local police regularly and point them to any areas where I am aware of concerns.

Thanks to City Council funding the Wildplay team from Herefordshire Wildlife Trust organised a messy play session on Old School Lane park during half term. I popped down and saw a bunch of kids having a really good time and exploring trees, bugs and making some cool toys. We don’t have a community centre in College so it’s hard to find ways to bring the community together but I hope that we can make more use of the park for all sorts of community events in the future.

At the councils

I attended a meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee which looked at the work of foster carers. These people are absolutely key to supporting many children across the county and it’s important that they feel supported not just be the council but by all of us who live and work in Herefordshire. If you’d like to consider fostering yourself the council has information for you.

I attended the “mayor making” a ceremony at the City Council that goes back over 600 years. Councillor Kevin Tillet is our new mayor and I wish him every success. I also attended the annual meetings of the county and city councils. At these annual meetings we elect people to some of the key roles on the council. I will be vice-Chair of the Carbon and Biodiveristy Committee at the city council again and I will chair the Scrutiny Management Board at the county council. This last committee keeps an eye on how the council is setting and spending its budgets as well as related issues.

Everywhere else

I was very proud to attend the memorial service for Dr Richard Miller which was organised by St Michael’s Hospice at Hereford Cathedral. Hereford City Councillors attended in our ceremonial robes something that is normally reserved for a few very special occassions such as Rembrance Sunday. This was a mark of the city’s respect for Dr Miller who was instrumental in setting up the Hospice and then in ensuring that it thrived. On a personal note he was my family GP growing up and a doctor who you always felt had all the time in the world for you. My greatest sympathies are with his family and friends.

I went to a conference on the Future of Work at NMITE’s campus in Rotherwas. This was the sort of conference that normally you would have to travel to a big city to attend with a huge range of speakers. It’s great that because we have our own university here I was able to cycle to it. I hope that there will be many more of these sorts of events in the future.

You might have noticed there is a general election. I have been out canvassing with Dan Powell who is standing for the LibDems. He’s a hard worker, local, committed to doing what’s best for Hereford and Herefordshire, and a really nice chap.