Blog: November 2011

28 November 2011: A different kind of tension

Let's start off with some good news - I've finally broken my duck by attending a Bury FC match when they won. My deputy John Smith, who also came to Saturday's 1-0 win over Preston, is trying to take the credit for this hoodoo-buster - but I'm having none of it, and fully expect the Shakers to be in play-off contention by Christmas.  

Despite the country's economic woes, there's still much to celebrate in Bury. I went to see progress on the new Redbank extra care development, which will have 40 self-contained flats, a hairdresser's, bistro and superb lounge areas, and this is going to be a truly fantastic project. Due for completion next summer, this state of the art scheme will I'm sure be hugely popular with older residents. (I'm pictured with Paul Webb of Six Town Housing at the development).

I've also been to the official opening of the Close Park outdoor gym in Radcliffe, the first of its kind in the borough. This project was led by the Friends of Close Park, and is a cracking example of how local people can work together to create something positive for the community. The day was tinged with sadness, as Terry Nortley - who was going to open the Terry Nortley Mile - passed away the previous weekend, but his family and hundreds of people from Radcliffe Athletics Club were there, which is testament to the man.

Meetings which you can attend - tonight (Monday) there's the Bury East Township Forum (7pm, at the Mosses Centre), and you also address the borough's "top brass" tomorrow (Tuesday) at the Local Strategic Partnership board meeting, which starts at 10.30am at Bury Town Hall with half an hour of public questions. We're also welcoming comments on our Core Strategy, which in plain English is a planning blueprint for future development in the borough.

Wednesday, of course, brings the Day of Action by public sector workers, and many services in Bury are likely to be affected. I'm not going to get political here, but I have to say I have some sympathy with our employees. They are hard-working people with a commitment to public service, and they certainly do not enjoy gold-plated terms and conditions.

On a lighter note - tomorrow I'm going to the sixth birthday party of Ruby Valentine,  the daughter of a local constituent and friend (happy birthday, Ruby!). And on Friday, it's time to dig out the monkey suit for the Mayor's Civic Ball. Assuming I haven't scoffed too much cake, the following morning I'll be at the Topping Fold TRA's Christmas coffee morning.

22 November 2011: The low spark of high heeled boys

Some very important news: the White Ribbon Campaign to tackle domestic violence is being launched on Friday (25 November). Although the message is serious, a few fun events have been arranged during the campaign, and you can join in. On Friday 2 December, the men among you can slip on ladies' high heels and "walk a mile" around the town centre; also this Friday (25 November), there's a five-a-side football competition at Bury College; and on 30 November, a darts tournament.

When it comes to sport, alas, I must echo the words from Blackadder Goes Forth and admit to being the wheezy boy with a sick note from Matron. But that doesn't mean I can't encourage you all to join in.

To show their support for the campaign, both Bury FC (and Radcliffe Boro) are making their next matches a "white ribbon" day. So I'll be at Gigg Lane on Saturday wearing my white ribbon, and hoping to see the Shakers can win and rid myself of the Jonah tag.

Now some excellent news: since our new waste collection service started last month, our recycling rates have gone through the roof. Early figures show that, after just a few weeks, we are now recycling 43 per cent of our rubbish, up from 28 per cent. This is a fantastic achievement, and I must say a huge "thank you" to all our residents who have really got behind the new system. It's vital for both the environment and for our wallets - can we get it up to 50 per cent by next summer? A number of people have been contacting the council asking if we are going back to weekly grey bin collections. The short answer is no, the council has no plans to go back to that - especially given how well the new collection system is working out.

The dreaded lurgy has not stopped me visiting our local high schools: I went to St Gabriel's to congratulate them on their outstanding Ofsted report (I'm pictured here with head teacher Eddie Robinson), and I'm also heading for Philips and Tottington High.

Why not come along to the latest round of Township Forums? Whitefield and Unsworth meets today (1pm, Elms Community Centre), while Bury West is on Wednesday (7pm, Greenhill Primary) and Bury East next Monday (7pm, Mosses Centre).

Another meeting that you will be very welcome to attend is the Local Strategic Partnership board, which is on Tuesday 29 Nov at Bury Town Hall. This brings together leaders from the council, emergency services, education - and you can ask us all questions during the open forum, which starts at 10.30am.

And don't forget that we're consulting on our Plan for Change, which contains our proposals for balancing the budget over the next three years. We really need your views on this, so please go take a look and have your say.

14 November 2011: We will remember them

Remembrance Sunday always brings out the best in us, but even I was amazed at the number of Bury people who came to yesterday's church service and parade. I hear the turnout was well up at towns across the country, so this year's commemoration has struck a particularly poignant chord.

As a born and bred Bury lad, it made me feel both immensely proud and very humble to lay a wreath at the memorial in Bury. Time moves on, but it seems that conflicts never cease. We will remember them.

It was also a moving occasion when I attended the official opening of the new memorial garden at Wellington Barracks.

On a lighter note, I'm delighted to announce here that the next Mayor of Bury will be Councillor Joan Grimshaw. It's a big year for Joan - she'll have the honour of welcoming the Olympic Torch when it arrives in Bury, Whitefield and Prestwich (on 23 June), and she's (with husband Paul) celebrating her golden wedding year.

Education is a continuing passion of mine, and I'm having meetings this week with the head teachers at Radcliffe Riverside and Parrenthorn high schools, as well as chairing the governors meeting at East Ward primary. Health is also on the agenda: I'm talking to bosses of the PCT, and attending the opening of the Woodland Retreat at Fairfield Hospital.

Local businesses are also a key concern, and I'm pictured here visiting Peter Schofield at Tetrosyl. Shortly I'll going to Print Pack, which has a personal importance for me - several family members of mine use to work there when it was called Transparent Paper.

There are two more important meetings this week, and you are very welcome to attend them. I'll be at Prestwich Township Forum on Wednesday, and then at its equivalent in Ramsbottom, Tottington and North Manor on Thursday, to talk about the council's Plan for Change and how it affects our budgets over the next three years. This is vital for the borough, and we need you to play your part in giving us your thoughts on our proposals. Please go to the plan for change page and read what it's all about.

Finally, anyone who thinks I put a curse on Bury FC by attending their games (e.g. Stevenage the other week, and others) can rest assured - I wasn't at Saturday's FA Cup defeat against Crawley. Can't blame me for that one.

7 November 2011: Faster, higher, stronger

I'm filled with the Olympic spirit this week with the news that the Torch Relay is coming to Bury on Saturday 23 June next year. It'll pass through Bury, Whitefield and Prestwich on its route from Rochdale to Manchester, and I hope that many thousands of you will come out to take part in this historic occasion.

I'm going down to Bury Gymnastics Club tonight, where I'm told that one of us has a decent chance of making the GB team for the Games. Despite all evidence to the contrary, I remain optimistic.

There are a couple of public meetings this week which I'd be very pleased to see you attend. Firstly, the council's executive meets on Wednesday (6pm at the New Kershaw Centre in Bury). Please come along and ask questions during the 30-minute open forum, and we'll be debating matters such as day centre meals, community resettlement, the latest financial monitoring report, and Bury's Development Framework. On a less heavy note, we'll also be announcing who the next Mayor of Bury will be - my lips are sealed until then.

And on Thursday, there's the next meeting of Radcliffe Township Forum (6pm, Radcliffe Civic Suite). I will be at that meeting (and all the upcoming township forums) to explain the latest position regarding the council's financial situation, with details of proposed budget savings over the next three years and the results of our recent Plan for Change consultation exercise. These are major items - I urge residents to come along, listen to the debate, and ask questions during the open forum.

I have to give way to youth on Friday when two young people will take over my job as Leader of the Council on what is aptly termed Takeover Day. No comments on this one, please. And on Sunday, it will be my privilege to take part in the annual Remembrance Day service and parade. It is always a deeply humbling ceremony, when you are reminded of what really matters in life, and of the many sacrifices that our countrymen and women have made over many years to preserve our liberty. (I'm pictured here with Col Brian Gorski at the recent Fusiliers military concert).

On the social front, I'll be attending the golden wedding of Paul and (councillor) Joan Grimshaw at the weekend. And I will also try to make it to Gigg Lane on Saturday when Bury take on Crawley in the first round of the FA Cup. Why not join me, and get behind the Shakers?

2 November 2011: A week of two halves (Brian)

As many more qualified people than me have said, football's a funny old game. There we were at Gigg Lane on Saturday, where the council was supporting the Kick Racism out of Football campaign, everything going to plan - and then Stevenage had the cheek to beat us 2-1.

Apart from the result, it was a good day with an important message to get across - plus, I got to present Shakers defender Efe Sodje with a bottle of champagne for being our man of the match (as you can see in this picture).

Saturday night, another good cause - I went to the military band concert at the Castle Armoury in aid of the Fusiliers, which was absolutely phenomenal. Another superb event was held at Stockport Art Gallery at their Guernsey Evacuation weekend (many Channel Islanders came to Bury when war broke out too), not least for the finest George Formby impersonator I've ever seen. We'll have to evacuate him to Bury, I think.

On a serious note, you may have seen reports this week about adoption, and the time it takes. Can I urge anyone considering adoption not to be put off? Procedures obviously have to be gone through, and we're doing pretty well in Bury compared to the national average. So many children need stable, loving homes (especially siblings), and so many people can and want to provide them.

I'll be back in class (so to speak) today when I attend Member Training. Yes, we're well trained at the town hall. It's never too late to learn and keep up to date with the latest developments. The latter is what I'll be doing on Thursday, when I meet David Sparks, leader of the Local Government Association.

Can I remind you that the council's executive meets next Wednesday (9 November), and you're welcome to attend and ask questions. It starts at 6pm at the New Kershaw Centre in Bury. Also, don't forget that the next round of Township Forums will soon be upon us - you can find all the details on the council's website.

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