Last week was a busy week, dominated by annual council meetings. More casework flowed in on a variety of issues this week. Planning, highway safety, roads maintenance forming the lion’s share of issues. If you have any issues please feel free to get in touch or email me via my Shropshire Council email address.
Oswestry Mayor Making
On Monday morning, I attended a meeting with the Clerk of Whittington Parish Council to discuss issues facing the council and how I can leverage my role to help resolve those.
In the evening I was at the Mayor Making meeting of Oswestry Town Council, where Rosie Radford was voted in office for the next municipal year. Rosie will do an amazing job as Mayor.
West Felton Annual Parish Meeting
On Tuesday evening, I attended West Felton’s Annual Parish Meeting, updating attendees on the general position of Shropshire council, its finances and my activities.
Unfortunately, this clashed with Whittington Parish Council’s Annual Council meeting.
Whittington’s Annual Parish Meeting
Similarly, on Wednesday, I attended the Annual Parish Meeting in Whittington, giving an overview of Shropshire Council, its finances, and my activities in the area and taking questions from the meeting.
Unfortunately, this meeting clashed with Oswestry Town Council’s annual council meeting.
Annual Shropshire Council meeting
On Thursday morning, Shropshire Council held its Annual Council meeting. The meeting ratified the administration’s nominations for Leader and Deputy Leader, appointed cabinet members, and various committee chairs and vice-chairs. The Leader, Heather Kidd, set out how the council plans to be more inclusive. Cllr Andy Boddington has a review of the meeting here: There was a spring in the step at Shropshire Council last week – we haven’t seen that for a long time
I was also confirmed as the Cabinet member with the Planning Portfolio. My specific areas of responsibility are:
- Local Plan,
- Development Management,
- Planning Policy,
- Enforcement,
- Community Infrastructure Levy,
- Building Control,
- Natural and Historic Environment.
This is a very large job considering the Planning Inspectors found the Local Plan unsound, leaving Shropshire Council no option but to withdraw the plan. Cllr Ben Jephcott will assist me as my deputy in taking on some of the load.
In the afternoon, members met with officers across the council during a showcase event. This was very helpful in getting new members, in particular, up to speed as soon as possible.
To round out the day, this was followed by a training event organised by ALDC (Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors).
