A busy week with meetings and paperwork following the election win. Here’s a summary of what I have been up to during the last week:
- Attended two Lib Dems group meetings for introductions and to elect a group leader and deputy group leader.
- The group sorted some of their general parameters. Heather Kidd was elected as group leader and will become the Leader of Shropshire Council. Alex Wagner was elected as deputy group leader. They are both now considering which Lib Dem councillors will join them in Shropshire Council’s Cabinet. Following that, the chairs of Scrutiny and other committees, like planning, will be considered. All of these will be ratified by the full meeting of Shropshire Council on the 22nd of May.
- Attended an initial Oswestry Town Council group meeting for introductions and drinks.
- Members will attend a training session next week ahead of Mayor Making on May 19th.
- Sent emails to both Whittington PC and West Felton PC Clerks
- Passed on new contact details, as they presently exist, apologised for known meeting clashes during half-term week, and arranged a meeting with Whittington PC clerk to discuss their priorities and how I can help leverage those as their county councillor. I will have a similar discussion with the clerk of West Felton PC.
- Attended Shropshire Council Induction on Friday afternoon.
- Signed acceptance of office to officially become the councillor for Whittington Division. Collected IT equipment, pass, and gained access to the council’s intranet and the council’s email address. My Shropshire Councillor Profile is now online here. You can use that to check my attendance record and register of interests, which is being filled in now.
- Exchanged casework emails with a resident about the outstanding planning application for houses in Park Hall
- This included a discussion about the withdrawal of the Local Plan, its implications and National Highways’ comments, which arrived on Friday, the 9th. National Highways has set out its conditions if Shropshire Council passes the application.
- Dropped off Oswestry Town Council paperwork and a quick introduction
- Attended county-wide Thank You party for Lib Dem councillors, partners and supporters
- Contacted Highways officers to ask for a tour of the division.
- I want to discuss many issues across the division and the casework that came up during the election.
- Asked Highways officers to explain the rationale for the Surface Dressing between Queens Head and West Felton.
- It is too late to modify tomorrow’s closure for spreading chippings, but learning lessons for the future will be essential. Only 1/3 of the work area needs the work done, and 2/3 of the expenditure is wasted when other roads are desperate for treatment. Residents and the parish council all agree that this work is crackers.
- Completed post-induction online training and bedtime reading on the council intranet.
Next week, I should have some more time for work and hopefully modify my website for everyday use.
I will share my full contact details as soon as I have them. However, the Shropshire Council’s mobile number is still pending. If you have any casework, please send it to: cllrdavid.walker@shropshire.gov.uk or use the form on the contact page.
Unlike my predecessor, I will reply to emails, answer calls to my council mobile, and provide regular updates online, in print and on social media.
