Meeting with Me2Club

I met with Tess from Me2Club today, a great charity that help children with additional needs and disabilities access mainstream activities. They support children across Wokingham and are looking at expanding into Reading, really looking forward to seeing the work they do

Why study CIMA?

http://www.viddler.com/player/fea53523/I often get asked about the benefits of an accountancy qualification in my political life and conversely about why I am involved in politics in my professional life.  The Chartered Institute of Management accountants recently interviewed me and also asked me to discuss the benefits of CIMA in a recession.  I guess …

Cuts and coffee

Today has been a mix of highs and lows.  A low is the proposed swingeing cuts that were published by the council on Friday.  Along with Cllr Chris Maskell and Paul Gittings I met with council staff this morning (still can’t get used to calling them ‘officers’) to discuss the …

October report –

Summary:  A busy month. some local positives overshadowed by the national news.  Council work:   Full council this month was I have to say a largely disappointing affair with a lot of bad temper and unnecessary amendments of motions for political point scoring.  I kept out of the debates that caused …

Week 3 as a councillor – new politics and business as usual

Long post but I want to keep Whitley residents informed about what I’m doing as a councillor rather than disappearing into a black hole. Started with finishing off even more paperwork over the weekend!  I am actually going to get back out and about this weekend hopefully… There was also …

Results time

I’ve been elected as Whitley ward councillor.  Some very varied results across the country. Locally of course I’m really disappointed by the General election result but surprised and pleased by the Reading borough council elections.  Net impact is Labour are still on 19, Conservatives have lost a seat while the …

To busy to write…

Haven’t posted in the last week or so not because I’ve nothing to say but because I am too busy! It’s all good stuff, whether following up individual concerns, meeting with a housing association to raise common concerns, working (got to pay the bills!), helping out at a schools event, …

Whitley News!

I’ve been working with councillors on a new website for  Whitley ward.  I’m hoping it will be really useful to residents:  there is section on local news, a calendar of events (which I’m hoping residents will want to add events to), updates on Reading news and weather, useful links and …

Looking back on 2009

It’s now over six months since I started helping and working with Whitley’s local councillors. Its been a privilege to get more involved in the community.   For example I’ve helped with a petition to get a safer route to school in front of the Northumberland Avenue/Whitley Wood Road shops, …

Snow, lovely snow!

I’m sitting in my office in the town centre getting excited about the snow. Hurrah! Went to a Kennet Island residents’ meeting yesterday.  Was very constructive and positive I thought.  Lots of hard work being done by the residents to get a more active community spirit.

Domestic violence

Have been to a couple of events about domestic violence in the last week.  Last Thursday went to a candlelit vigil on the high-street that aimed to emphasise the problem, which got a good response, although the wind had a negative impact on the candlelit part of the vigil! On …

Losing the vote

I spotted this and thought what a shame.  I obviously want people to vote for me when I stand for the council but even more important is that people can vote at all! I am a sad individual and really like being able to vote, it reminds me of the …

What’s Labour?

Last week on Helston Gardens I was asked by 3 young girls “What’s the Labour party? Does it mean when women have babies”. The conversation continued: “Labour means work”.  “My Dad works”, “My mum AND my dad work”.  “Well the Labour party was set up so that people who do …

Hope not hatred

I’ve just got home from a parent’s evening at the primary school that I am a governor for.  I was giving out teas and coffees to parents and chatted with them, the children and the teachers.  I came home to the news being dominated by the appearance of Nick Griffin …

Mums matter!

http://www.whiteribbonalliance.org/flash/player-viral.swf I’ve signed up to this. I recently became an aunty for the second time and it brings home to me how helpless a child is if their Mum dies in child birth, not to mention how terrible it is for the woman… Anyone who cares about women’s rights should …

Giving blood

My blood wasn’t fast enough to pump out when I went to give blood last week.  Although I still have an impressive bruise from the attempt. However as a consolation prize I’ve made sure that my details are registered as an organ donor.  I’m not sure if I was already …