Summer Update
Robert Oliver has been promoting youth activities in Farringdon both by sitting on a steering group for the summer activities programme and by helping with allocating funds. Michael Dixon has been busy with many housing enquiries from local residents throughout the ward but especially as a result of a very successful Farringdon ward surgery.
Great Night for St Chad's Conservatives
The election campaign had proved to be enjoyable, with residents throughout the ward giving Alan, Robert Oliver and Michael Dixon a warm welcome, while even those with a different political persuasion were friendly and appreciative of the regular newsletters and contact provided. Alan took to canvassing very early and has made a great start to his time as Councillor by having already met hundreds of residents.
This result gives the ward three Conservative Councillors on the City Council, a complete turnaround since 2004 when, up to then, it was the Labour Party who had three St Chad's Councillors. This has involved continuous hard work on behalf of all the residents of the ward.
Commenting on the result Robert Oliver said
Michael"We were thrilled with Alan's majority and thank all those people who voted for him. Alan was first-class during the campaign when meeting people, while it soon became apparent that the three of us all enjoyed each other's company. I am convinced we will make a good, united team of hard-working Councillors ready to do our best for all ward residents in the years ahead."
February Update
Robert has been dealing with an application to convert the former Chiropodist's Surgery on Cairnside into a Betting Shop. I am unable to enter into proceeedings as I sit on the relevant planning committee but I do know that he has had a big response from residents. We regularly attend the Lakeside Resident's Forum which meets on the first Tuesday of each month and recently had some success in helping to obtain further seating around the Towers On an almost daily basis we receive some communication from residents about issues affecting them and this is part of the Councillor's role that I enjoy most, especially if it is possible to help solve an issue. However there was much drama at the recent full Council meeting, when after a vote was won by Labour Councillors to ask the press and public to leave the Chamber so that discussion could take place on what they considered was a sensitive issue, the Conservative and Independent Councillors walked out. In addition the Police had to be called to remove members of the public who refused to leave the gallery.
A very dramatic evening and I must say throughout the proceedings, from start to finish, the Labour Leader, Councillor Symonds, whom I quite like personally, was irritable in debate and seemed very downcast. I might be wrong but that was the impression I got, remembering that he only just managed to stave off a challenge to his leadership last May, by a handful of votes.
Michael
St Chad's Conservatives in 2008
Without doubt a major hope for 2008 is that there will be progress made on the vexed issue of parking in Herrington by employees from Doxford International. At the time of writing we are awaiting contact from the Council Officers for another meeting which we have requested and they have promised to get in touch after certain procedures have been met. Both Robert and myself have received much contact from understandably concerned residents and we sincerely hope a positive outcome can be achieved.
On the political front, in the very near future, we should be in a position to announce the name of our Conservative candidate who will be contesting the ward in the May 2008 council elections. The seat is being defended by Labour and we anticipate a very interesting battle ahead. When our candidate's name is known we will post it on our website.
Michael
Youth Activities Supported
Robert
Local Council Committees
Both Robert and Michael sit on the South Sunderland Area Committee, along with Councillors from the nearby wards of Silksworth and Doxford. Not long ago this committee was completely dominated by Labour Councillors, but this is no longer true (although to be fair the business is conducted whereby everyone can have a say). There are other committees of which we are members.
We both take these committees very seriously and ask the appropriate questions of Officers when they make their reports. By doing this we attempt to ensure that the proper scrutiny process takes place to the best of our ability. If used properly they can be the source of much information and knowledge.
Parking in Herrington Update
We are fully aware that there is much disquiet as to where the vehicles will park once the proposals are fully implemented and we raised this very issue with the Officers. At this stage the Council did not consider any extension to the latest proposals was necessary or desirable. Our own view is that the proposals, to date, have merit, but we will continue to keep an open mind as to whether they should be extended.
Free Meals Kids Failing in School
Read more at the Sunderland EchoChildren in Sunderland who get free school meals have less chance of doing well in their GCSEs than their peers, according to Government figuresDocuments obtained from the Department for Education and Skills show only one in 10 Wearside pupils on free school meals got five GCSEs A*-C, including English and maths, in 2005. This compares to a success rate of one-in-four for pupils who pay for their meals. There is also a gap in success in further education success between those who pay for their meals and those who don't. Teacher and Tory councillor Robert Oliver, the Sunderland Conservatives' spokesman on education, said the figures showed the education system wasn't doing enough for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. He said: "Children with homes with books and an educational environment in them are going to do better, and there's the thing that children of teachers do best of all."
Let's Lock Kids in at Lunchtime
Read more at the Sunderland EchoChildren should be locked in school at lunchtime to boost the uptake of school meals and stop them eating unhealthy food, say Sunderland Tories.At some secondary schools, fewer than one in 10 pupils now pay to eat in their school canteen, despite efforts to improve the food on offer. City leaders want to see junk-food exclusion zones set up around schools to stop youngsters buying greasy lunches from burger vans instead of healthy school meals.Robert Oliver, a teacher and Sunderland Conservatives' spokesman on education, thinks the best approach is to introduce lunchtime lock-ins. Many secondary schools on Wearside now keep at least 11-to-13-year-old pupils in school, some preventing all but sixth formers from leaving the school gates at lunchtime – and Coun Oliver wants to see all schools adopt that policy. "My opinion is that, realistically, only lock-ins are going to make any difference," he said. If you look at the table of top-performing schools, they are all keeping pupils in all the time. Obviously I don't think that's the reason they're doing well – there are probably other reasons as well – but there's definitely a link."
Washington By-Election
Full credit must go an excellent campaign organised to the last detail by Angela and Ian, along with the many Councillors and members who spent countless hours either canvassing or delivering leaflets over many weeks. It was a real team effort and there was a great deal of satisfaction for a job well done.
There is no doubt that the Labour Party fully expected to hold this seat and you could sense the acute disappointment when the result was announced. The Liberal vote was halved from the May 2007 election.
So the Conservative Party have had three Councillors elected in Washington in the space of around 5 months, after being without a single one for 30 years. That is real progress and gives active members and supporters alike much hope for the future.
New Website Launched
Fly Posters
Read more at the Sunderland EchoAngry councillors want the city council to take action on fly-posters, rather than letting people off for first offences – just weeks after a get-tough policy was introduced. At least eight posters advertising the Cool for Cats disco at the Independent on Holmeside have been posted on council and BT property across Herrington, Doxford Park and Barnes. Council officials say the perpetrators will not be prosecuted as it is a first offence, but Conservative members Robert Oliver and Michael Dixon are calling for a clear message to be sent out to all flyposters who are messing up Wearside's streets.
Council Says 'Yes' To Phone Mast When It Means 'No'
Read more at the Sunderland EchoA council mix-up has left neighbours seeing red after a phone mast was sited next to their homes. Sunderland City Council has found itself embroiled in a battle with phone giant O2 to see the mast pulled down. But the company is sticking to its guns and has vowed it is there to stay. O2 lodged plans with the council to erect the 15-metre mast opposite the Dolphin Pub at Ashdown Road, Farringdon, in February last year. The council opposed the bid over the design and siting of the mast, and nearby residents launched a petition on the grounds that it would affect property values and their health.
Roundabout Dangers
Read more at the Sunderland EchoThey say measures must be put in place to control the "dangerous" A690/ A19 roundabout, which links to Doxford International Business Park. Now residents and councillors are urging Sunderland City Council and the Highways Agency to switch the rush hour-controlled traffic lights on at all times to stop dangerous drivers from racing across the roundabout. One resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I watched the traffic going round there and sometimes it was just horrendous, especially when people are getting to work and they just put their foot down to get there. "I've got common sense when I'm driving, but it's survival of the fittest around there. "There's already been quite a few accidents, but one day there will be a serious one. "I've spoken to a number of people round here and they all seem to think the same." Couns Robert Oliver and Michael Dixon, Tories for St Chad's ward, have been approached by several residents who have expressed fears over the busy roundabout. And the two councillors have spoken to the council to see if the traffic lights can be turned on at all times, after dubbing the roundabout an accident blackspot.
Metro Boost Backed
Read more at Sunderland EchoTory councillors Peter Wood and Robert Oliver put forward a motion to get support to extend the Metro to Doxford International, Washington and other parts of the city. At a full meeting of Sunderland Council, Coun Wood said: “Good public transport is essential, especially in urban areas. It is needed to facilitate the movement of people, both work and pleasure-related. “With increasing road traffic congestion, it is becoming more important to provide a realistic alternative.”Coun Oliver said the move was essential to meet the demands of the increasing number of businesses at Doxford International and Rainton Meadow.