February Update
Wednesday 20 February 2008 Posted in: News
The first month of the New Year has been very busy,
with newsletters delivered in Farringdon and
Herrington. Both Robert and myself have had
a further meeting with the Council Officers
dealing with the parking problems from Doxford
International. There is much frustration from
the many who have their daily lives affected by
this massive inconvenience, while other residents,
not covered by the proposals, are concerned about the
future parking trends once implementation takes
place. We are Councillors from the main Opposition
Party on Sunderland Council and as such not
law-makers. We do, however, have a strong voice
locally and see our role as representatives of
all views, as we encourage the Council to try and
expedite the issue.
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
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
