I’ve spent quite a bit of time in my own ward this week.  I’ve been out on the doorstep with my colleagues, picking up on several local issues. I’ve also attended a governors’ meeting at Victoria Park Junior School.  I was in Stretford Library on Thursday evening to cover our regular ward councillor advice surgery; and on Saturday afternoon I volunteered at the Friends of Victoria Park annual Halloween event.  None of those activities are unusual from an activity perspective, it just so happened that many fell into the same week.

Doorstep sessions are always useful to understand issues in particular areas.  One concern raised several times was attempted car break-ins.  This is something I’m now taking up with local officers.  Being on the doorstep also brought into focus how much has changed in terms of how we communicate since I was first elected.  In 2008 smart phones were a new concept and uptake in its infancy.  Roll on 17 years and I found myself on a doorstep where a resident was showing me information collated on a neighbourhood WhatsApp group, which I then reported using the email function on my phone.  Although the same issues, sadly, do arise periodically over the years, technological progress continues apace.

At Victoria Park Junior School it was good to receive an update on how the first few weeks of the new school year have been going; and then to see many of our schoolchildren in Victoria Park at the end of the week- their first full day of the half term holidays.  My ward colleague Jane joined me judging the Halloween fancy dress competition and fortunately, given the high standards, there were prizes for everyone.

Being quite local this week also gave me the excuse to prioritise walking and cycling over driving, despite the very changeable weather! This proved appropriate as I had a catch up with the Secretary of Greater Manchester Ramblers ahead of the AGM.  I am currently the Honorary President of the GM & High Peak Ramblers and during our meeting we were both keen to explore how we promote walking for leisure across the area.

Further afield, on Wednesday morning I travelled to the Imperial War Museum North to attend and speak at a Trafford Business Networking Event.  It was a great event and I was delighted to see it so well attended.  Over the course of the morning we received updates on Old Trafford Regeneration and the Therme development.  We had some great feedback and look forward to putting on some more sessions soon. We’re fortunate to have so many businesses across the Borough, alongside exciting opportunities such as Therme and Old Trafford Regeneration.  It continues to be a must that all the Borough’s regeneration projects can demonstrate tangible benefits for our existing residents and business community.

On Friday I joined some of my Sale area councillors for a catch up.  We met in the Town Centre and had the chance to discuss how we can support future opportunities for the town.  In the meantime, I’m looking forward to this year’s PRISM Festival next month and the re-opening of Sale Library following significant investment.

Back at the Town Hall, this week’s meetings covered budget planning, local health services, regeneration projects in Stretford & Altrincham and a catch up with Dino from Place North West. On Friday I had one of my regular meetings with Connor Rand MP, where we had the opportunity to discuss concerns his constituents are raising with him as well as some of the ongoing investments the Council’s making into his constituency.