<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since being elected in May this year activities have been\nbusy. I elected to join a number of\ncommittees and external bodies for which a brief summary of each is outlined\nbelow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Planning<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n A very technical committee and time consuming and I am\nloving it. The policy and framework that\nthe borough has to review applications against is extensive and complex. Since May there have been a number of planning\ncommittee meetings and site visits. The first\nplanning meeting reached its guillotine timing of 11pm when we had to finish\nthe point being examined and reconvene a few days later to complete the agenda\nof applications. A long day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Environment:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n One meeting held since May and a broad agenda of topics\naffecting resident\u2019s borough wide. Key\nitems from my point are to continue tree planting, maintain our green space,\nensure air quality is maintained and improved. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n A climate change working group is being setup and I have\nopted to join this group. Currently it\nis oversubscribed and it is yet to be seen if I will make the membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Audit, Crime and\nScrutiny:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our first meeting was an introduction and training session\ncombined with our first agenda. More\nstudy is required to fully appreciate this powerful committee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Epsom Downs\nConservators:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Liz, Bernice and I are on this committee and Liz has covered\noff nicely what\u2019s been progressed to date in her report. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Recently I attended the Trainers open day with Bernice and\nLiz. We visited all but two of the open\nyards. Ideas are being captured to help\nimprove next year\u2019s event, we may even get a conservators team for the space\nhopper race!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Attending many of the Epsom Downs race meetings has been key\nfor me as I\u2019m a keen photographer of racing horses for over two years now. I actively support the trainers, jockeys,\nexercise riders and owners with pictures at the races and on the training\ngallops. I have attended other race\ncourses, such as, Lingfield to further\nsupport Epsom trainers who have been racing there recently. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Epsom Downs\nConsultative Committee: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n No meeting as yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Friends of Epsom\n& Ewell Parks (FEEP):<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A joint meeting of all Friends of Epsom parks at this\nmeeting held at the town hall. I was\nunable to attend the last meeting due to my work commitments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n My activities with Friends of Rosebery Park continues and I\norganised the Epsom & Ewell Silver band to play in the park again this\nyear. A good turnout was experienced and\nthe weather held. <\/p>\n\n\n\n More recently the Epsom Food Festival was hosted in the park\nwhich was a great success. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There is a big push to make better use of our park\nfacilities through the borough and I\u2019m working with officers on progressing,\nsupporting and communicating these activities. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n I am very pleased to say that Rosebery Park was awarded the\nGreen Flag award again this year. I met\nwith Green Flag judges and provided a tour of the park and updates of works\ncompleted or in flight. They were very\nimpressed with the engagement from the Friends group and the collaboration with\nEpsom & Ewell Borough Council. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Friends of Rosebery Park has its AGM on 24th<\/sup>\nSeptember 2019. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Armed Forces\nchampion:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A number of meetings held with the Armed Forces Covenant, an\ninformation day event hosted by the 11th<\/sup> Battalion, attendance and\nsupport of the Royal British Legion, and attendance and support of the\nbreakfast club on Sunday mornings at the Assembly rooms Weatherspoon\u2019s in\nEpsom. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Further study and outreach with local organisations is required\nto support this very worthwhile cause. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A number of councillors along with the Mayor have already\nvolunteered to poppy collections coming up in October\/November. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Cycling champion: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Met with the cycling action group who had a long meeting\nwith Surrey County Council to prioritise cycle enablement options throughout\nthe borough. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Due to attend the follow on regular meetings with this\ngroup. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ward issues:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A number of questions and queries from local residents on a\nrange of topics from parking to road safety, trees, pond works, litter, grass\nverges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I have submitted a number of questions to the upcoming local\ncommittee on Monday 16th<\/sup> September, covering road safety, pedestrian\naccess and safety and parking restrictions. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n A considerable amount of time has been spent with local\nresidents working through actions from a previous local committee. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Local Government\nAssociation: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The LGA has an\neducation programme called the Next Generation Programme 2019-20 and I have\nbeen fortunate to be able to secure a place on this prestigious programme. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Next Generation Programme offers ambitious and talented\ncouncillors an unparalleled political development opportunity \u2013 uniquely\ndeveloped within party political traditions and with party political experts.\nThe Programme equips emerging political leaders with the skills and confidence\nto be bold champions of local government and progress in their political\ncareers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other<\/strong>: <\/p>\n\n\n\n EETAB:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I continue to attend and support the Epsom & Ewell Tree\nAdvisory Board (EETAB) in their activities and goals. I see this group as ever more hugely\nimportant in the boroughs climate change. \n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Since being elected in May this year activities have been busy. I elected to join a number of committees and external bodies for which a brief summary of each is outlined below: Planning: A very technical committee and time consuming … Continue reading