Last Week Not quite a brief review

Last Week – Not quite a Brief Review

Last week started with a meeting of the Development Plan Select, the committee which has the work of reviewing the Development Plan for the borough as it develops and gradually takes over from the current local plan. Last Mondays meeting included items on Woods Mill in Glossop, the Glossop and Old Glossop Conservations Areas, and the draft statement of community involvement.

Monday also saw the opening / reopening of the Shop on Winster Mews, which after been closed since last January, is very good to see, particularly as the new owners have invested quite an amount on a refit of the store, and seem willing to work with the community and make a real go of both running a business as well as providing a facility to the community.

Tuesday saw a meeting of the Corporate Select Committee, at which I substituted for the Mayor. The committee had a number of items of interest including a call in of the executive decision around section 106 agreements following the Committee’s meeting in July (details here). The reason for the call-in of the decision was due to the executive not agreeing with our recommendation and deciding that the section 106 money, could not be split for the provision of a community facility and as such no money could be made available towards the Guides HQ.

The meeting also considered an item on Double Rating, which is an issue of some contention with two of the members of the Council’s coalition who are also Parish Councillors resigning from the parish council’s they were on, so they could take a full part in the discussion. The basic’s behind this issue is those living in Parish area’s pay double but the Parish’s don’t receive as money as they should to provide the service. After a fairly lively discussion a decision was made to form a review group which will take evidence from all parties involved and work to present a review of all the issues concerned by the end of November in time to fit in with this year budget process.

Wednesday, saw this months meeting of the constituency exec, which considered a range of items, including some which will go forward for discussion to the constituency meeting at the end of the month.

Thursday saw another afternoon off work to be able to attend the meeting of the Gamesley Neighbourhood Police Team; the meeting was as with the previous one, quite useful in updating the various members on issue’s ongoing on the estate. The meeting this quarter included details on the 3 neighbourhood watch schemes the police are hoping to set up on the estate, the lend a cam scheme, Cottage Lane, fireworks and the ongoing problems of vandalism to the Gamesley Early Excellence Centre.

Thursday also saw a meeting of the Labour Group, which amongst over things considered the agenda for the next executive meeting on Tuesday, which is considering a number of the items discussed at the local plan meeting on Monday last, along with an item looking at revising car park charges.

Friday and the end of the week, finished as usual with a trip to the cinema, this week to see Lord of War, the new Nicholas Cage film looking at the arms trade, all in all a good film, which got across quite well the message of the problems with the arms trade, without been to preachy.