Rest of the week – a brief review

Tuesday night saw the full council meeting, which was mainly around setting the council’s budget.

The Labour group had an alternative position on the budget to the council’s controlling coalition, this was mainly around the areas of community grants, charging for collecting fridge’s, bowling clubs and grit bins.

We put across our points, but unfortunately due to their greater numbers, we lost out except for concessions that had been made with regards to the introduction of self-management for bowling clubs.

The meeting also discussed a motion on the changes to PCT’s and the reduction of services at Buxton Hospital, which was amended / strengthened by the leader of the Labour group Caitlin Bisknell and myself, the motion was then supported by the whole council.

Wednesday saw a meeting of the Council’s corporate select committee, which amongst other items again included a discussion on the possible changes to the PCT’s. The discussion again supported the position of Glossopdale remaining in the Tameside and Glossop PCT, but raised an interesting question on what we should support for the rest of Derbyshire, ie 1 PCT for Derbyshire including Derby City, or 2 with Derby City in one of it own.

The meeting also considered a brief review of the area forum’s which have been running for almost a year. There were mixed views, from the councillors present, with my main concern been that they still don’t seem to have a clear purpose or ‘something’ to do and this will need to be addressed before long, or the meetings will just become a talking shop.