….at the Civic Centre yesterday, when I arrived for my first meeting as Leader of the Liberal Democrat group at MDC.  The welcoming committee was not there to greet me, though; they were protesting about the prospect of development of rear gardens at Clipstone Road West, Forest Town.

I avoided them ‘like the plague’ because being on the Planning Committee that was meeting to consider the applications for permission to build on these gardens, if I had spoken to the protesters I would not have been able to cast my vote on these two items.

As it was, having read the planning applications  over the previous couple of weeks I had already come to the conclusion that a site visit was called for. Even with the help of Google maps it is hard to picture exactly what these two sites look like, so I proposed  that Committee members visit the two sites and at the vote this was unamimously backed by the rest of the  Planning Committee. Once these visits have taken place we will return to deliberate and debate the applications.

……….St John Street public conveniences.

Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Councillor Kate Allsop,  will decide whether to uphold her original ruling to close the toilets.

I am convinced that Kate, as an experienced Councillor with lots of ‘nous’ will make the judgment in the best interests of all concerned, whether this means that the decision is to be upheld or reversed. 

This review of the  Portfolio’s original ruling followed the call-in of that decision by 6 members of MDCouncil. A public consultation was conducted by Select Commission 1  and results of this and other findings have been passed in a  report to Councillor Allsop.

….with my site, will have ’sussed’ that I am a person who looks on life with a positive attitude - my glass is half-full and like Eric Idle I always look on the bright side of life!

Our local newspaper regularly publishes letters from ‘Irate of Mansfield’ and ‘Disappointed of Mansfield’ bemoaning the demise of Mansfield market and laying the blame at the door of MDC, but if the following experience is not an isolated incident then perhaps the blame should be laid at the feet of traders……….. 

On Saturday, having answered the call to support our local traders in their fight to survive in the face of competition from ‘out of town stores’ and supermarkets, I was  sold less than perfect goods by a market trader.  His produce was beautifully displayed and  mouth-watering but from one pound of cherries, 5 oz were inedible (I weighed them!) and had to be thrown away.

Maybe because I wasn’t a regular customer he saw an opportunity to offload his less than wholesome stock; this is hardly a strategy that will encourage me to return to his stall. If instead, he had sold me delicious, good quality cherries, like those on display, I would have returned and in time, may have become a regular customer.

 So, I say to traders………Sort your stall out!

…to meet your Local Councillor. We were out in force outside ASDA store, a cross-party team, but there was a mere trickle of people with complaints…it was very gratifying to feel that we may be getting it right! Quite a few stopped to say hello and confess that they had nothing to moan about. Of course, I realise this contentment may not last and the next time we venture out to meet the residents of Mansfield and District, there may be more issues to address, but we will be ready - we are constantly receiving training and updating on the laws relating to local issues. There is a vast store of knowledge held by the MDC Officers and all are keen to help elected Councillors to perform well for their ward. I shall let you know the date and venue of the next Meet Your Local Councillor session.

…since the election that brought me to my current position as Councillor for Leeming Ward and the Mansfield portion of the Ashfield & Mansfield Liberal Democrats met to discuss our roles for the coming year. We all chose to remain on our present committees, roughly speaking, with the odd small change to accommodate changes in personal circumstances.

I am still on Planning Committee, Health & Safety Committee and Select Commission 1. I am also taking the role of Leader of our LD group for the next year, so that will be a few more meetings to attend.  I hope to retain my seat on the board of Greenwood Community Forest, when the vote is taken next week. During this past year I have attended working groups and training sessions which in number were far beyond what I expected when I was elected, but the whole experience has so far been one that I feel very fortunate to have had. I look forward to the next 3 years.

We at the Liberal Democrats are always looking for people to join the party and if you feel the need to be a part of local politics and have your voice heard, then look to the left of this column to find out how you can join us.

…..to Mansfield District Council. Earlier this year I had to attend a funeral; my nephew’s baby died at only 4weeks old. It was a heart-rending occasion when the weather was cold and wild, echoing the feelings in the hearts of those who went to the cemetery.

Shortly afterwards, at a meeting of full Council, where the proposed budget for the year was to be voted upon, I thanked the Finance Team for keeping the charges for burial of children at the cost price. Don’t you agree that it would be totally unprincipled to make profit from such a sadness?

I came across a story in the Daily Mail which tells of a different ethos. I will share it with you.

‘A report for ******Council has called for a rise in  burial and cremation fees at the start of next January to”maximise the peak demand period“. January usually records the highest average death rate of the year, largely because of the greater number of elderly people who succumb to the colder weather.’

Perhaps I am naive, but there is something distasteful about profiteering from death, even if it is the death of someone who has lived a long life. Why not try to help keep them warm, instead?

…and the costs involved are, perhaps, not helping the incidence of fly-tipping in our district. All well and good to talk about Mansfield’s improved recycling rates, but at what cost to the environment?

The charges for removing large items are: £10.51p for up to 3 items to be collected at the same time, excluding fridges or freezers, which are £10.51p each on account of stringent statutory disposal rulings, which have to be adhered to by Councils.  More than 3 items can be collected at any one time, but are charged at multiples of £10.51. Items for collection must be available and accessible for collection.   (Garden gates need to be unlocked by 6.30a.m) Payment must be made in advance at Civic Centre reception or Housing Offices throughout the district, and upon payment, you will receive a date when the collection will be made.

If you are receiving Income Support, Pension Credit or Jobseeker’s Allowance you will receive a 50% discount.

…took place   at the Sodexho Suite last night with the Chairman’s chosen charities benefitting from the generosity of those who attended, which included me and my husband. It was a wonderful evening, the food was well worth the money and the entertainment was provided by The Union Gap, of 60s fame.

I danced the night away and enjoyed it enormously, even without any alcohol intake.   The atmosphere was ‘electric’ and it was fun to get together with some of my fellow councillors at a social event. I am afraid to say that even without alcohol, I found it difficult to keep my feet during the energetic dancing and I went ’base over apex’ (aren’t I polite?) and cracked my head on the edge of the loudspeaker support. I blame the slippery floor …… but I have decided that if I attend future events, I shall have a drink, because then if I fall, I shan’t feel it!!! Putting aside that little mishap, I must say that the whole evening was a very worthwhile occasion and I say’ Well Done, to the Chairman of Mansfield District Council’

…the submission of the report of Select Commission 1, regarding the closure of Public Conveniences at St John Street in Mansfield. It remains to be seen whether the campaigning by local Pensioner Groups and the public consultation by SC1 will have any bearing on the decision; a lot of hard work has been put in by all SC1 members, but especially by the Chair, Councillor June Stendall, who has done a magnificent job in dealing with this call-in. It is thanks to June that I have learned a considerable amount about this procedure, during this 6 week review of the decision to close the toilets.

If you see waste or fly-tipping or graffiti, please report it to MDC Grimebusters Squad on 01623 463463 or email grimebusters@mansfield.gov.uk. You will be surprised by how quickly they spring into action and clear the offending articles. The pictures here are just one example of their speedy response. If you have any household rubbish, other than that which is processed via the Green, Blue or Brown Bin System, please use one of the Waste Recycling Sites at Oakfield Lane, Warsop or at Kestrel Road, off Hermitage Lane, Mansfield. These sites are open every day, with the exception of Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years day. For bulky, unmanageable items,such as sofas, fridges, etc MDC provides a collection service. For further details of charges for this service, contact 01623 463463