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Notes:
WYRE FOREST DISTRICT COUNCIL
Annual report and review 2023/2024
Name of Member: Councillor Robin Drew
Ward: Wyre Forest Rural
Section 1: Attendance at Council, Committee and Sub-Committee meetings
Name of Committee No. of meetings held during the year No. of meetings attended
Council 5 5
Ethics & Standards 0 0
Overview & Scrutiny 2 2
Planning 8 8
Cabinet Advisory Panel Corporate Plan 2 1
The calendar of meetings is agreed at the beginning of each municipal year. Occasionally the need arises for additional meetings to be arranged at short notice which not all Members are able to attend due to previous commitments. The table shows only the meetings in the agreed municipal calendar: additional meetings are ignored.
This represents an overall attendance of 94%
Other attendance Number
Period of Extended Absence, (e.g. Maternity leave/Sick leave):
-
Number of meetings attended as a substitute:
2
Section 2: Mandatory Training Completed
Training Activity Date attended
New Members Induction Session 10-05-2023
New Members Code Conduct Training 10-05-2023
Planning Training 15-05-2023
Online Audit Training 25-05-2023
Licensing Training 25-05-2023
Housing Training 15-06-2023
Community Housing: Housing Induction for members 24-07-2023
Refresher training Licensing online 02-05-2024
Other training Number of modules completed
Core e-learning
0
Additional e-learning
0
Cyber security training
4
Section 3: Community Involvement
I am a Councillor for Wolverley & Cookley Parish Council and am heavily involved in the community I represent. I am also regularly on the patch' meeting residents, looking at issues, attending events, and attending all 6 Parish Councils on my WFDC rural division, in conjunction with my two ward colleagues Ian and Marcus.
I am President of the Wolverley & Cookley branch of the Royal British Legion and attended both meetings and services of remembrance.
Section 4: Assisting Constituents
It has been a busy and interesting first year in my role as an elected member. I have responded to all queries raised to me by constituents either by telephone call, letter or email and indeed have face to face meetings with residents on specific issues and have also convened residents' meetings on various issues.
I respond to dozens of emails relating to casework issues within the ward daily.
Litter and fly tipping have been constant issues throughout the year. Planning Enforcement issues in all six parishes are very much a huge part of my post bag and liaison between residents' parish councils and the planning enforcement officers is a big part of my role.
The Local Plan and protecting the green belt have also been an issue raised by many local residents, notwithstanding it was approved by Full Council in April 2022.
Localism issues within the ward, i.e. parking issues in Blakedown Car Park, Brown Westhead Park and around our schools are issues we have also been involved in.
I also deliver a regular newsletter to all households within the ward together with my two ward colleagues throughout the year. We deliver at least 3 editions per year. I also put regular posts on Facebook and share to the residents' groups too.
In addition to the regular newsletter, there are often issues which affect a particular street or area and I always communicate regarding those issues as well.
I also attend village events, Broome and Rushock coffee mornings, Wolverley Carnival, St Cassian's Church fete in Chaddesley, to name just a few.
Section 5: Supplementary Information
I am the Chair of the Planning Committee and have regular meetings with the officers to review future planning applications and enforcement issues. This is the first report I am writing as a Councillor for the Wyre Forest Rural Ward, and I have worked very closely with my ward colleagues Cllrs. Ian Hardiman and Marcus Hart in sharing information and resolving issues.
The rural nature of the ward makes this a different and more interesting challenge. In particular, there are no less than six parish councils, Broome, Chaddesley Corbett, Churchill and Blakedown, Rushock, Stone and Wolverley, and Cookley of which I and my colleagues continue to attend regularly on a rota basis, providing them with regular reports and updates and I believe that liaising with the parish councils and their councillors is essential to maintain community ties in particular in the rural areas.
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