I'm a Councillor...get me out of here

Well, what can I say? Sometimes I did want to get out of there as the intimidation and bullying that went on towards these poor kids was disgusting! I have spent the last 2 weeks visiting schools, web chatting and answering questions from kids all over Colchester. It only goes to show how intelligent, articulate and wise the youngsters are. I have been proud to meet them and I will be proud to serve them over the next year as Youth Champion.

However the tactics that were used by some of the opposition made me furious and ashamed to be there. I can say that some was down to immaturity and over enthusiasm but I would not stoop to that level - it is patronising and against the whole idea of educating the youth of our town in democracy.

Some of the opposition are absolute sweeties - you know who you are - and I would be proud for them to represent the youth of Colchester regardless of the party they belong to.

However to promise kids things that could not be delivered was wrong. I think, in the end, the kids saw through it and saw who could help them and be honest to them, for the next year which is why I managed to win again.

I will always do what I can to help any young person in Colchester. I will always be honest. I will always listen.

So if any young person is reading this come and say hello. Come to a full Council meeting. Be heard. Be seen. Be part of the town. We are proud of you.

Young Essex Assembly

The Young Essex Assembly (YEA) is an elected group of young people from across Essex. There are 75 members, similar to the number of County Councillors that we have. It gives young people in Essex a voice by Councillors working together with the youth members and youth organisations. 24,000 under 18s were asked what they wanted their YEA to concentrate on - environment, sex and relationship education, transport and leisure. 12 of the elected members were then elected to represent Essex on the UK Youth Parliament working with central government.

What we need to work on is why the kids from the local schools in Colchester have not heard of the YEA. Why did we not know (and this is me included) that nominations for new members had to be in by 30th September. I'm working on this now and will let you know how I get on.

Youth Mayor

There has been a bit of talk about Colchester having a youth mayor since I have been visiting schools in the past few days. If that is what the under 18s want then that is what I shall campaign for. However for the past year I have visited loads of schools and colleges around the town and no one has asked about it - in fact one fellow Councillor has been asking for it because they wanted one of their kids to be the mayor!!!

If that is what the under 18s want then great. But let us do it democratically. Lets make sure the youth mayor is what the kids want and who the kids want - not a volunteer who is being pushed by a political party. Lets make sure that the youth mayor will truly speak for the youth of Colchester.

I do not think we need a mayor, but it does not matter what I think - I am not under 18. I think the elected Young Essex Assembly already speaks for the under 18s. Perhaps they need more publicity as the students who I spoke to today have not heard of it. I would rather spend time and money promoting what we have already which is working well - they meet regularly with the full Council Cabinet and the Leader to sort issues out. I know they do because I have been there!!! I also went on the radio earlier this year to promote the elections so they do already get good publicity but obviously not enough.

If you are under 18 and you are reading this then tell me what you think. Do you want a youth mayor? Have you heard of the Young Essex Assembly and what it does? Did you know you already have a voice in Colchester? Let me know what you think - and what YOU think - don't be bullied by a political party or an individual. Tell me what you think.

Conference at Blackpool 2007

I go to Conference to learn - what can I do better as a Councillor and as a resident? Apart from the main hall, which you see on TV, there are literally hundreds of fringe meetings going on in hotels all over the place from subjects like Abortion, Green issues, Architecture, Discipline in schools, War and Obesity. You can sit and have coffee with other Conservatives and journalists from all over the world and learn what they have done to make their community better.

I went to one such meeting and met Lord Sebastian Coe who is in charge of the Olympics here in 2012. We want Colchester to have a training camp here which will bring lots of money and facilities to the town. We already have the Garrison and the University but if we can get a team from another country to use Colchester as its base then we could end up with a new swimming pool or athletics track.

I went to another meeting and met Damilola Taylors father - his son was stabbed and killed in London in 1998 age only 10. He is now campaigning against gun crime and gangs - so brave. The team told us what they have been doing to help kids today by giving them a father figure other than a gang leader to look up to. Inspirational!

The end speech by David Cameron is always the high point and he finished this years conference by speaking for 90 minutes with no notes, auto cue or text about what he wants to do for Britain - and he spoke from the heart. He wants to mend the broken society - enable parents to stay together to look after their children not live apart because they get more social money to do so. He wants to have stronger border controls so we know who is in our country. No one knows apart from Gordon Brown if we will have an election in November but when you look at what Labour have done in the last 10 years, it is time for change. When Labour were elected they had some good ideas but did not know how to make them work - the result being they have never become policy or if they did (like Home Information Packs for example) they have taken ages to introduce and do not work. We have taken our time asking the Country what they want and we are now revealing the Policies that have been well thought out and will therefore work! As David Cameron said about the election "BRING IT ON!!!"

Shopping in Colchester

Ok so we are talking of a few years ahead (possibly 2012) but what about shops in Colchester like Primark, H & M, Zara, House of Fraser and smaller specialist shops with wierd and wonderful things that are unique to Colchester? Well, that is what is going to happen at Vineyard Gate - the new shopping centre where Vineyard Street car park is. There will also be a new bus station with the latest communications so the buses run better and quicker.

I have been very concerned that we have empty small shops in the town at the moment so the Council must ensure that we have the right size units - and they are! They are in the process of asking the shops who want to come to Colchester (and there are nearly 100) what size units they want. The new development can then be made to suit them so we have few empty shops and plenty of rooms for the bigger stores.

When I go out shopping with my mates we say Primark or H&M? That means are we going shopping in Ipswich or Chlemsford? We won't have to do that anymore 'cos we will have it all here! Another good job the Council is doing for Colchester!

Colchester United Community Stadium

Taken on 24/9/07 - the first
seats of the West stand as
viewed from the pitch.

The new stadium that Colchester has been waiting for is finally arriving!

This is a picture taken at the beginning of September of the first steel structure for the west stand.

The foundations have also been laid and work is well on target.

The Council has had to balance the needs of Colchester United and all of the residents of Colchester without Council tax having to go up. But we have done it when other past Colchester Councils have not been able or willing to do so.

I hope to keep the site up to date with new photos and dates when events are happening. I can't wait until the opening game - what about Col Utd V Ipswich Town?

The start

Well, welcome to my first diary of a Colchester Borough Council Councillor age 40 3/4! I have been told that if I add the names like Britney Spears or Paris Hilton I will get loads of hits but considering I am far more busy then them I think I will stick to my own rantings. I would love to hear from anyone about Colchester, Essex, Prettygate, the Conservatives, David Cameron or in fact anything interesting that is going on. I hope to let you know a bit more about what I do as a Borough Councillor and the jobs we are getting done in Prettygate ward. I will try and keep this as up to date as I can and answer anything honestly and promptly.