Here is a non-exhaustive summary of the meetings and events I have attended as Leader of SKDC, and as SK Councillor for Market and West Deeping, between September 9th and October 9th.
| Sept 9 | Cabinet and CMT “Away Day” | The Cabinet joined the SKDC Corporate Management Team at the Eventus Centre in the Deepings to discuss plans for services in the next financial year |
| Sept 9 | Meeting of the “30” | Members of the various political groups which support the Independent-led administration met informally at the White Horse in Market Deeping. |
| Sept 10 | SKDC Cabinet | Cabinet discussed: Public Space Protection Orders (PSPOs); Corporate property maintenance strategy; Future plans for LeisureSK Ltd |
| Sept 10-13 | APSE Conference, Bristol | I attended the annual conference of the Association of Public Service Excellence |
| Sept 16 | UK Shared Prosperity Fund | UKSPF continues to award grants for projects to build and strengthen our local economy and communities. |
| Sept 16 | Mtg with Persimmon Homes | This was a preliminary meeting, at the request of Persimmon, to hear about plans for a development in Ancaster. I used the opportunity to ask them about the outstanding issues on the Charter Avenue development near Tesco in Market Deeping |
| Sept 17 | Finance and Economic OSC | The Finance meeting had a packed agenda including updates on the new Waste Depot near the A1 as well as the new Economic Development Strategy and St Martin’s Park. It was Chaired by Cllr Bridget Ley (Ind – DSJ) |
| Sept 17 | Informal Cabinet and ‘Meet and Greet’ | September’s ‘Meet and Greet’ with the SK Cabinet took place at the Wyndham Park visitor centre in Grantham. |
| Sept 18 | Mtg with Management of the Deepings School | After expressing my concerns, back in May, about the “fragile reputation of the school in the community”, I was able to meet with the Headteacher and Anthem Trust representatives along with the Deepings other five Independent District Councillors |
| Sept 19 | Meeting with Alicia Kearns MP | My first formal meeting with Alicia Kearns MP who, since the General Election, has been the MP for a significant part of SK including Stamford, Tallington, Uffington and Corby Glen. |
| Sept 19 | Housing OSC | Overview and scrutiny of SK’s housing and homelessness prevention activities. |
| Sept 19 | Grantham Town Team | I was pleased to Chair a relaunch of the Grantham Town Team which has been formed to promote footfall in Grantham town centre. |
| Sept 21 | Opening of the Gladwell Patterson Gallery | The new gallery on Red Lion Square in Stamford displays (for sale) some truly beautiful works of art. |
| Sept 21 | Deepings Business Awards | I was pleased to attend and speak at the 9th Business Awards which were hosted at the Black Horse at Baston. This is the first year that SKDC has made a financial contribution to the event. |
| Sept 24 | SKDC Cabinet | This was an additional meeting of Cabinet to discuss three issues: 1) Changes to Car Parking (including some free parking in Grantham and Stamford in the run-up to Christmas) 2) The Local Plan (Regulation 19 Pre-Submission) 3) Data Protection Policy |
| Sept 24 | Governance and Audit Meeting | Discussed progress with audits as well as potential changes to the process of voting at Council meetings. |
| Sept 25 | Portfolio Meeting: Communications | As Leader, I receive regular updates concerning the council’s proactive and reactive communications strategies. |
| Sept 26 | Full Council | Apart from the usual business of the council including questions to Cabinet Members and others, the Council discussed two motions: The first concerned the withdrawal of the universal Winter Fuel Allowance; the second concerned Suicide Awareness. |
| Sept 27 | Leader’s Column | Publication of the 4-weekly column that I write for the Grantham Journal and Stamford Mercury |
| Sept 30 | Portfolio Meeting: Finance | As SK portfolio holder for Finance, I received updates on revenue collections in SK compared to other Lincolnshire Authorities, as well as a broader overview of the financial position of the council. |
| October | ||
| Oct 1 | Deepings School Strike | I joined teachers and support staff on the picket line at Deepings School where I heard stories from the ‘chalk face’ about management and behaviour at the school |
| Oct 1 | Lincolnshire Day | A series of events in Grantham including a flag-raising at St Peter’s Hill, an illustrated tour of St Wulfram’s Church and a visit to a ‘pop-up’ market in the newly refurbished market square. |
| Oct 2 | Deepings School Strike | Second day of the strike during which I handed out leaflets to parents who were mostly in support of the teachers’ action. |
| Oct 3 | Welland and Deepings Internal Drainage Board | Regular meeting of the IDB |
| Oct 3 | West Deeping Quarry Liaison Meeting | Meeting with Breedon, CEMEX and community representatives to compare notes on issues with the existing West Deeping quarry. |
| Oct 3 | Heritage Lincolnshire at Harlaxton Manor | Represented SKDC at this annual event to raise the profile of Heritage Lincolnshire. |
| Oct 4 | Meeting with Alicia Kearns MP and Corby Glen Parish Councillors | There have been ongoing problems with foul odours in Corby Glen. Alicia Kearns MP had asked me and relevant councillors and officers to support the community in finding ways to identify and take action to abate the causes. |
| Oct 6 | SK Chairman’s Civic Service | At St Peter and St Paul’s Church in Bourne followed by tea at the Bourne Corn Exchange. |
| Oct 7 | Portfolio Meeting: HR | As portfolio holder for HR, I was briefed on key staffing issues at SKDC. |
| Oct 7 | Deepings Neighbourhood Plan Mtg | I was invited to attend the meeting, along with Cllr Moran and Cllr Dilks to exchange views about progress with the Local Plan and the Sustrans work on an LCWIP (Local Cycling Walking Improvement Plan) for the Deepings. |
| Oct 8 | Meeting with Senior Staff of the Anthem Trust | A ‘face-to-face’ meeting with the CEO of the Anthem Academy Trust about the strategy for improving leadership, management and staff relations at the school. |
| Oct 8 | Tour of the new SKDC Customer Service Centre | Roughly £300,000 has been invested into creating a new walk-in centre for SK residents with queries about housing, planning, revenues, benefits, licensing etc. |
| Oct 8 | SKDC Cabinet | As Leader, I am Chair of Cabinet. This meeting approved the publication of a long-awaited SK Economic Development Strategy. |
| Oct 8 | Housing Compliance Mtg | Update on progress with Housing Compliance figures including gas, electric and legionella safety checks. Most are 100% or in the high 90%s |
| Oct 8 | Property Review Group | As Leader, I was briefed (alongside the Cabinet Member for Property) on issues concerning the council’s property portfolio. |
| Oct 8 | SKDC Parish Liaison Meeting | This event took place at the Open Door Church in Deeping St James and was open to clerks and councillors from Town and Parish councils across the South of the District. |
| Oct 10 | Market Deeping TC | I intend to attend the beginning of the meeting to present a short report and answer questions from councillors |
| Oct 10 | Baston Parish Council | I intend to attend the beginning of the meeting to present a short report and answer questions from councillors |
DeepingDo - The blog of Ashley Baxter, Independent Councillor and founder member of the Deepings Rebel Alliance! 