From our Local County Councillor
March 2010
Adult and Communities Policy Development Group met to consider a number of
items. With the demise of the Learning and Skills Council, the County Council
has to decide whether to take on the role of lead body. The PDG felt that the
County Council should actively seek this role and also considered how informal
adult learning should fit into the education landscape. The PDG also received a
presentation from Dr Liz Robin on the annual Public Health Report.Following
training I participated in my first appeal hearings on home to school transport
- one in Huntingdon and one in March. These appeals are where parents are
disputing the County Council decision to refuse to pay for transport under the
funding policy are can be quite involved cases.
A meeting was held with contractors over the access to Burwell Village College playing field for the carnival, with associated improvements to the sports centre car park. The work is scheduled to be completed over the Easter holidays.A "Giant" sculpture was unveiled at Burwell House as part of a Community Arts project, which was a pleasure to attend.I attended my first meeting of the Local Government Association Rural Commission in London, with supply of affordable housing and the need to keep local health facilities open high on the agenda. Economic development and supply of services in rural areas were also discussed.
I have continued to raise a number of areas of complaint with Stagecoach over the revised bus timetable and hope to have more to report next month.
The full County Council met on 30 March, with road maintenance the main agenda item of local interest.