This time my review spans a couple of weeks because of Easter.  Ahead of the Easter weekend, I attended meetings that covered our adult services and local health services.  I also chaired the final meeting of Executive this municipal year- where we reviewed progress we’re making with our Equality Strategy and launched our draft Local Plan, which will now go out for a first round of consultation.  Health was a main theme during another of my meetings that week- Paul Martin from the LGBT Foundation took me through some of the health needs faced by the LGBTQ+ community, which can range from cardiovascular disease and mental health, to access to maternity and cancer services.  It’s important that local health services are inclusive and I’ll be taking this forward with colleagues at the council.

Last Thursday I chaired the final Green City-Region Board meeting of this municipal year, where councillor colleagues from across Greater Manchester come together to review GM-wide initiatives taking place or under consideration.  We also discussed some of the outcomes we want to see from the first year of our new GM Five year Environment Plan.  After the meeting members of the Board visited Castlefield Viaduct to learn more about the ways the National Trust have transformed this stretch of our industrial heritage into a haven for nature.

On Good Friday, it was wonderful to be invited back to watch the National Youth Orchestra perform at the Bridgewater Hall.  I was invited by Georgia, who is one of the NYO’s Principal Horn players.  Georgia, from Altrincham, started her musical journey with Trafford Music Service and she is destined for great things.  This was Georgia’s final year with the NYO and it was a privilege to see her, and all the other very talented students, perform.

Last Saturday I volunteered at the Friends of Victoria Park Easter Egg-stravaganza.  This is an annual event and for the second year in a row I had one of the best jobs- helping with the Easter Egg Hunt and handing out lots of Easter Eggs!

After having a couple of days away I returned earlier this week for a Trafford Partnership Summit in Sale.  It was well attended with organisations ranging from the public and private sectors as well as our VCFSE sector.  I joined a panel event and provided an update on what statistics tell us about Trafford as a Borough.  I also introduced the Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Combined Authority who delivered a keynote speech.

I was back in Sale on Thursday to see some great partnership work in action at the formal launch of our Sale West Advice Hub.  The Advice Hub is based out of Sale West Community Centre every Thursday morning and it brings a range of local services together in one place.  The hub follows on from the success of the Stretford Advice Hub at the Public Hall, which itself originated as a recommendation from Trafford’s Poverty Truth Commission.

Later that day I visited Imperial War Museum North after I was invited to the launch event of a set of stamps that help commemorate the 80^th Anniversary of VE Day.  Each stamp focusses on the experiences of a person living through the Second World War.  There are ten stamps in total, and they profile some incredibly brave and inspiring people from a diverse range of backgrounds.  There’s also a special set of stamps to celebrate Dame Vera Lynn and it was wonderful to see and hear from her daughter at the launch event.

I was back in Stretford Library on Thursday teatime for one of my advice surgeries where I have got a couple of cases to work on and then on Friday I was at the Town Hall for some training and my weekly meeting with the Council’s Chief Executive.