After ending last week enjoying Stretfest, I started this week on the doorstep speaking with residents I represent.  I had some good conversations, including on issues such as trees, streetlighting, community safety and access to local healthcare.  All issues that the council is either directly or indirectly involved with.

I then headed to the Town Hall where I chaired one of our Ambitions for Children Board meetings which included items on school nurses and Family Hubs.

That evening we had our council budget setting meeting.  I’ve written and said a lot over the course of the last few weeks regarding the budget situation and the long-term steps we’re taking now to put our finances on a better footing following years of austerity.  I don’t propose to say much more now, other than to reflect on the fact we heard no viable alternative to our plans at the meeting.  The Conservative Group in particular have been very noisy online about what they oppose- however that all comes with a £79m price tag.  Even applying some of the suggestions they’ve made over the years would have had a devasting impact on the services we deliver and our financial resilience.  The evidence suggests that the local conservatives would’ve bankrupted the council years ago.

Local Authorities are responsible for a vast number of services, and I always like having the opportunity to meet with our teams who do so much on the Council’s behalf.  On Wednesday I met with colleagues who have done a huge amount to support our Anti-Poverty Strategy- including supporting our One Stop Advice Hub in Stretford Public Hall.  I heard several inspiring examples of where the team have helped make a huge difference to local residents.

On Thursday I visited Bowdon Church School to meet a fantastic school catering team based there.  They serve over 600 meals each day to the children at the school and are incredibly skilled and organised.  I was talked through what they do each day, the volume and range of food they prepare, and their interactions with the children.  I’ve promised to go back at Christmas to help serve the annual Christmas lunch!

On Friday I travelled to Dunham Crematorium and lawn cemetery to catch up with members of our Bereavement Services team.  It’s been a couple of years since my last visit and I enjoyed receiving an update on what’s changed.  Our team do their best to support people who are grieving, and I was taken through the many ways the team can help people remember loved ones no longer here.

The theme of remembrance continued when I visited Sale Waterside to see the Covid Wall of Reflection, which offers members of the local community a chance to share their reflections of the pandemic, five years on.   Ahead of International Women’s Day I also visited the Waterside’s IWD Exhibition.  It was a brilliant celebration of women, but poignant too.  A year ago, in the same building, I attended Mike Kane MP’s International Women’s Day event, hosted by Claire Mooney.  Very sadly, Claire passed away a few months later and so it was wonderful to see her spirit live on in a photo on display at the exhibition.

I ended Friday meeting a delegation from an energy company in Norway, Skagerak Energi Group, who were visiting Greater Manchester.  During the meeting I joined GM colleagues in setting out key elements of our new Five Year Environment Plan.  We then heard more about the company and the potential to forge a relationship.

I then ended the week as it started- back on the doorstep, this time supporting colleagues in Longford Ward.