It’s been another week of spending quite a bit of time out of my office and around the Borough, which is no bad thing given the current weather! On Sunday I joined Longford Ward colleagues in Longford Park for the Community Allotment Open Day and Celebration Day.  I had the opportunity to buy some plants and receive an update on Longford Park’s Heritage Lottery Funding.  It’ll be good to see things progress there in the autumn.

I spent most of Monday at the Lowry for the annual Greater Manchester Moving Conference.  I joined Sale Moor councillor Olly Baskerville and colleagues from the Council and Trafford Leisure at the event that championed all forms of moving.  During the day it was great to hear a presentation from a member of our own Public Health team regarding the success of last year’s Beat the Street initiative in Old Trafford and Stretford.

Later that day I went to the Town Hall where we had our Labour Group’s AGM.  The most significant change was welcoming Liz Patel as our new Labour Group Deputy Leader.  Liz succeeds Cath Hynes who has taken the decision to step down this year.  I cannot thank Cath enough for her support, encouragement and wisdom over her years as Deputy Leader.  She is one of the very best people I know, and I will miss her.  I also look forward to working closely with Liz who will be a fantastic Deputy Leader for both the Labour Group and Trafford Council.

My Tuesday began with a meeting at the Town Hall before I travelled across to Stockport to close an engagement event regarding Heat Network opportunities across Greater Manchester.  I was there in my role of Green City-Region portfolio holder, and it was a timely event as Trafford Council has recently been awarded £5.7m from the Government to support our own Civic Quarter District Heat Network.  You can learn more about the funding here.

Later that day I travelled to Sale to participate in our annual Pride in Trafford Flag Raising Event.  This is always a special occasion and the Waterside Plaza in Sale looked amazing in the sunshine.  As part of the event we had speeches, poetry and some wonderful singing courtesy of Park Road Primary School children.  I then attended a meeting with my Executive colleagues before returning to the Waterside for Pride in Trafford’s launch night.

The highlight of Wednesday was visiting Lostock Park to see an Apiary and taste a selection of honey from across Trafford.  The Council has been working with Manchester Honey Company to support locations for bee hives in different parts of the Borough.  It was fascinating to learn more about bees, hive behaviour and how honey can taste differently depending on where hives are situated.  I even got to try a bit of been keeping myself.  You can read more here.

On Thursday I spent the morning in Stretford- first as an invigilator at Victoria Park Junior School where the Year 6 children were doing a SATs paper.  After the test I walked to Stretford Public Hall where I spoke at an event regarding individualised placements that support people into employment.  These placements help people who may have struggled to re enter the workplace.  It was good to hear some people share their lived experience and explain how support had helped turn their lives around.

Following this I walked up to the Town Hall for a series of meetings, including Corporate Parenting Board where once again I got to hear the valuable lived experience of care experienced young people.  The meeting was a workshop looking at our strategy for the next year and how different agencies can work together to support our children in care and care experienced young people.

Finally, on Friday I spent the morning at the Town Hall in meetings, including an update on Stretford Town Centre.  I then caught up on emails before heading out to join Longford Ward colleagues on the doorstep talking to residents.