Mel Fordington – County Councillor – October Report

Dear all,

As your county councillor, I want to give you updates on the areas I have been working on this month. These are the highlights. If you need my help, or you would like me to arrange a meeting with any of the officers from Worcestershire County Council, please let me know beforehand so I can organise it for you.

My day starts with a lot of things to work through, and highways issues are a big part of that. When things get done, I feed them directly back to the parish clerk so they can pass them on to the councillors and report them on the village’s portal or however they source the information. This includes road closures and any repairs I am doing.

Back to School

As September began, it was important to make sure our schooling was back on track. I liaised with the headteacher of our secondary school, Chantry School, to help get students through and make sure the support they needed was in place so things moved in the right direction. A big part of that was securing school placements for children there was a lot of email traffic and attention needed to get placements sorted so pupils could start the term. I also worked on the school bus side. Some parents were paying for transport but their children were not being collected, and I chased that up to make sure the service was actually running as it should. Making sure communication flowed and getting these things done was my priority, and I worked with the Children, Families, and Education teams throughout to keep things moving.

On the SEND side, Worcestershire’s SEND Reform Plan is now in place, setting out how the local partnership will improve support and outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs over the next three years. The focus is on strengthening inclusion in schools, improving partnership working, and making sure support is available earlier and closer to home. Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission carried out a monitoring inspection in May, and the updated Priority Action Plan was published in August. Waiting times for autism assessments and ADHD medication pathways remain a concern, and I will continue to press for progress on these. The Life Beyond School event at Sixways on the eighth of October will bring together more than fifty employers and education providers to help young people with SEND explore their future pathways.

Hallow Playground

Following the urgent meeting I called in September over the poor condition of the play equipment including cracks big enough for a child’s foot to get stuck I am delighted that Hallow Playground has now secured early backing from the county council’s Public Health team. I organised for the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing to attend with officers from the Worcestershire County Council Public Health team, and I would like to thank the Hallow Parish Council chairman and district councillor for their support.

A dedicated public health officer will serve as the primary point of contact as the project develops. Additional funding will still be needed, but Public Health has committed to helping identify the elements most likely to deliver strong public health outcomes.

Hallow VAS Camera

I will be paying half the costs of a new vehicle-activated sign for Hallow from my divisional funds. This follows ongoing concerns from residents about speeding through the village and builds on the VAS signs I have already delivered in Shrawley, Holt, Broadwas, and Wichenford. I will also be working on 30 mph roundels in different areas and locations across the division.

Smoke in Hallow

Residents in Hallow have raised concerns about smoke affecting residential areas, with particular concern around Banks Close and Coxs Close. I have asked the environmental team to carry out an investigation into the source and impact. I also held a meeting with residents from Coxs Close, together with the Environment Cabinet Member and the Environment department, to find out where this smoke is coming from, why it is occurring, and why it has been going on for such a long time. I will continue to press for answers and a resolution for residents.

Martley T-Junction

I have been addressing the situation at the T-junction in Martley, which is a very dangerous area. I am holding a meeting on Monday with Highways and the parish chair so we can come up with a solution. I have also used social media to raise concerns and have asked for participation from users of the Martley community group to suggest solutions.

Highways

I hold regular monthly meetings with the Highways team up to two or three a month including face-to-face meetings with the Highways officer, and I include parish chairs and parish councils in those meetings. I also invite cabinet members when there are issues that need raising at a higher level. If you have any concerns that you feel need to be addressed, please bring them to my attention so I can raise them at these meetings and bring the right people to you.

I am arranging a meeting with Highways and the chair of Holt, and I also want to hold a meeting with the chair of Knightwick and Doddenham with Highways so we can address all issues. I need to confirm some dates in my diary to finalise this. If any other area needs a meeting with Highways, please address the request to me. Part of my highways funding is going towards a new footway in Astley.

Lower Broadheath

I have been in touch with Severn Trent as the new pipework infrastructure project is nearing completion, and I am bringing Severn Trent to Lower Broadheath to thank the village residents. I asked the parish what they would like in terms of the event, and they have requested to hold it in the village hall.

The parish has also asked if Severn Trent can help support their roof repairs, as the roof is leaking and they need twenty-five thousand pounds to fix it.

Severn Trent will not be able to contribute the full amount, but I will be asking what they can do to help.

Martley Road in Lower Broadheath sidings are constantly on my agenda, and the work will be done this month. Lots of other areas will also see footpath and footway repairs.

Gullies and Drains

I have asked all parishes in my division to send me reference numbers for reported gullies and drains so we are ready for the months ahead. Autumn and winter are when these issues really bite, and being prepared now means we can act quickly when the weather turns.

Planning and Regulatory Committee

I have recently stepped down from my position as Vice-Chair of the Planning and Regulatory Committee, and I will now serve as a substitute member. Government regulations now limit planning committees to a maximum of thirteen members, a change the council addressed in July and which must be implemented by the thirty-first of October. Alongside this, a new national scheme of delegation means most planning decisions will now be made by officers rather than by committee, including the majority of housing applications.

I voiced my disappointment at this, as councillors campaign and stand to be elected precisely because they are trusted by their electorate, yet most decisions will now be officer-made.

Warm regards,

Mel Fordington

County Councillor, Hallow Division