Councillor at Large
…The First Quarter
Of course it all began months and months ago. Then a deluge of deliveries, a catalogue of canvassing sessions, a multitude of meetings and one Brand Spanking New Blue Paisley tie later, and I was suddenly the Brand Spanking New Blue Bixley Councillor for the Borough of Ipswich!
This is what happened next…
Thursday May 5th 2011
Polling Day. Although I’ve spent months getting to know my constituency, I live in town and can’t vote for myself! It’s down to the good people of Bixley I’m afraid…
Friday May 6th 2011
Day of the Count. I arrive at 9am at Ipswich Town Hall ready to oversee verification of the AV Vote. We all know the result, but its belt and braces today, so it’s eyes down. This phase is followed by verification of the IBC vote and both the counts.
Thanks to the good people of Bixley I manage to stave off the stubborn resistance of Elango Elavalakan (Labour), and am elected for the very first time! There was, quite rightly, a resounding NO to AV in the other count.
Monday May 9th 2011
Suited, booted and full of importance I carry out my first visit as Councillor Stroet with fellow Councillors, E and R Harsant. We arrived at The Tree House ready for a pre-planned tour of the facility. Oh No! We’ve got the wrong day. What a start! However, all was not lost as we were conducted about this wonderful new facility on a private tour. This is a state of the art hospice for our children and their families that the town can be proud of.
Tuesday May 10th 2011
My first Induction session at Grafton House. It is scheduled for the Orwell Room. (A space I am to get to know very well over the coming months.) My picture is taken for the IBC website and another is taken for my ID card. I try to look determined and serious minded. I wonder if it worked?
Friday May 13th 2011
Conservative Group Meeting. I’ve taken part in a number of these as part of my preparations for becoming a councillor. This is the first meeting where my comments will be minuted. I spend more time listening than talking whilst I adjust to my new role. They all sound very wise!
Tuesday May 17th 2011
I pick up Councillor R Harsant for a planned visit to St Elizabeth Hospice. This is where we should have been last week! However, no-one seemed to notice our error as the venerable Russell Harsant and I were shown through the new facilities. Again, we come away feeling that patients and their families entering the hospice will receive the comfort and respect they deserve. We both felt that with St Elizabeth and The Tree House, we had facilities that were just what Ipswich needed for years to come.
Wednesday May 18th 2011
Time for that ancient ritual of the Mayor Making - and the election of the new Council Leader. Sadly, both are Labour this year. Cllr John Le Grys took his place as mayor, and nothing untoward happened at the eleventh hour to prevent David Ellesmere becoming leader. It was all very formal and was followed by a bite to eat in the mayor’s chamber and a few “pat on the back type” speeches.
Thursday May 19th 2011
I forgot to mention earlier that I decided to become the Authority Governor for Broke Hall Primary School. It is an excellent school that, although it is located just outside my ward (in Suffolk Coastal), serves Bixley residents. Tonight was the first meeting of my four year term. The other governors made me feel very welcome. I assured them that I would do all I could to support the school.
Tuesday May 24th 2011
I am pleased to finally have access to kym.stroet@councillors.ipswich.gov.uk . I am appalled to find about 40 emails awaiting my attention. Who are all these people who want to press my cyber-flesh? I begin to work patiently through them…
I pay another visit to the Orwell Room at Grafton House for an Induction session on the Constitution and the Role of a Councillor – Cllr John Mowles (Labour) presiding. He impresses me with his knowledge; been at it for about 40 years so he should have learnt a trick or two by now.
Monday May 30th 2011
I knew it would happen…something slipped through the net! I ring Trish at Ipswich Central to explain why I missed the board meeting. I assure her that I shan’t miss the next one on 28th July. And I won’t! This is a wakeup call. Must re-double my organisational efforts.
Tuesday May 31st 2011
I attend the Executive meeting to keep a weather eye on the dastardly crew (Labour Party) who are now running the council. The lovely Nadia asks a question about councillors retaining their locality budgets, but I fear it fell on deaf ears. I listen and take notes.
Wednesday 1st June 2011
Human Resources Induction and subsequent Committee Meeting cancelled! I celebrate by getting a little ward business done and contemplating the racy, international life of a Borough Councillor.
Thursday 2nd June 2011
John Carnall set up a meeting for me with three of the key managers on the council; Mike Tee (Head of Planning), Steve Miller (Head of Planning Applications) and John Parling (Head of Economic Development). This was a valuable one hour session intended to bring me up to speed with ongoing issues/strategies etc. My journey up the learning curve continues. Anyone got a rope?
Friday 3rd June 2011
Eagle-eyed Councillor Terry spots a chance for Councillor Stokes and I to gain a little deserved publicity. Sarah and I join Ben Gummer for a photo shoot at the site of a new housing development on the waterfront. I write a short article to appear in the Evening Star. (We waited for about a week, but it eventually appears as promised.)
I join a number of other councillors for the opening of “Open Road” a new drug/alcohol treatment centre in Princes Street. Along with ICENI this centre can only be a good thing for residents who need help.