Rest? Pah.

April 28th, 2012

Rest?  Pah.

On Monday, after getting my surprise (and welcome) promotion in the middle of a Service Appeals Committee I was chairing at Shire Hall I made my way home in a state of gormless shock.  (Not so gormless, I hasten to add, that my driving was impaired.)  On Monday night I popped into Wisbech Town Full Council meeting to see if there was anything that affected the Peckover portion of my county division.

On Tuesday I drove to Hertfordshire to put in a day’s work in the office.  I then headed straight home to get to Leverington Parish Council’s annual assembly (followed immediately by a parish council meeting that ran quite late in the evening.)

Wednesday saw me working in Number10 Cafe and on Wednesday evening I was back in Leverington to open an art exhibition being held in the beautiful church there.  It was a joy to see such a wealth of local talent displayed and exciting to see so many local people turning up to support the event and admire the paintings.  I managed to catch the end of the Wisbech Conservatives meeting (chaired in my absence by the vice-chair, legendary councillor Jonathan Farmer) and then to take part in a lively debate at the Conservative Policy Forum which followed.  I stayed up late that night reading notes and documents pertaining to my new cabinet portfolio at county council.

On Thursday I was back at Shire Hall for the Cambridgeshire Care Partnership meeting.  I’ve never been to one of these before (and as I understand it, due to changing situations, there won’t be many more of them to go to) but was required to attend as my first official meeting as cabinet member for health and wellbeing.  It was an interesting and informative few hours and I think I managed to immerse myself fairly quickly.  It’s a steep learning curve, but I seem to be getting on well with it.

Thursday night and I was in Waterlees helping my colleague Cllr Samantha Hoy with her fundraising bingo (I was the caller).  She had organised this as part of her community work with Waterlees Playground and aimed to raise money to try and fund a trip for the kids who are regulars at that wonderful facility.  The turnout was incredible and the hall was packed (with people actually having to be turned away!)  That Samantha Hoy is able to motivate such a large group of local people to come and raise money for their area speaks volumes about her role as a community champion.  The fact that she is willing to give up so much of her free time gives you a clue as to what sort of councillor she is.  Not for Sam the spreading of doom, gloom and negativity.  Instead, she rolls up her sleeves, takes her ‘can do’ attitude – and gets on with the hard work.  This is how all councillors should be.  (Hat tips should also go to Sam’s brilliant ‘Friends of the Playground’ committee ladies, and also Cllr. Garry Tibbs, Darren Christie and Pete Tibbs for their help with the event.)

On Friday I headed to March for the Minor Highways Committee – in which councillors on a panel listened to bids for Minor Highways Fund Money and scored them as a recommendation to the appropriate cabinet member.  It was an enjoyable morning and while I was impressed by the quality of the bids and the people who came to speak on them.  I hope everybody is pleased with the outcome when it is announced.  Then this evening (Friday) I was in Whittlesey for an entertaining evening of show tunes and comedy (a Conservative fundraiser) which really was quite exceptional.  Well done to the Whittlesey Conservative Branch for organising such a fun show.

Tomorrow I have a councillor’s surgery and a skate park meeting, then a few hours of paperwork and computer coding to catch up with.  I’m also hoping to skim the new Health Bill since it will certainly have an effect on my new cabinet brief.

It gets even busier next week as I have inductions, meetings and study to immerse myself into my cabinet post.  And on Thursday it’s election time!  (Go Boris!  Go Conservative Councillors!)  I’ve saved the whole day for campaigning in the areas where my Conservative colleagues are battling the Yellow Peril, the Red Rage, The Green Madness and our lost Purple Cousins.

Rest?  Who needs it?   : )

test Filed under Cambs County Council, Health & Wellbeing, Leverington, Waterlees, Wisbech | Comments (3)

3 Responses to “Rest? Pah.”

  1. March SuperMUM on April 28, 2012 8:32 am

    it sounds like you need more things to do!!!! I can suggest hahahaha xxxx

  2. Ian W on April 29, 2012 6:05 am

    It seems that your promotion follows the tried and trusted “give work to a busy man mantra”; if people keep asking you to do more and more you must be doing something right (or not much wrong whilst being cheap and obliging) to encourage growing confidence.

    Hopefully you’ll know when to say no if you think you’re starting to be spread too thin and not able to fulfil any role to a level you’re happy with; until than – enjoy making things happen Smile

  3. Debbie Clark on April 30, 2012 9:29 am

    I’m worn out just reading it all!

Comments are closed.