Thank You - My First Year as Councillor
Exactly a year ago today, 22 May 2014, residents of Hyde Werneth ward went to the ballot box to vote in Local and EU elections. It’s a day I will never forget, as that day I became elected to serve as one of their ward representatives on Tameside Council.
To be elected is a huge honour and privilege to have been entrusted with the responsibility of representing the views of Hyde Werneth residents on the council - and to help ensure a better future for our ward.
This year has been tough, it hasn’t always been easy, the learning curve is steep but with brilliant staff at Tameside Council to help me along the way (thank you all) I feel I can say that I have been able to serve the residents of Hyde Werneth fully.
I have been lucky to spend many an occasion doing something I really love, being involved in the community. Whether it’s been attending fairs & fete’s such as the Gee Cross Fete & St Georges Church, celebrating St Georges day (at the Grafton Centre), attending the Tameside Business Summit or otherwise. I’ve also spent time at community and with organisations (such as GMP) to work for a stronger future for the ward. I can safely say it’s been a very busy year.
I have also done all the “normal” things a Councillor does, such as attend meetings, held regular surgeries, helped rectify residents issues and worked with outside organisations for the betterment of the ward as a whole.
Taking office, I knew it was going to be a tough year - lots of new things to learn, it was going to be busy and most of all I knew that the cuts of the Tory Coalition were really going to bite. I thought it was possibly going to be one of the worst years to ever take office as a Tameside Councillor, knowing services were being cut, jobs lost and if the Tories remained in power no end in sight.
Unfortunately, they have remained in power and the £142M in cuts to Tameside Council are likely to increase - meaning the council will be forced to make decisions which can and will impact on the most vulnerable. (I am sure I will blog more about that in the future).
Finally, I want to say a huge Thank You to those who have really helped support me this year. I can’t name you all but to name a few: Cllr Raja Miah (friends and ward colleague), Kieran, Jim, Sarah, Rahman, Debbie, Jan, Jason, Adam, Kate, Jonathan, Phil, Stuart, Maria, Andrew - and everyone else!
Really Finally, the biggest Thank You must go to everyone who elected me.