Cllr Mike Butcher

Wednesday 18th November.  Spent time in the Town Hall talking to the “wonderful” Member Services Team (they look after us Councillors and keep us in line!).  1.30pm treated myself to a slap-up lunch in town centre (chips on the market and a mug of tea!).  Back to the Town Hall and continued to put the World to rights whilst waiting for 4pm to arrive as I had a meeting at Market Gates.

Community Safety (Great Yarmouth) Ltd  At 4pm I attended a board meeting of this company (as I am a Director, unpaid!) which operates the CCTV system in our town.  This system has been responsible over many years for a significant reduction in many kinds of crime in the borough.  My representation is due mainly to the fact that I am involved in the NightSafe Scheme being its local Chairman and also that I have a family business on Marine Parade.

I left this meeting in Market Gates and walked straight down Regent St towards the Town Hall, where I had other meetings to attend!

Strategic & Community Advisory Group.

I attended the above committee meeting at 6pm this evening in the Supper Room in the Town Hall where we discussed the following:

Identification of Sites Within the Borough for Social Rented and Affordable Housing.  A report showed that 71 new homes had been completed in the borough during the current year.  A further 64 homes are currently under development with at least a further 136 expected to start in the near future.  There were several other sites that are currently in various stages of the process required to develop.

Great Yarmouth Play Survey.  Adrian Barnes gave an update on the recently completed survey which consulted, parents, schools and other statutory partners on how to develop, promote and encourage free (ie non structured) play for children age 3-11.

Review of Child Protection Policy and Procedure.  The Service Manager for policy gave a verbal report on the updated policy which Councillors were given a copy to digest!

The meeting finished at about 7.45pm and I then headed straight to the Cycle Forum meeting which I had noticed was taking place in the Assembly Rooms in the Town Hall.  I knew I would find support for the cycle way between Hopton and Gorleston and, of course, I was not disappointed!  I spent about 30 minutes talking to this group about the current situation regarding the decision making progress at Norfolk County Council.  I then headed home for dinner at about 8.30pm!

It is now past 10pm and I am going to have my Horlicks and off to bed  going to relax and watch the news.

Quick look in the diary, only three meetings tomorrow first one starting at 8am, whoopee!!