Strategy Meetings As Election Looms

A week in the life of a local councillor in Chiswick

Cllr Sam Hearn who represents the Riverside ward in Chiswick, is chairman of the Chiswick Area Forum. He has written this account of his week as a busy local councillor

Saturday – 14th February: To the vets early with our sick old dog. My laptop connects to the internet but I still cannot access my council emails so I must rely on my I-Pad to stay in touch. Collected some more leaflets and spoke to a couple of deliverers.
Sunday – 15th February: No meetings this week so a chance to try and clear my desk.
Monday – 16th February: Spent some time this evening on the boring task of deleting some obsolete emails on from my I-Pad in order to free up some space. I recently heard the sad tale of a local councillor who deleted all his emails by mistake. Fortunately they were not lost forever.
Tuesday – 17th February: Reviewing 2015/16 budget papers and emails correspondence. I guess local authority finances will never be simple. CPZ emails continue to drift in.
Wednesday – 18th February: Attended a meeting of Chiswick Village residents at the Moran Hotel. A developer has lodged an appeal against the rejection by the Planning Committee of his application to build penthouse flats at Chiswick Village. Many residents wish to lodge their objections to the appeal with the Planning Inspector. I had a brief chat with Mary Macleod after the meeting – we had both been impressed by the presentation made to residents by their professional advisers.
Thursday – 19th February: Meeting with Cllr John Todd and a Council Officer to discuss various traffic and parking related matters. Subsequently “sat at John’s feet” to review various aspects of the proposed LBH 2015/16 Budget up for approval at next week’s Borough Council meeting. Then I moved on to a General Election Campaign Strategy meeting. Standing room only – but it was a small room! I was persuaded by my family to go the Grove Park Tandoori for a late evening meal. What an excellent idea.
Friday – 20th February: Taking time out to respond to emails and follow up on case work. My dog is recovering well from his cut paw.

February 20th, 2015