local-democracy
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This was an eight day week because my term as a councillor ended on Monday May 11. I: Objected to a licensing application from Mojos to extend their opening hours to 4am. This application comes just a few weeks after they successfully applied to remove the conditions on their licence to serve food and have…
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This week I: Held my last Monument Ward Surgery at City Library and gave a local resident two litter-pickers on long-term loan from the council to use in community clean-ups. Reminded Alice Wiseman, the council’s Director of Public Health, that I am still waiting for answers to my questions about benefit take-up in Newcastle. I’d…
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This week I: Sent a statement to planning committee about the application for a new development at M&S Motorcycles on Westgate Road. There have been a number of concerns raised about the impact on the local area. My biggest concern is that the company that owns the site already has permission for other projects on…
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This week: I was involved in discussions about an objection I had made to the Greggs application for a 5am takeaway licence on Pilgrim Street. Late night takeaways can be a focus for crime and disorder, which is why the city’s Licensing Policy has a 1am closing time for city centre premises. The council’s Licensing…
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This week I went to the annual Monument Ward Committtee. This is an opportunity for residents to talk to council officers, the police and all 3 of their councillors about their issues and concerns. There weren’t many residents unfortunately – possibly due to the council’s decision to stop writing to all residents in the ward…
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This week I went to the last City Council meeting before the election. The March meeting is the most important meeting of the year because we have to agree the budget. I seconded Coun Tracey Mitchell’s amendment, which called for a cross-party working group to look at efficiency and saving opportunities before next year’s budget.…
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This week I: was contacted by a resident concerned about homeless people camping in an underpass near Newcastle University wrote to city centre residents to ask what impact licensed premises have on them – Karen Kilgour, the council leader, has recently said she is ‘reviewing’ the late night levy on licensed premises after they complained…
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This week I: raised three planning enforcement cases with the planning team – we have multiple issues in Monument of people going ahead with projects without planning permission and of others ignoring the conditions that come with permission supported residents with housing issues discussed the application by Mojo to remove the food, drink promotion and…
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This week I: Attended Constitutional Committee. Sadly, the only issues on the agenda were nominations for honours. While this is part of the committee’s role, I think we should also be making time to discuss governance issues. Submitted two questions for January Council: “How do the leader and cabinet prioritize the allocation of council resources?…
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This week I: had a meeting with the Head of Housing about the Cedars leasehold issue supported residents who are having problems with repairs to their home continued discussions about the licensing application for Daveys and the potential for a noise management plan objected to an application for Voodoo Doll at The Gate to remove…
