Cross-party group set up to spend Wyre Forest regeneration fund

10:53am Wednesday 18th April 2012 in News Photograph of the Author By William Tomaney

A CROSS-party review group has been set up to help Wyre Forest District Council spend its £1 million economic regeneration fund.

At a meeting last night, cabinet approved recommendations outlined in a report on the next steps for utilising the grant cash.

The group is made up of Conservative councillors John Campion, district council leader and Marcus Hart, deputy leader, Liberal councillor Fran Oborski, Independent councillor Helen Dyke and Labour councillors Howard Martin and Jamie Shaw.

Mr Campion said: “The group will be the body responsible for overseeing plans. We will hold the first meeting in the first part of May.

“We now expect things to move forward with considerable pace.”

Its first priority will be to spend the £50,000 fund set aside to support an apprenticeship scheme.

Other proposals approved include creating an “action plan” for Kidderminster town centre and putting £100,000 towards helping new and developing businesses.

Comments(32)

FranOb says...
11:31am Wed 18 Apr 12

Really looking forward to getting started on this. We have a huge task but there is loads of enthusiasm for the task.
Particularly looking forward to working on Skills Agenda and getting more apprentices at the Council.

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walkerno5 says...
1:07pm Wed 18 Apr 12

"The group is made up of Conservative councillors John Campion, district council leader and Marcus Hart, deputy leader, Liberal councillor Fran Oborski, Independent councillor Helen Dyke and Labour councillors Howard Martin and Jamie Shaw."

It does make you wonder what all of the other councillors are for really, it's the same old crew doing absolutely everything every time.

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FranOb says...
2:46pm Wed 18 Apr 12

ALL Opposition Party Leaders were asked to put people forward for State of the Area "Champions".
Health Concern didnt bother to respond so that counted them out.
Cllrs taking part had to be available for daytime AND evening meetings. I can't speak for Labour BUT for the Liberal and Independent Group that meant that Helen and I were the ONLY two who could guarantee the time commitment!
Everything we do we will be talking through with our Group colleagues!

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jflawson says...
9:04pm Wed 18 Apr 12

Why is it at every opportuinity that Fran gets she has a pop at
ICHC. Nationally according to the opinion polls 13% of voters would vote for an independent candidate. It shows how the country feels about the the old parties when Galloway can win Bradford.Kidderminst
er has probably got the biggest group of independents in the country actively very involved in all levels of local government.
They have WYRE Forests best interests at heart are a financially solvent party but do not have money for glossy printed in Broadway what about Kidderminster Printers of which there are many.
Regretably Fran,s party have got into bed with a totally uncaring arrogant party and thats why their national % of voters has collasped. The local vice chairman of the labour party has i believe jumped on the wrong horse.
The electorate of Kidderminster
will i believe give all the above parties a major wake up call on
the 03/05/12 by voting for the excellent group of ICHC Candidates.

jim lawson

ICHC CANDIDATE FOR ROCK & DISTRICT

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Tav says...
8:11am Thu 19 Apr 12

Good to see things are starting to happen.

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HowardM says...
1:35pm Thu 19 Apr 12

Jim - Fran isnt having a "pop" at ICHC, she is telling the truth. In the original process John Campion asked each group leader to nominate one representative - Labour nominated me since I am party spokesperson on the economy and it was actually my job for 28 years. ICHC didnt nominate anyone so Jamie Shaw, as Labour group Leader, took the other place as Leader of the biggest opposition party. The other parties all put people before politics - sadly ICHC didnt!
On a point of accuracy - I am not Vice Chair - I am Deputy Leader and I have backed the right horse.
On another point of accuracy ICHC are not "probably the bigest group of independents in the country....." - that honour fall to the Ratepayers Party in Epsom & Ewell (Surrey) who provide about 40 out of 42 Councillors and have done since the late 1940's! There are other examples in Lancs, East Anglia, West Country and Stoke on Trent (until recently), if you had done your home work you should have known that.
Galloway? A one off - playing to the issues in a unique area of Bradford by a charismatic candidate - single issue, single victory (a bit likeRichard Taylors success in 2001) - but so far to the left of Labour mainstream that Respect havent even put one candidate up in B'ham! Wouldnt you have thought that was a target if Galloway's win were sustainable elsewhere?
Time will tell, but if ICHC bomb at this election their days are numbered.

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Gobby Robby says...
5:16pm Thu 19 Apr 12

You've missed Jim's biggest clanger here Howard, he's mistaken Fran's party for the Liberal Democrats again. It's the Liberal Party Jim, it's completely different. Makes you wonder at the calibre of some of these candidates if they don't know the basics. Also ICHC is about as 'independent' as Nick Griffin.

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jflawson says...
9:47pm Thu 19 Apr 12

Thanks for your comment Gobby but i think a lot of voters are unsure that Fran is is a Liberal and not a Liberal Democrat. Also a cheap shot to put Nick Griffin in your comment thats probably why you sign yourself as Gobby.
Lots of love.

jim lawson

ICHC Candidate for Rock AND District

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neilhar says...
10:23pm Thu 19 Apr 12

Oh Dear Jim

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Mary79 says...
12:09am Fri 20 Apr 12

So just why didn't ICHC put anyone forward?

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Jane Gordon says...
12:35am Fri 20 Apr 12

I understand that Marcus, Fran and Helen are all up for re-election on May 3rd - wonder if they will 'get back in'. Who knows - could there be a vote for change !!
Fran - Liberal or Lib/dem she always seems to vote with the Tories

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jflawson says...
8:16am Fri 20 Apr 12

ICHC are awaiting outcome of elections to see who they can put forward and the new organisation is unlikely to meet before then.Most parties are obviously busy putting their case forward to the electorate
via their various literature some parties have more helpers than others and lot of our candidates have full time jobs in the private sector and cannot take time off just like that and do our party after a full days work.I start in Stourbridge at about 8-10am and get home at about 5-45pm.

jim lawson

ICHC Candidate for Rock & District

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FranOb says...
8:55am Fri 20 Apr 12

Jim,
ICHC have missed the boat because they had to put someone forward in February and didnt.
I think everyone in my Ward and in my County Division gets told on every leaflet (about 16 a year) that I am a LiBERAL not a Liberal Democrat and across the country we have far more Cllrs than ICHC!
I was sorry that ICHC refused to take part but we have moved on.
All Councillors have a legal right, under the Employment Protection Consolidation Act and subsequent legislation, for reasonable time off for Council activities. It is up to the employer whether that time off is with or without pay!

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jflawson says...
11:17am Fri 20 Apr 12

I take you comment about about my legal rights but many independent private companies dont have spare staff. As a sales manager for a company that gives excellent service my phone is on from 7-00 am until 9-30 pm weekdays and 7am until 4pm Saturdays to assist any of our customers who invariably work long hours to keep thier businesses in PROFIT
because we cannot get bailed out when we get things wrong.
Thats called working at THE SHARP END of the COMMERCIAL
Private Business World which pays the countries tax.

all the best

jim lawson

ICHC Candidate for Rock & District

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HowardM says...
12:18pm Fri 20 Apr 12

Then for a number of reasons Jim - since you are so understandably busy would it be wise for voters to support you? Would you be able to adequarely represent them and should you have even been a candidate? Did you make all this clear in any election material you distributed?

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jflawson says...
12:37pm Fri 20 Apr 12

I have made it absolutely clear to the people of Rock were i lived for 50 years. Most Council meetings are from 5-30 on wards, If elected i will be prepared to visit them after 6pm and any time at the weekends if any urgent matter arises they will be able to contact our offices on 01562 823351 and get advice from our other district councillors.Also can you tell me when the Editor of the Rock & District News offered your an opportuinity to put forward his manifesto he did not get a reply. So he is obviously putting a lot of effort into persuading them to vote for your party.

Have a nice day

jim lawson

ICHC Candidate for Rock & District

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jflawson says...
12:55pm Fri 20 Apr 12

There is also a well known saying if you want a job well done give it to a busy man.

all the best jim lawson

ICHC candidate for Rock & District

p.s i am typing this in my lunchtime but we dont switch of our telephones

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Gobby Robby says...
6:36pm Fri 20 Apr 12

Yet more evidence of Health Concern's rightwing drift (Independent? Ha ha ha).
"because we cannot get bailed out when we get things wrong.
Thats called working at THE SHARP END of the COMMERCIAL
Private Business World which pays the countries tax." - Really? For a minute I thought you were going to say you had a man's job like a miner or another man's job in manufacturing. Surely men in these industries pay tax too Jim? Or is your post just a lame far right sideswipe at those that work in the public sector...like nurses? I mean what sharp end could compare with a Sales Manager? Not the work of a nurse that's for sure. I don't know, what's become of this country when gloried spivs, yes that's Sales Managers (conning people into parting with their cash for dodgy products) are so proud of what they do? Very sad.

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Stephen Brown says...
6:57pm Fri 20 Apr 12

Wouldn't it actually be quite good to start talking about how and where this money will be spent?

I don't exactly like some of the players involved in this decision making process either as I think one or two of them have actually made matters worse for the area, but we are where we are, and I'd like to see the plans developed so something positive comes about.

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Shibdrift says...
7:51pm Fri 20 Apr 12

Economic regeneration money?! By the time they've all stopped bickering we might just be able to afford a new litter bin in the car park. GET ON WITH IT!!!
Good job voters don't fanny around for so long, else no voting would be done on the 3rd May - there's an idea? Might wake a few of the muppets up!

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FranOb says...
4:20pm Sat 21 Apr 12

First meeting is May 15th. Oh and the days when Council meetings etc took place after 5.30 are long gone!
Not enough days in the week to do everything in the evenings!

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kidderlord says...
8:41am Sun 22 Apr 12

thats only because you have to be involved in everything trying to be a big fish in a small pond, and because of the enormous money you take from the public purse you can afford not to work, although i guess ur retired now youve passed 60

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jflawson says...
9:28pm Sun 22 Apr 12

I accept that the council has a heavy workload but surely when their are major financial decisions to be taken all members whether they work in the daytime or not should be present and most would be able to attend in meetings after 5-30 pm This suggestion would encourage more younger potential council members who do work in the day time to be involved in local government. I believe their are many people who work for small private companies (who really cannot afford to give time off in the daytime)who would like if elected to be involved in more local council decisions. I think an influx younger council members would be a refreshing change and particularly would assist the council in getting rid of its sometimes set in its ways aura.

I hope G.R does not spout off about this post but i suppose he will.

Hope you all have a good forthcoming week.

Jim Lawson

ICHC candidate for Rock & District

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FranOb says...
11:23pm Sun 22 Apr 12

Worked til I was 64 but still needed to get to daytime meetings
Officers are entitled to time off in lieu if they go over a certain number of evening meetings so some stuff has to be daytime.

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walkerno5 says...
12:12am Mon 23 Apr 12

Jim, have you not seen the cabinet? Not a whiff of "experience" about them.

We need more greybeards on the council, not young whippersnappers!

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HowardM says...
11:55am Mon 23 Apr 12

I'm prepared to grow a beard - 90% certain it would be grey - but you all have to Vote Labour first!

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jflawson says...
5:27pm Mon 23 Apr 12

I would like to clarify the situation re ICHC not bothering to a request to participate in the regeneration comittee.It appears that for sometime Nigel has been having problems with receipt of e-mails from the council. In fact their I.T.Department been trying to put the situation right. He has regretably not recieved the e-mail Invitng ICHC participation.
One would have thought on an issue like this a simple phone call could have have been made.
In our business a simple request when sending important e-mails is that people acknowledge receipt of them.
Many people get bombarded with e-mails which sometimes do not get read.
Howard like your sense of Humour i too like you in my daughters opinion am going grey but in like to be clean shaven everyday including weekends.

Its a pity we are on different sides because your posts are extremely well presented.

all the best

jim lawson

ICHC Candidate for Rock

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Johnny Kasino says...
9:55pm Mon 23 Apr 12

Just watch your back Howard, keep your eyes closely fixed on every move Campion makes and don't give Fran any ammo for leaflet 17!

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DOEPUBLIC says...
11:07pm Mon 23 Apr 12

Interesting. When I posted previously on this matter 'it is noted that ICHC have not been invited', it was met with silence.
I note ,however, that nominations were being sort in February, to support the implimentation of the Conservative party manifesto promise that was due for electorate endorsement in May. It is noted the first meeting is after the election. Why were nominations not kept til after the election ? I note it is confirmed that a response was not received rather than was refused. Strikes me as yet another media presentation championing vested political interests. Is this to be run in tandem with WCC's 'Open for business' ?

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walkerno5 says...
2:21pm Tue 24 Apr 12

Howard, that's a very kind offer but not quite good enough for me. If you could get Ed to grow one, I'd definitely vote Labour.

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FranOb says...
7:01pm Tue 24 Apr 12

The nominations were for the "State of the Area Debate" not for this Cabinet Cttee.
That debate and workshops were in Feb/March.
Sorry if I didn't make it clear!

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DOEPUBLIC says...
10:23pm Tue 24 Apr 12

So to clarify, a request was made, but due to no response, it was was assumed by the other Champions to 'count the ICHC out'. A clear statement as to the political debate that exists in this area. Clearly the champions remain convinced that without an independent healthy concern for their community they can achieve their political kudos. The question remains 'Why were the groups concerned not prepared to wait til after the May elections ?' Is there a presumption that certain politicians know best ? When will the public really be involved in the business that effects their community rather than political charades that continue from year to the next.
Did these champion roles not exist before Feb/March ? Is this an admittance that WFDC has not been doing its job ? How much of the money is actually government grant and how much council tax money ? How much does it work out when shared amongst the the un-employed of WFDC ?

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