During a visit to the Corus plant in Redcar, the Liberal Democrat Business Secretary unveiled a funding package worth £4.6m from the Tees Valley Industrial Programme for 14 projects in the region.
Attendance on the overcast morning started small but gradually grew as the weather improved and word spread to the shoppers of Folkestone. We are so fortunate to be able to watch quality dancing and listen to such talented singers.
Pilgrims Hatch councillors David Kendall & Vicky Davies have asked the council to undertake a full and comprehensive structural review of the sheltered accommodation in Harewood Road at the earliest opportunity following concerns regarding this development and the potential health risk to some tenants arising from the recent vermin infestation.
"The Judgement announced today by OFSTED that Essex County Council's rating for safeguarding children remains "inadequate" is a huge disappointment," said Cllr Theresa Higgins, Liberal Democrat spokesman at Essex County Council. "No amount of spin can disguise the fact that this is a damming judgement which is acutely embarrassing to the County Council."
I am very pleased that Independent Councillor Doug McMurdo has accepted my invitation to join the Cabinet as Leisure and Culture Portfolio Holder, after Cllr Barry Huckle informed me that he wishes to step down from the Cabinet in order to give him more time to pursue other interests. I have thanked Barry for his hard work on the Cabinet, and know that he will continue to make a full contribution on the Council in the interests of local residents. I am very much looking forward to working with Doug, who is Ward Councillor for Sharnbrook, and I know that he is ready to get stuck into the challenges ahead.
On Tuesday night I took part in the Council's Inter-Departmental Bowls Tournament. One of the purposes of the tournament is to raise awareness of the council-owned bowls clubs and to help them in their efforts to attract new interest, and I have have no hesitation in recommending the Queens Works Club after a very enjoyable evening. The club Members on hand were friendly and helpful (and patient when helping those of us with no previous experience of the game!), and it really is a nice place to spend a summer's evening. In fact the only thing that went wrong from my point of view was the fact that my team, the Chain Gang, was defeated! We were beaten by the Care Bears (comprising staff from the Council's Home Care service), who were far more ruthless than their name suggests!
