My local Labour Party ward meeting last week was held at a members’ home in order to have a more informal "brain storming" get-together for the year ahead.Tonight we welcomed John Miles, who has recently moved into the ward from Ipswich to work for the National Party. Before he got the job John use to run the well respected blog “Labour Outlook” which he had to give up due to workload pressures.
It was a good ward meeting and I am lucky to live in a Consistency Labour Party (CLP) where there are well attended and active local meetings. Following reports from our 3 ward Councillors, they took questions covering subjects such as problems regarding the new earlier refuse collection times, shops taking over the pavements with outdoor displays, possible redundancies following the proposed centralisation of Council offices, update on Olympic Health centre petitions, the closure of Dunning Hall (important local community hall) and will Newham follow Tower Hamlets as a Living Wage borough?
We have a “plan” for the next 12 months (see picture). This month a Stall in Forest Gate collecting petition signatures about the Olympic health centre, then visits to Holden Point in Stratford which overlooks the Olympic site and to Jenkins Lane which is the main Council Recycling facility.
We are inviting London Labour MEP Claude Moreas, our West Ham MP, Lyn Brown and Newham Mayor, Sir Robin Wales, to speak to us (joint meeting with Forest Gate South ward).
The major campaign event of the year is the European Elections in June. We are aiming for a full ward canvass, numerous leaflet drops and high street stalls.
We are planning a Social fund raiser in August (rounder’s game on Wanstead flats?) and fund raising dinner/quiz in the autumn. We are also thinking about each month allowing time for a short political presentation and debate on topical subjects. Finishing the year off with a Christmas Party.
Ward members will also take a full part in the various West Ham CLP and Newham Labour Party (and socialist societies) activities.
If anyone reading is a Labour Party member and has not been to a ward meeting before I would recommend you give your local secretary a ring and give it a go.
6 comments:
Off topic, but i was wondering if yiou heard how the Lambeth UNISON AGM went?
I see over at "Lambeth militants" that their activists have been complaining the branch has halved in size over the past 10 years and needs to get fresh blood who are more passionate about defending members.
I was unsure if this criticism of Jon Rogers and Nick Venedi - after all this has happened very much on their watch. But the young militants then go on to say that the brnach office is unwelcoming to ordinary members and there's a need for all branch officers to be accountable for their time.
Which I guess simply seals the case against their moribund leadership.
Jim
No way were they complaining about the Jon/Nick axis!
Despite the membership dropping like a stone "on their watch" (maybe because - as Venedi puts it - he's been fighting wars!!!) these thrusting young militants didn't even have the gumption to put up a challenge to Jon and Nick for the Secretaryship.
Unless there's something masonic about all this...?
How fascinating...early refuse collection...its right at the top of the political agenda.
Get a life mate! You really are a sad git.
Hi Anons 1&2
Interesting stuff going on in my favourite south London branch.
Hi Anon 3
I’ll love to see you standing for election and go to a local residents meeting and say you are not interested in early morning bin collections! You left out the really exciting stuff about the pavements being blocked!
Its a great challenge for you John - refuse and blocked pavements...
Hi Tory Boy
If I was elected, yes it would. I am amazed that you don't think such issues are really important?
Politics - yeah, lets just keep arguing over theories and egos and ignore any practical issues.
This is just what people want after all...
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