Yvonne Wager – Thank You For All You Have Done for the People of Lozells, Birchfield & Handsworth

The Lozells & East Handsworth Ward Committee was an emotional meeting in that it was the last meeting of Yvonne Wager as a Birmingham City Council officer. Yvonne has spent over 10 years working in the Perry Barr constituency in a variety of roles including Oscott Ward Support Officer, Birchfield Neighbourhood Manager and most recently as the Ward Support Officer for Lozells & East Handsworth. Yvonne has built up a depth of knowledge of the local area. She is much loved ...

No Comments

December 12, 2011 - waseemzaffar

Birmingham Trees for Life Planted 14 New Trees at Handsworth Park

On the 29th November, I was pleased to join the Birmingham Trees for Life project and young people from Handsworth Wood Girls School to plant twelve wonderful trees. The trees will form part of a new Tree Trail to be produced for the park in the summer. Unusual types of oak and beech were planted to add to the variety of trees in the park. Other trees with interesting leaves were also planted. Two of the trees were particularly suited to ...

No Comments

December 12, 2011 - waseemzaffar

December Full Council

When analysing the agenda for the Full Council Meeting in December, I quickly realized that I would have a busy meeting as there were a number of very important debates taking place that I wanted to participate within. I read the extensive report presented by the Cabinet Member for Sport Leisure & Culture, Cllr. Martin Mullaney and was surprised to see a number of key exclusion that I felt I had to bring to his and the chamber’s attention. The Perry Barr ...

No Comments

December 12, 2011 - waseemzaffar

Lozells & East Handsworth Ward Committee

On 12th December, I chaired the Lozells & East Handsworth Ward Committee. We received presentations from Phil Forest of City College Birmingham on developments at the college and in particular the Handsworth Campus and Zahid Mahmood from the Regeneration Department of Birmingham City Council on the proposed A34 Strategy and vision to be implemented over the next 15 years. There was a no show from the Fleet and Waste Management team for the second time in a row after agreeing to ...

No Comments

- waseemzaffar

Public Meeting to Discuss Opening Hours of Handsworth Library and the Proposed Overnight Closure of Thornhill Road Police Station

As an elected member, local residents are always raising issues with me. Sometimes these issues are related to their individual needs and other times, the issues are related to the wider community. In recent weeks, many residents have raised two particular issues with me more than anything else – the opening hours of Handsworth Library and the proposed overnight closure of Thornhill Road Police Station. I subsequently felt that it was important to discuss both these issues in the public domain ...

No Comments

December 12, 2011 - waseemzaffar

385028_287446444631671_100000989533916_840268_383451469_a

Hector Pickney MBE – Champion of Our Community

I was delighted to learn that Hecktor Pickney – a security officer at Handsworth Library widely known as ‘Mr Handsworth’ – had visited the Queen to receive his MBE. Hector is a fantastic individual who does so much for the local community. He is also esponsible for running exercise classes for the Soho Elders Group, a running club, Karate Club, organizing benefit rights and talent competitions. Hector and his family have lived on the same road that I was born into and ...

No Comments

- waseemzaffar

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I feel this is an opportunity to thank you for all you do for our community. Too often, the hard work of community activists passes unnoticed and unrewarded – but, it is much appreciated. I feel that representing a ward such as Lozells & East Handsworth is made so much easier by the commitment, dedication and willingness of community activists across the ward who contribute to making Lozells ...

No Comments

December 12, 2011 - waseemzaffar

385797_278813255494990_100000989533916_819963_757560996_a

Home Heat Helpline – 0800 33 66 99

I was delighted to recently visit the Home Heat Helpline Roadshow in Centenary Square, Birmingham City Centre and to meet with helpline advisors to discuss the various elements of the service. The Home Heat Helpline is a free service to help people who are worried about paying their energy bills and keeping warm. Calls are answered by friendly, expert advisors who are trained to give quick and clear information as energy efficiency, grants for home is insulation, reduced tariffs, benefits and payment ...

No Comments

December 12, 2011 - waseemzaffar

Police & Crime Commissioners

The government is committed to replacing police authorities with directly elected police and crime commissioners (PCCs) in England and Wales. With the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill having almost completed its passage through parliament, the Home Office is looking to hold elections for PCCs. I have spent many hours discussing the Police and Crime Commissioners with various people, but am still not convinced that the politicising of the Police forces is the most appropriate management structure. I fear the wrong ...

No Comments

- waseemzaffar

Operation Hawk II – Preventing Burglary Offences

The local Police team has informed me that there has, unfortunately, been an increase in the rise of burglaries in the local area in recent weeks. It is important that we come together to ensure we are all doing our best to prevent further burglaries in the local area. I am pleased with the pro-active approach from our local Police team to tackle this issue as well as the support the Police are receiving from local community groups, residents associations, neighbourhood ...

No Comments

December 12, 2011 - waseemzaffar