A guide to main pages of "michaeledwards.labour.co.uk"
To be re-formatted; and the links are to be refreshed.
I've been a Councillor for nearly 15 years; (CV);
This web-site seeks to show the range of the work and issues I've been involved in; and show the progress being made in Mapperley and Nottingham; and this web-page tries to show the site in a broad context.
My role as a Councillor - I represent the constituents of Mapperley ward, as well as, as a member of the City Council, seek to ensure that the Council provides good services and acts as the main agent of change for promoting the welfare of the city;
Please contact me if there is an issue you wish to raise.
I present a "Diary" of events and news, which I maintain every 2 days or so. I also send e-mails to constituents (short and to the point) every 2 weeks or so (let me know if you want to receive a copy).
I maintain a blog for short pieces of news and opinion;
I also present a short summary of 'future events'.
"Casework" is tracked through a computer system and progress made is reported in replies to constituents and in this web-site.
There's also a presentation of "Progress in Mapperley".
And a statement on the action required in Mapperley ward following the issues raised by constituents during the 2007 election campaign.
As Deputy Leader, I'm responsible for the finances and overall performance of the City Council, and occasionally deputising for the Leader. Between 2003 and 2007, my portfolio included sustainable development & climate change. From July 2007, I am accountable for staff issues (HR) and equalities.
During my 4 & a bit years, I have sought to be radical and reforming, raising tax for new services for improving community safety and educational attainment; and all wage and price inflation met by re-using existing money.
The Medium Term Financial Plan is the most significant document for the finances, showing the levels of tax, spending and savings we intend to make. However, the most dramatic expression of the financial planning is the annual Budget which is set out at full Council every March.
Speeches presenting the budgets are available -
Budget 2008,
Budget consultation for 2008,
Budget 2007,
Spending and savings proposals, 2007,
Budget 2006,
Budget 2005 and
Budget 2004,
as well as the case against capping and
the revised budget for 2004/05.
Also presentations -
to the 2004 Finance Conference of the Local Government Association;
on the 2004 Statement of Accounts;
The use of the money needs to make a difference. The progress made, and the use of money, by the City Council is reported publicly every quarter. Summaries of the progress made are available -
the fourth year of this administration - from 1st April, 2006;
the third year of this administration - to 31st March 2006, from 1st April, 2005;
the second year of this administration - to 31st March 2005, from 1st April 2004;
the first year of this administration - to 31st March 2004, from 1st April 2003;
the Council up until 2003 from 2000;
the Council up until 2000 from 1997;
There are other general reports on progress -
for Nottingham, from a national perspective, since 1997; nationally;
working for older people; (and a statement on Gordon Brown's budget of 2007)
progress at the workplace;
Our progress at the City Council is reviewed at annual debates, in June which also reflect upon the drive to improve the Council's ways of working; speeches and written reports on progress and performance management are available -
Fenruary 2008 - improving the couicnil through "Serving Nottingham Better" and improving Value for Money;
June 2007 - Annual Report debate (incl. Best Value Performance Plan, Statement of Accounts & Statement of Internal Control);
June 2006 - Annual Report debate (incl. Best Value Performance Plan, Statement of Accounts & Statement of Internal Control);
February 2006 - presentation at Executive Board;
January 2006 - debate on the Council's performance;
August 2005 - the City Council's Direction of Travel;
June 2005 - Best Value Performance Plan, Statement of Accounts & Statement of Internal Control;
March 2005 - presentation to Audit Commission;
March 2005 - presentation to Nottingham City Council managers;
June 2004 - Best Value Performance Plan;
October 2003 - Gearing Up debate;
June 2003 - Best Value Performance Plan;
My role in charge of resources also gives me responsibilities in emergency planning and resilience, including preparations for a flu pandemic. The council has a new emergency control room which has so far been used to co-ordinate responses to a water supply failure to the city centre and to loalised flooding after a very heavy rain storm.
From 2003 to 2007, I was portfolio holder for sustainable development, for which Nottingham has a strong reputation, particularly for its radical policies in public transport, but also for the lead to local government provided on tackling climate change by the Nottingham Declaration and now the Nottingham Call. Our overall approach is based around the philosophy of "Cities are Good for us". Presentations are available on -
Labour's obligations, and national progress; (drawing from 2003 and 2006 material);
a presentation to the Sustainable Development UK conference (5th July, 2007) and Local Government Chronicle conference (23rd May 2007);
environmental progress in Mapperley ward (March 2007);
the launch of the Govt's Climate Change Bill (13th March, 2007);
further overall progress (February 2007);
speech to the East Midlands Regional Assembly, when it voted to support the Nottingham Declaration; (December 2006);
summary of Stern Report, and re-statement of the City Council's progress; (October 2006);
speech to full Council adopting a new climate change strategy; (October 9th, 2006);
review of "Who killed the Electric Car?" and the challenge of science & technology for Nottingham; (Oct. 2006);
the City's general approach to sustainable development;
overall progress and the draft climate change strategy; (Dec. 2005);
the Nottingham Call; (Dec. 2005);
the Green Festival, at which I hold a stall; (May 2006);
a tour of Leicester, London, Sutton and Woking to see best practice; (July 2006);
Presud, the European initiative to develop best practice on sustainable development; and findings from an inspection of The Hague; (May 2004);
helping the British Government at the North American Congress of ICLEI; (July 2006);
Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth"; (Sept. 2006);
improving energy efficiency of Nottingham's housing & tackling fuel poverty; (Sept. 2006);
energy saving schemes for landlords and tenants; (Sept. 2006);
I occasionally deputise for the Leader of the Council and for other colleagues on the executive, as well as speaking in full Council on more general policy matters. Speeches and presentations are available on -
welcoming Polish people to Nottingham;
progress on leisure & culture in Nottingham,
including a presentation to the Euro-Cities Culture cttee.;
transforming Nottingham's neighbourhoods;
I.D. cards;
area working;
the Voluntary Sector compact;
and housing
progress made by Housing services, and things still to do (Jan 2006);
housing strategy;
a new deal for housing;
Much of what we do is shape by national policies and international events. Labour’s pledges from 2005, 2001, 1997 are reproduced.
The corporate priorities of Nottingham City Council are -
Choose Nottingham;
Respect for Nottingham;
Transform Nottingham's Neighbourhoods;
Nottingham People;
Serving Nottingham Better;
Presentations and news on these issues include -
tackling crime and anti-social behaviour in Mapperley ward (2007)
100 day clean-up - 2004
combatting crime
tackling gun crime
murder of Danielle Beccan
Building Schools for the Future
"Respect for Nottingham" has been particularly important campaign and has a high degree of recognition. There are progress reports from Nov. 2005 and March 2004 and notes on a residents survey from September 2004.
Progressive transport policies
I represent the Council on a number of bodies, including the Development Board of Nottingham Express Transit, and was also responsible for transport for 2 years (2000-2002). Speeches and presentations are available on -
Drawing on Nottingham's radical transport history to increase use of public transport and to hold traffic levels steady, whilst jobs increase
celebrating progress with the public
explaining Nottingham's transport policy and initiatives with a photo tour of the city centre, at the time of a Ministerial visit, in Nov. 2001
transport speech to full Council, Jan. 2001
the success of Nottingham Express Transit;
Labour Party best practice award;
evidence to Parliament from the Permanent Secretary to the DfT;
the Big Day Out, part of the Big Wheel, at which I hold a stall (Sept. 2004, Sept. 2003);
NCT's progress;
the "MyBus";
I also seek to serve the children of Elliott Durham, their parents and their carers, as Chair of Governors.
In serving Mapperley ward, I work with my co-Councillors
Mo Munir,
who is currently Lord Mayor; during his civis service, Mo made a number of speeches that we worked on together;
Mo's year as Lord Mayor;
visit by Archbishop of Canterbury;
opening of sports hall at Mapperley Sports Village;
tribute to Brian Clough;
nominating Mo for Deputy Lord Mayor in 2004;
Emma Dewinton
who works very hard, in particular, liaising with community groups and tackling anti-social behaviour, especially crime and vice.
There are also tributes to other supporters and helpers -
John Pennington, and
obituaries.
Mapperley ward issues
The priorities for the residents of Mapperley ward pretty well reflect the priorities of people everywhere - a stable, growing economy with secure jobs, good schools, good hospitals, tackling crime, fairness, reducing poverty and caring for the elderly.
A range of concerns are more frequently raised at public meetings hosted by the City Council Area Committee's Mapperley Forums (March 2006, May 2004, January 2002, November 2001, June 2001). Points are also collected at meetings with groups such as HEAT and the Mapperley Park Residents Association (AGM 2004).
Issues of particular concern are -
road safety, transport capital works and traffic volumes - including for The Wells Road, and Thorneywood and Porchester Road; (LTP schems for 2007/08);
crime and anti-social behaviour, including street prostitution,
housing developments,
Other issues include -
collection of separated waste at the doorsteps for recycling;
the local environment, the street scene and open spaces, including trees,
leisure, including Mapperley Sports Village,
education, and the re-organisation of primary schools;
housing,
bus and cycle lanes,
bus services, including the popular MyBus;
An analysis of issues for the particular neighbourhoods that make up the ward is available, both overall and by neighbourhood -
- Mapperley itself, including
- Mapperley Park,
- Alexandra Park & Coppice Grove,
- Mapperley Hills, and
- Sherwood Vale;
- City Heights
- parts of St.Ann's
- St.Ann's Hill (Belle Vue) near the city centre,
- the St.Ann's allotment gardens,
- St.Ann's Well, including
- Ransom Road estate and
- estates along The Wells Road,
- including Pearmain Drive estate
and
- Thorneywood, and
- part of neighbouring Honeywood.
I've also written a short history of the neighbourhoods that comprise Mapperley ward (and a project to celebrate the history of St.Ann's Well). There's also a short summary of the last census and a report on unemployment figures.
The Opposition in Mapperley ward
The previous ward was a by-word for "Safe Tory seat", but new Labour's embrace of life in the 1990's enabled Labour to run a campaign that could win. The Poll Tax did enormous damage to the credibility of the Tories but what did for the Tories in 1993 was having to defend the unpopoluar Tory policies of pit closures, announced after the 1992 General Election, and the false promises on tax - unsustainable when so many people were being paid to stay out of work (rather than creating jobs and training opportunities so that people could pay in rather than take out).
Once elected, Labour Councillors were able to demonstrate a much higher level of commitment to tackling local problems and working for better services and facilities. Much more progress has been made possible since the Labour Gov't has increased investment in public services.
The Liberal Democrats have not campaigned in the ward for over 20 years and last time, only put up 1 candidate in a 3 member contest in 2003.
Greens and Independents have also stood.
Labour is not complacent about retaining Mapperley ward; Labour -
delivers more leaflets than any other party;
talks to thousands of voters at every council election;
holds surgeries at St.Ann's libarary on Wednesday evenings;
supports more community group meetings;
walks the ward looking for issues;
runs this web-site and an e-mail news service; and
John Heppell MP holds roving surgeries.
We also make ourselves available to be held to account; for instance, the campaign messages used to hold Mapperley ward again were -
2007
A final appeal to the voters
Quality messages in the election addresses; translating Labour's values into meeting local concerns;
A re-statement of progress in Mapperley ward and re-introductions to the public; and
2003
A final appeal to the voters
Quality messages in the election addresses; translating Labour's values into meeting local concerns;
Re-introductions to the public; and
Newsletters (February 2007, proposed closure of Woodborough Road children's home; December 2006, record numbers of Police; investing in schools, improved services)
The Opposition in Nottingham
City-wide, the Lib Dems are the third party. They now have only 6 Councillors (instead of the 11 in 2003) following defections, and then a heavy election defeat. They have been divided, are soft on crime and find it hard to venture anything more strategic than the next blocked gully pot.
The Tories are now second but with 7 Councillors, they are 1 down on 2003. They lost a member soon after the 2003 election (Labour won the by-election). They are struggling to come to terms with the 21st Century and certainly find it hard to quote their new national leader. A key Tory activist in Nottingham is on record as saying she is ashamed of the city.
There are no longer any independents on the council; there were 2 in the last council - elected as Lib Dems, they rarely attended Council meetings, and if they did attend full Council, they left after tea.
Nottingham is a go-ahead city. Labour is proud of the city and is ambitious for it.
Campaigning and representing the public & distilling their concerns into action
Adopting Labour's manifesto in 2007
Adopting Labour's manifesto in 2003
Rebutting the Tories
Another LibDem letdown
Working at many levels
Issues and events arise at many levels. Neighbourhood, ward, area (Mapperley & Sherwood), constituency (Nottingham East), City, conurbation, 3 Cities (Nottingham, Leicester and Derby), regional, national, european and international.
I work very closely with my MP, John Heppell.
I also work with Labour's regional Member of the European Parliament, Glenis Willmott.
I am a member of the East Midlands Regional Assembly.
Other pages
Miscelaneous pages include -
a review of the film "Taking Liberties";
Coverage of this page
The purpose of this page is to put the content of my web-site pages into an overall context. Not every (non-diary) page may be referenced.
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