Goodness February already! I have been very remiss not blogging for a while however there was a full season of festivities during Christmas. I have to say the prospect of Christmas seemed to hurtle towards me like an express train on my return from Hong Kong one of the joys of having a late holiday I guess. This coupled with the fact that Chris was under threat of redundancy and I had a bit of a health scare, I guess I wasn't quite up to task of sitting down and updating the blog. 

When I am not involved in my council work for South Derbyshire District Council or campaigning on behalf of people with Autism and other Learning Disabilities; either as an ambassador for The National Autistic Society or as a passionate parent and trustee of Linkage Community Trust; my other overwhelming passion is for Formula1 and Red Bull racing in particular. Actually it is Mark Webber in particular but now I really am giving my secrets away. So in deciding on what to do for a late holiday, my husband and I decided to spend the kids inheritance and undertake the trip of a lifetime, firstly to see the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and then to go on to visit our friends in Hong Kong. We have had the most amazing and unforgettable time, both from the days spent watching my team at the stunning Yas Marina Circuit to the warmth and hospitality of our friends who immersed us completely in the Hong Kong experience I will never forget it. Just before I left however, I received an invitation to attend an event where the keynote speaker was Maria Miller Minister for Disabilities and which would also be attended by four other members of parliament, all  involved with policy making around the disabilities agenda. The problem was the meeting was to be on the afternoon of the day I arrived back into the UK at 5.30 am after a 13 hour flight from Hong Kong! No matter this was an opportunity not to be missed, both from being able to listen to what the Minister had to say, but also to have the opportunity to say something on behalf of the service users I represent. What to say to have an impact, to make a difference? After much discussion and planning about what I should say, all was dictated by the topic of conversation which centred on Councillors and Local Authorities, something I am definitely able to comment on. One delegate was being critical of councillors whom he said held portfolios for providing services to people with disabilities yet he felt they had no idea about disability and no interest in it. I leapt up; I had to disagree at least from my experience here in Derbyshire. As a council and as a councillor at South Derbyshire District Council we do not have responsibility for Adult Social Care but I know the man who does and I was able to say with knowledge and experience, how passionate about disabilities and about providing a good service he is. However I did say to The Minister that it is no good having good policy if it is not delivered through all local Authorities and more importantly through commissioners. We must ensure that the good intentions of The Autism Bill or the Valuing People strategy or any of the policies she is working on do not get blocked by those on the front line, for example commissioners and panels, and that these strategies are delivered to those people whose quality of life depends on those decisions. She wrote that down, point made, it was worth the desperate lack of sleep. I left happy having given her my card and asking her to call me if I could be of any assistance. You may laugh but it worked with my husband 30 years ago so who knows!

A big THANK YOU to Kim Billingham and the staff at Hawthornes Resource Centre in Burton on Trent for organising a superb day of information, support and networking recently. The day brought together parents, social workers, head teachers and service providers in order to share information and to inform everyone of the expansion into Staffordshire of Linkage Community Trust. Six members of Linkage staff were on hand and they were able to talk to parents about the plans for supported living in Burton on Trent as well as informing them about Linkage Colleges and Linkage Employment Services. Most helpful was that there were also several parents of Linkage service users who were also on hand to inform other parents of their experience of Linkage. For further information on the fantastic work that Linkage does go to http://www.linkage.org.uk

I am delighted to have been selected as an ambassador for The National Autistic Society. I was privileged to attend a training day with a number of other new ambassadors many of whom themselves battle with Aspergers and Autism. I am in awe at their capacity to cope with the challenges of meeting people and raising awareness of their often hidden disability and it made me even more determined to be involved in raising awareness and striving for the right to a better life for those battling with these disabilities. We must fight against hate crime and bullying of vulnerable people, we must enlighten employers to the benefits of employing people with Aspergers, Autism and Learning Disabilities and we must fight for better funding and support for those who are not substantial or critical in their difficulties but who have a pervasive disability that affects their quality of life. With support, many young adults with Autism and Learning Disabilities can lead fulfilling and rewarding lives, we must do everything we can to help these young people to fulfil their potential. Will you join us? Contact The National Autistic Society, http://www.autism.org.uk/ do it now, make a difference!

I was inspired to enter local politics because of David Cameron and his drive to launch The Big Society concept. For me there has never been a more exciting or challenging time to be in local politics. The key concepts of The Big Society are to firstly to empower communities, effectively this means giving local councils and communities more power to take decisions and shape their area. The second aim is to open up public services enabling other organisations to compete to offer high quality services so that local authorities are not the only solution. Thirdly and most pivotal is the concept of promoting social action. This aims to encourage people from all walks of life to play a more active part in society as well as promoting more volunteering and philanthropy. As these ideas establish themselves in reality we will see the roll of the local authority change as it becomes more a commissioner of service rather than service providers, overseeing and scrutinising the service provision to the community. The Localism Bill will put the flesh on the bones of the Big Society concept by decentralising and strengthening local democracy, reforming planning policy, reforming social housing and introducing new duties and powers to local authorities. It also requires councillors to help communities build vision and direction, encouraging them to work in partnerships and to move away from the idea that the council can and must do everything. All of these ideals will require trust and solid relationship building. It will inevitably take time to achieve this but it must happen for communities to move forward and take control. The role of the local councillor is no longer just to inform or even consult communities, now we must involve communities in joint decision making and in joint action and most importantly be proactive in our role to support community organisations in order for them to be able to help themselves. All this will be even more challenging given the scope of the cuts needed to tackle the deficit, as a council we will be challenged with doing more for less which is why we will need to encourage new ways of working, new partnerships and delivery models but that is not a bad thing as I said earlier there has never been a more challenging or exciting time to be in local politics.

When Business Development Director Jane Howson asked me to speak at the Halloween Ball in aid of Linkage Community Trust recently, she asked me say a few words about Linkage from a parents prospective.
I thought back to when I was first pregnant and had those feelings of great excitement and expectation. What will the baby look like, will it be a boy or a girl and what might they be when they grow up? However, when you are told that your much wanted and much loved child has a learning disability, those feelings of excitement and expectation turn to worry and fear about what the future may hold. Will they be able to cope at school? Will they be able to have a job one day?  Then there is the BIG question.....what happens when we are no longer here to look after them?
    As I look back some 24 years later I know we have been very lucky, we have had some great support from family, friends, our GP and Local Authority but for many people the story is very different. Above all we were so lucky to have found Linkage and it was pure luck. I was somewhere I had never been before or visited since, talking to a lady I had never met before or spoken to since; however in that brief moment in time, in that short but oh so life changing conversation, I told her about my daughter and she told me about Linkage.
    Since joining Linkage, first at the college and more recently in Care Services, our daughter has become a confident articulate young woman who loves her life. Like her sisters who are at University, she also lives where she chooses, with whom she chooses and has dreams and aspirations for the future. Her father and I can look forward to our retirement without the worry of who will look after her when we are not here. Mostly because she will have developed many skills that will help her to be independent but above all we know that Linkage will be here.
    So many families live under huge pressure without even knowing that they could have the opportunities that my daughter has had. Many don’t even know about Linkage – we must change that. Many know that Linkage exists but because of difficulties with their Social Worker or Local Authority they are denied access to Linkage and we definitely have to change that!
    Linkage is working hard to change the lives of people with Learning Disabilities but they face a number of challenges and they need your help.
    Linkage aims to become more financially independent in order that they don’t have to rely solely on Local Authority funding. That will require them to raise a considerable of money and therefore they really need to attract philanthropists and major donors. Many people won’t be in that position but there are lots of ways people can help and support this wonderful organisation.
    I believe in individual Social Action, so much so I became a local councillor in order to influence change from inside local government. I don’t expect that many people will want to go that far but you can still do a lot to help.
    Write to your MP and tell them that it is important when looking at reforms, that they don’t lose our special schools and specialist colleges, particularly residential colleges.
    Challenge your local authority on their policy for supporting young adults with learning disabilities and not just those who are deemed to be sever or critical.
    If nothing else, talk to people about Linkage who knows your brief conversation may change someone’s life as it did ours.

Last Thursday I attended a training day at The LGiU( Local Government information Unit) in London. The course focussed on The Localism Bill and the new skills that will be required by councillors . It focussed on Councillors as Community Leaders bringing together charities, community leaders and residents in order to deal with the issues that really effect that community.
After attending the course I spoke to members of Shardlow and Great Wilne about what is important to them in regard to their relationship with District and County Councillors and they said communication is they key.

After my election in May 2011 my role as District Councillor begin in earnest. Everything was so new and I had to learn fast. My fellow councillors on the ward Neil Atkin and Peter Watson (No relation, as Peter hastily like to tell people) have been incredibly supportive, taking me around the area, meeting me at Parish Councils and introducing me to the constituents. The officers at South Derbyshire District Council have been brilliant too. They are all extremely friendly and helpful and very patient with us newbies.

To be honest I have had a bit of a problem just keeping track of the vast amount of paperwork which keeps arriving and which needs to be read in preparation for briefing meetings, committees and Council. This is particularly so as I am Vice Chair of the Finance and Management committee which by reputation has the largest amount documentation; it is quite a responsibility for a new member.

 I have to say though; I absolutely love the challenge, it is a very exciting time to be in local politics. With the forthcoming Localism Bill, which aims to give more powers and responsibility to local councils, it does mean that councillors we will able to make real changes and hopefully a real difference to the lives of the people we serve.

An average month in the council means that I usually have meetings and briefings with both the Finance officer and Leader of the Council. Also I may attend up to five Parish Council meetings as well as undertaking training courses relating to all the new changes such as Local Authority Housing; planning, community leadership and localism. We also have regular conservative group meetings.

On the charity/disabilities side, I recently attended meetings with both Staffordshire County Council and Derby County Council. Dealt with a number of issues relating to the properties I have which are going to be taken over by Linkage Community Trust for their service users in Staffordshire, which is a very exciting project and one that is close to my heart.

Recently, as part of a project funded by the NHS, I attended six, two day residential sessions run by Partners in Policy Making called All Together Better2 which aims at creating advocates and thought leaders who promote awareness and champion the rights of people with disabilities.

I hope you drop by to check on developments