Another busy week. Monday was the second part of the Labour Group AGM, where we found out about Shadow Cabinet positions and Committees. I'm continuing as a member of the Housing Scrutiny Committee for another year, and joining the Transportation and Street Services Scrutiny Committee, plus the usual appointments to related outside bodies. I got what I asked for anyway! Tuesday was the Council AGM and Mayormaking; we had the ceremonial bit where we elect the Lord Mayor and the Deputy Lord Mayor, and everyone says nice things about each other; then the new Lord Mayor goes out to get robed and comes back to chair a short Council Meeting, which mainly dealt with Council appointments - there was a minor bust up over the Sutton Park Advisory Group, mainly from those Sutton Tory Councillors who seem to be of the view that no-one from outside Sutton Coldfield uses Sutton Park. We lost that vote, and the vote on the Police Authority, where the Tories and Lib Dems voted in Deirdre Alden - presumably as consolation for her failure to win Edgbaston..

Yesterday I went to a meeting with an organisation who may be able to help us out with employment issues in Kingstanding. They have done some excellent work elsewhere in the District and we are hoping to get them in to do some work with us - hopefully more on that soon, if we can get them in. I did an Advice Bureau last night at Witton Lodge, and walking back to the bus stop I was please to see huge amounts of rubbish out on the pavement. Not usually something I'm happy to see, but as a bulky rubbish collection was due this morning, it was good to see that people are taking advantage of the service.