Join The New Business Forum

"There are 6,ooo business in Teignbridge, all of which contribute to our local economy. With the business forum, the council aims to create an environment where businesses can share their issues....."

The forum will launch with two sessions on Tuesday 1st February 6.00pm and Wednesday 2 February at 8.00am at the Teignbridge Councils Forde House Headquarters, Brunel Road Newton Abbot. RSVP 01626 215563 or e-mail: economyandtourism@teignbridge.gov.uk

Too Late to attend Locate Teignbridge Council's Business page at: teignbridge.gov.uk/recessionsupport.

Also www.tinyurl/businessforumsurvey

For those thinking of starting a new business look up Devon Work Hubs. The idea is to provide individuals and small businesses with office-type services like broadband, IT support and meeting rooms only renting space when you need it. For more information: http://www.devonworkhubs.co.uk/

My Day as a Councillor

Lib Dems have started their Voting Campaign. Knocking on Doors is not my favourite past-time but I do like keeping my blog up to date. So I thought I would start my personal campaign with telling you about my day in the life of a Councillor.

From time to time I do get asked what is it like being a Councillor. What does my work entail? So I will re-tell a particularly happy sunny day during October. The sunshine does a lot for my well-being and fuels imagination and inspiration.

A Day in the Life of Anne Lonsdale Liberal Democrat Councillor.

I was elected in May 2007 as a new Councillor for the Town of Kingsteignton and District Councillor for the district of Teignbridge South Devon,
My background being Carer for the elderly and with concerns for the mentally ill, a volunteer working for the Citizens Advice Bureau helped along with studies at the Open University in Social Sciences.

Today my day starts with a telephone call to the Planning office about a badly maintained hedge and we don’t know who the owner is. It borders a new development.

My second telephone call is to our local PCSO regarding a tree being used as a tree-house and den by the children of the neighbourhood.

I receive a call from a resident in my ward about wire protection fences which have been erected. Do they need planning permission? They seem to be over 6ft high! Is there to be a development there?

One more call to be made about noisy neighbours to the local housing association on behalf of another resident. Should their son be living in their touring caravan at the back of house?
The mail arrives but I have to leave it this morning. My e-mails will have to wait also until I get back.

I have been asked by our Town Mayor to attend a PACT drop-in event at our seaside town of Teignmouth arranged by the Police and Community Enforcement Team. I want to report the coastal road from Kingsteignton to Teignmouth is being used at night time as a race-track by youths out in their cars for a fun night out. It is dangerous and frightening to drivers who keep to the road traffic codes and mph.

I meet the Town Clerk who explains that the premises in the high street are to be the new control centre for close circuit television. He demonstrates the new CCTV system installed this year by a local firm and we see an offender being apprehended during the past weeks. This was interesting to me as I had been a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Review Committee on Close Circuit Television.

I speak to the Enforcement Officer and relay the problems we have in our area. I am introduced to the Neighbourhood Beat Policeman and have a chat with the Teignbridge Neighbourhood Watch Liaison person. Also in attendance is a member of the Fire Service.

Time for a snack lunch and I head for the Promenade and find a seat. A couple from Cwmbran in South Wales join me and we are soon in conversation about Car Parking charges.

I take the Stagecoach double decker bus home finding a seat upstairs to see the Teign estuary, passing Shaldon, Coombe Cellars and Hackney Marshes in Kingsteignton which continues through to the parish of Teigngrace. This area is of particular interest to me as I have taken on a new responsibility as Town Council representative on the Teign Estuary Forum.

Once home and the kettle is on for that welcome cup of tea and a chat to a family member about a meeting I attended the day before with the Devon Partnership NHS Trust on improving mental health services in particular single room occupancy.

I have to make one more telephone call to the local housing association regarding a resident’s, shower room that had been installed by Social Services.

However that is not the end of my day. It is Wednesday and at 7pm I have to attend the Community Hall/ Fountain committee followed by the Footpaths/leisure committee.

This has been an interesting day but the highlights of my Councillor career was an evening with Vince Cable and a meeting with Lord Ashdown.


For my other activities please view my blog, for older posts.


Anne Lonsdale
Based on a day in October 2009

Photo above;
Community Action Day - Promoting the Senior Council for Devon. Cllr Anne Lonsdale (middle) with Mayor of Newton Abbot Carol Bunday (second left) and Newton Abbot Senior Forum members, then chair Jeana Johnson, Bob Newman and Don Polman.

Say Yes to Alternative Voting

The Coalition Government has pledged to hold a referendum on whether to introduce the Alternative Vote (AV) for elections to the House of Commons.

For more information Click Here

Happy New Year

Yet another year begins and I guess it will be what we make it. A visit to the Job Centre was encouraging with plenty of Jobs advertised and it would seem full time jobs. Councillors are doing their best to promote Tourism for their area which will encourage jobs in hotels, local produce used and enhanced trade.

It will be a challenge to retired people like me. Enterprising women of my age group may feel getting the sewing machine out and following the example of our mothers and grandmothers might be something we could do to economise. Especially now as Kingsteigton hold a Craft and Garden Show every year now. Stitching can be relaxing. Knitting was a craft taken up by young girls last year.

Scams
Teignbridge are once again warning against 'Scams', so please be vigilant both telephone
calls and callers at your door.