Meetings, meetings, meetings....

This week I suppose will be a typical week... then again is there such thing as a typical week in being a District councillor?

So what's planned for this week... A morning on affordable housing, Council training sessions on Scrutiny and a whole day on Planning, nearly a whole morning at the Annual Safety Panel meeting plus meeting up with Linda Durrans the previous District councillor for this ward who has kindly agreed to meet with me and talk more about the ward. Evening meetings include a Ruscombe Parish meeting, a meeting with residents at Nouncell's Cross to talk about traffic calming, a Ruscombe Valley Action Group meeting and a Gloucestershire Green party meeting in Gloucester.

“Meetings are indispensable when you don't want to do anything.” John Kenneth Galbraith

"A meeting is an event where minutes are taken and hours are wasted." James T. Kirk

Meetings can indeed be a divertion, but they are often also indispensible in getting things done in a democratic way. Indeed I have often been astonished by how much has been achieved by a few individuals coming together and working for a clear aim - the challenge in my new role is to work out which meetings are effective and will bring about the changes we want and need.

Don't forget Saturday's march against the health cuts that has cross-party support in Stroud. It starts at 11.00 am at Park Rd and looks set to be the largest march ever in Stroud and will pass all the Hospital complexes down Middle St, High Street onto Glos street to finish with a rally in Stratford Park. Cllr John Marjoram on 01453 750962 is coordinating the march on behalf of the Town Council.