20 October 2023

I started this week by attending a Community Conversation meeting. This is part of a wider piece of work speaking with residents and partners about how we provide Council services. You can get involved in the conversation by completing our residents survey. There will be other opportunities for you to give feedback so please keep an eye on our social media platforms to see how.

On Tuesday I was booked to get my flu jab. Just a quick reminder to contact your GP surgery to book yours. If you're aged 65 or over, you're pregnant, or you have certain long-term health conditions, you're eligible for a free jab. While I was there, they also offered me a free COVID booster jab which I was happy to take. Find out more about getting your winter jabs at www.nhs.uk.

On Wednesday afternoon I attended the Norton Community Partnership. Our Community Partnerships are a great way to speak to residents at a grass roots level and see what challenges they're facing.

Yesterday was a quieter day, so I took some time to catch up on emails and paperwork.

This morning I attended the Special Interest Group of Municipal Authorities, or SIGOMA. SIGOMA is the collective and influential voice of 47 urban authorities in England on local government finance and funding issues, which ensures member authorities remain well-informed on Central Government policy. We discussed the Levelling Up funding as well as other government policies.

This afternoon I will be attending the launch of a new exhibition at Preston Park Museum. The In Living Memory: Community Coronation exhibition looks at coronations and royal events from this year and all the way back to the coronation of King George IV in 1821. If you get the chance, come to the museum to see some fantastic imagery and memorabilia from coronations gone by.

This weekend, I'll been spending some time relaxing with my family. Middlesbrough will be keen to come back from the international break with the same momentum that they ended with following a 4-0 win over Sunderland. We play Birmingham at home, and although they sit 10 places above us in the league, I'd like to think that we're favourites to come out of the match with three points.