A Day in the Life of Your Local Councillor

Tuesday 8 September 2015 was a day full of meetings and activities.

My working day began at about 09:30 at home reading and writing emails and making phone calls on behalf of constituents. On average I receive more than twenty emails a day about constituency and Council matters as well as letters and reports including papers for Council meetings.

At 11:15, I joined residents from Forthill sheltered housing on their annual estate walkabout with staff representatives from Housing, Environment, Roads, Tenant Participation and Communities. As we walked around the area we noted action points based on our observations and the complaints and comments made by residents who we met us at their gates and doors. At 12:25 I left to go to my next meeting which was in Dundee.

I picked up my post from my Council pigeonhole at my City Square Office and then walked over to Dundee House where i was due at 13:00 to join an interview panel for appointing a Head Teacher for St Joseph's Primary School. The vacancy arose following the death of Marion Myles, the very popular and effective Head Teacher. After a series of interviews, the panel selected a 'preferred candidate' who, following formalities such as references, should be confirmed publicly to Parents, Pupils and Staff in due course.

I arrived back home in time to take my dog Milli for a short walk, before going to Broughty Ferry Library for my weekly surgery. Two constituents came in and reported a recurring parking and road safety issue in their street. We discussed possible solutions and agreed actions I would take. This will need some follow up communications with the Transportation Department.

Back home at about 18:20 with time for a mug of tea and collecting my papers for the next meeting. At 19:00 I arrived at Staff Room in Grove Academy for the AGM and termly meeting of the Grove Academy Parent Council. Penny Lewis was re-elected as Chairperson together with other office bearers. The meeting received a detailed report from Head Teacher, Graham Hutton, which included reference to the very positive but provisional 2015 SQA examination results for Grove pupils, the international sporting achievements of pupils, the school trips under consideration for the 2015/16 session as well as changes in staffing.

Home again at 21:30 and time for a late supper with my wife Rowena.

Not every day contains such a full schedule of 'meetings' and everyday is different; that's what I find so interesting and absorbing about the office of City Councillor.

Cllr Laurie Bidwell Announces Changes to his Surgeries from August 2015

Following a review of inquiries I have received from constituents, it is clear that an increasing proportion of folk are contacting me via phone, email and social media and a decreasing proportion come to meet me at a weekly surgery. 

Directly contacting me by phone or email usually results in constituents' concerns and issues being reported and dealt with more quickly than waiting up to a week for my next surgery.

I have decided therefore to focus my surgery time at Broughty Ferry Library with effect from Tuesday 18 August 2015. In addition, I shall continue to undertake home or site visits when these are requested.

Contact Details for Cllr Laurie Bidwell
telephone: 01382 738566 home - 01382 434110 office - 07932 701287 mobile
email: laurie.bidwell@dundeecity.gov.uk
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/councillorlauriebidwell

Weekly Surgery
Broughty Ferry Library 
Queen Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee DD5 2HN
5:30 - 6:00 pm Every Tuesday (school term time only)

Alternatively request a home visit

Councillor Laurie Bidwell Launching New Pattern of Surgeries for the Coming Year

The Dates and times of my Surgeries for Consituents with effect from Monday 12 August 2013 are as follows:

Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex
(discontinued from August 2015)
3a Forthill Drive
Tuesdays
3.15pm - 3.45pm
(except school holidays)

Barnhill Community Centre
(discontinued from August 2015)
Campfield Square
Tuesdays
5.00pm - 5.20pm
(except school holidays)


Broughty Ferry Library
Queen Street
Tuesdays
5.30pm - 6.00pm (except school holidays)

Or Request a Home Visit
Telephone
Council Office 01382 434110 Home 01382 738566
Email laurie.bidwell@dundeecity.gov.uk
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/councillorlauriebidwell

Sunset Over Campfield Square Shopping Centre

Click on image to enlarge

This was the beautiful sunset over Campfield Square earlier tonight. 

This dramatic skyline was what greeted me when I walked back into the Square after my surgery at the Community Centre. 



My Surgeries - Tuesdays
Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex 3a Forthill Drive 3:30 - 4:00pm
Barnhill Community Centre Campfield Square 5:00 - 5:45pm (2nd and 4th)
Broughty Ferry Library Queen Street 6:00 - 6:45pm 
(all school term time only)

Cllr Laurie Bidwell Announces a New Rota of Surgeries from 27 August 2012

Click on image to enlarge

I have extended my regular programme of surgeries for my constituents and these come into effect from Monday 27 August 2012. 

I have added a new weekly surgery at the Forthill Sheltered Housing Complex on a Tuesday afternoon beginning at 3:30 pm. I have also added a surgery at the Barnhill Community Centre on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month beginning at 5pm.

I also confirm that I am continuing with my weekly surgery at the Broughty Ferry Library but this will now begin at 6pm.

You can read full details of my new surgeries and my contact details in the poster displayed.

I think it's important that I am available to my constituents on a regular basis.  It is also important, in a large ward like The Ferry, that I am available to constituents in different parts of the ward and I have tried to do this through the premises where I have located my surgeries.

However, the shortage of suitable premises in West Ferry, Panmurefield, Balmossie Brae, Ferry Fields and Clearwater Park means that not everyone can have a surgery in their neighbourhood. I am also aware that many problems and issues can't wait for one of my surgeries, I am therefore very happy to hear from constituents by phone, letter or email.  It is important to me as a Councillor to hear the views of people in Broughty Ferry and respond as quickly as possible.  If you think that I can be of any assistance please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.

Eastern Primary School Parent Council Meeting Tuesday 24 April Beginning at 19:15

On Tuesday evening after my surgery at the Broughty Ferry Library, I attended the meeting of the the Eastern Primary School Parent Council. The new Head Teacher, Gillian Knox, attended her first parent council meeting after taking up her new role at the start of the Summer Term. She acknowledged the warm welcome she had received from pupils, parents and carers  and staff and looked forward to working closely with the Parent Council.
In the course of the meeting a number of issues were raised about child safety at the point children are dropped off at and picked up from school.  I was able to brief the parents about the work of the School Parking and Pupil Safety Working Group.
There was also surprise that the use of the Games Hall as a polling station on Thursday 3 May would preclude the school from staying open open on that day. We were told that this was because the games hall could not be sealed off from the reminder of the school. This surprised me because I had assumed that the Games Hall could be locked off so that it could be used as a sports hub out of school hours while securely keeping these users out of the school and council offices. To be investigated!