Royal Sutton Coldfield Updates
I arrived back in the Royal Town earlier than usual from Westminster to attend the funeral of Honorary Alderman Margaret Waddington on Thursday morning and had the honour of doing a eulogy for this wonderful lady for whom so many had gathered to say farewell. Margaret will be greatly missed by everyone who knew her. If you would like to read my eulogy please see Andrew Mitchell MP | Facebook
In the evening, I attended the Sutton Coldfield Rugby Club dinner to celebrate 100 years in existence. It was a great occasion with Mike Tindell in attendance. I think he felt very much at home in our Royal Town. This was a splendid event and I was able to thank the club for all the outreach work it does for the teaching and playing of rugby in Sutton Coldfield. I am also pleased to report that our Town Hall was at its very best with reportedly the highest bar takings ever recorded and the last enthusiasts leaving at 1.10 in the morning. It was a very good night for these two Sutton Coldfield institutions, our Town Hall and our Rugby Club.
On Friday, I met with the Chief Executive of the Royal Town’s Council. We had a chance to talk about the many important initiatives which the town council is pursuing with such vigour and delivering progress and success for all of us in Sutton Coldfield.
I then headed off to perform the official opening of Acres Estate Agents with owner and Director, Nigel Deekes. This important local business has returned to Walmley after more than a decade away. It appears that house prices in Sutton Coldfield have risen quite steeply over recent months.
Over lunch, I had a chat with the Editor of the Sutton Coldfield Chronicle, which is going from strength to strength and is much appreciated across the town. We are looking at ways of expanding its distribution which I know will be welcomed, not least because, in spite of the significant increase in the number of weekly copies from the time of the old Observer paper, doorstep deliveries are not as plentiful as we would all wish.
During the course of the afternoon, I had a further meeting with Joanna of YogoJo who has now secured charitable status for her brilliant initiative to help promote good mental health in our schools, especially our primary schools locally. I am afraid I am unable to report any improvement in my own yoga performance!
I had several zoom meetings before meeting with the Paget Ranger’s Community Programme which is in its infancy. It is a great programme that hopes to deliver football coaching to girls and boys at all levels whilst having fun, enjoying sport, building friendships through sport as well as developing skills and confidence at the same time.
Tomorrow, I am looking forward to attending a concert at Symphony Hall in memory of Louis Watkiss who was such a talented young musician who tragically lost his life in a terrible accident at the Snow Dome in Tamworth. I will be updating concert goers on the campaign which his family are so valiantly mounting for compulsory helmet wearing of young people participating in indoor snow sports which I am supporting.
Thereafter I am off to the match and looking forward to a splendid victory by Aston Villa.
Last Friday, I attended the 67th Annual General Meeting of the Royal Sutton Coldfield Conservative Association, which was held in person for the first time in 2 years. The new Association officers were elected in as follows:
Mrs Kay Noone - President
Cllr David Allan - Chairman
Clare Horrocks - Deputy Chairman Campaigning
Nitish Raut - Deputy Chairman Membership
Mr Richard Parkin - Political Officer
Capt. Jay Sohal-Singh - Political Officer
Cllr Harry Parmer - Honorary Treasurer
Cllr Janet Cairns - Constituency Officer
In my speech to the Association, I vigorously condemned the Russian action in Ukraine. It is an appalling and premeditated attack against a sovereign, democratic state – we will make Vladimir Putin feel the full cost of his actions with our unprecedented package of sanctions that will leave no corner of his regime unscathed.
We must also ensure that NATO reinforces its borders and underlines its absolute commitment to article 5 that an attack on one is an attack on all. In addition, we must lead European solidarity on dealing with what is already an unprecedented refugee crisis. Looking after those who have fled in terrifying circumstances is a call on our humanity and decency.
Westminster news and Parliamentary business
On Monday during a debate following the Foreign Secretary’s statement on UK support for the Ukraine, I urged the government to join other European countries in helping to shoulder the financial burden of the humanitarian load on the frontline states.
Most people who flee across the border want to stay as close as possible to the areas from which they have been driven and all European countries must give the strongest support to those driven out in great fear and terror by this extraordinary and barbaric Russian behaviour. You can view or read the Foreign Secretary’s response here https://youtu.be/Ozzu9pccaLY Hansard
I also took part in a debate following a statement by the Business Secretary to welcome Government plans to improve transparency over the ownership of companies and property in the UK and to strengthen the enforcement of financial sanctions.
I stressed that across Parliament, we had been asking the Government to do these things for the last four years and more. I asked for further measures that we have advocated to be enacted to clamp down on dirty money and money laundering.
I also asked the Government to ensure that Companies House is not just a library but has investigative powers that will require money and officials with great expertise, but sunlight, as ever, is the best disinfectant. You can view and read Kwasi Kwarteng’s response here: https://youtu.be/R3vnEDTqm3Q Hansard
I joined an important meeting on Thursday morning of the All Party Parliamentary Group which focuses on money laundering and dirty money. We were looking at the welcome government proposals for economic crime measures which will come before Parliament next week. I have joined with Margaret Hodge – the Labour MP with whom I have worked cross-party over recent years on these important matters - in suggesting a number of ways in which the Bill can be improved.
Information Opportunities and Events
Birmingham City Council’s Covid Update
- Vaccination uptake for all ages 12+ is currently 67.7% for 1st dose, 62.1% for 2nd dose in Birmingham residents, and 41.5% for booster dose.
- Of the 69 wards, 26 have achieved the national target of 75%+ vaccine uptake for 1st dose and 11 have achieved this for 2nd dose. Around 349,473 individuals have not received any vaccine, representing 32.3% of the eligible population. The majority of the unvaccinated (85%) are aged under 50 years.
- In the 7 days up to 24th February, 2,079 cases were reported in Birmingham (182.3 cases per 100,000 population), a decrease of 33.3% compared to 3,117 cases 273.3 per 100,000 population) in the previous week.
- Of the 2,079 confirmed cases, 266 (12.8%) were re-infections.
- Comparing the week ending 24th February with the previous 7 days, cases decreased in all age groups. The largest decrease was 53% in the 0-19 age group, followed by decreases of 33% in 20-39 and 40-59, 13% in 60-79, and 2% in 80+ age group. The 20-39 age group accounted for the largest proportion of all cases (41%).
Holland House Infant School and Nursery: I have recently reported that BCC is now recruiting for a school crossing patrol for outside Holland House School. I am, therefore, putting out a plea for anyone who feels they would be a suitable candidate to please contact Cllr. David Pears on David.pears@birmingham.gov.uk
Mobile Household Recycling Centre:
Please see below the visits scheduled week commencing 14 March 2022 of the Council’s Mobile Household Recycling Centre. Visit times are 7am to 12 Noon.
Mon 14/03/2022 Boddington Road, B75 7ES
Tue 15/03/2022 Sir Alfreds Way B76 1ES
Wed 16/03/2022 Knighton Drive B74 4QP
Fri 18/03/2022 Fourlands Avenue B72 1YY
International Women’s Day: If you are a woman aged 18-30 living in our Royal Town and unsure what to do next? Check out @YWTrust Work It Out Service for free coaching and job application feedback to help you make that next step #TrustInWomen https://t.co/CLDJyJh1Ob
Neighbourhood Development and Support Unit: I have received the latest update from the NDSU in relation to External Funding as of 8th February. Please see for any opportunities that may be available to you and your organisation.
https://sway.office.com/5vR8Z2nEMm7iWwO7
TfL News: Please see the following information as it could affect us all in Sutton Coldfield.
Easter weekend, 15 – 18 April
Our Easter railway upgrades include:
- Track and signal upgrades between London Euston and Milton Keynes
- Bridge work in the Camden and Regents Park area near Euston station
- Railway drainage, track and signal improvements between Crewe and Warrington
- Track upgrades between Carlisle and Scotland.
Travel either side of the Easter bank holiday weekend
We’re asking passengers to travel either side of the bank holiday weekend to avoid longer, busier journeys and bus replacements and changes on the following routes:
- between London Euston and Milton Keynes
- on the Coventry corridor from Leamington to Coventry and Rugeley to Birmingham New Street
- between Carlisle and Glasgow and Edinburgh
- changes to services to and through Crewe station.
Our communications will point passengers to plan their journeys in advance at www.networkrail.co.uk/wcml. Details of services can be found at National Rail Enquiries or by calling 03457 48 49 50. Passengers who require assistance are advised to pre-arrange this with their local train company.
Early May bank holiday weekend, 30 April – 2 May
Over the early May bank holiday weekend, work will take place to:
- Upgrade track and railway drainage between London Euston and Watford
- Reconstruct a bridge at Euston/Camden
- Renew electrical switches and crossings at Watford Junction
- Replace a bridge in Saltley
- Modernise signals through Macclesfield
- Track improvement work between Warrington and Preston (Sunday 1 May).
Travel either side of the early May bank holiday weekend
Again, passengers are asked to plan ahead and travel either side of the bank holiday weekend to avoid longer, busier journeys and bus replacements on some routes including between London Euston and Milton Keynes.
Travel to FA Cup matches may be affected, and we advise passengers to please check with their local train company or the Football Association for more information.
Birmingham 2022 – The Birmingham 2022 Festival
Birmingham 2022 have today formally launched our Birmingham 2022 Festival, a six-month long cultural programme taking place across Birmingham and the West Midlands which will accompany the Games. It will be the biggest celebration of creativity ever seen in our region and one of the largest ever cultural programmes to surround a Commonwealth Games.
There will be over 200 events including a spectacular open-air show, a brand-new Birmingham inspired album, an immersive 3D experience on public transport, photography exhibitions across billboards, a city centre forest of magical proportions, a mass tap-dancing extravaganza and much, much more. With events running from March to September, the festival will put Birmingham and the West Midlands’ creativity, ambition, heritage, and diversity on a global stage. Activities will take place in every Birmingham constituency.
To learn more, view the full programme of events or get involved visit: www.birmingham2022.com/festival
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