Chamber of Commerce Exhibition 2023
This morning I had the great pleasure of opening the Royal Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce Exhibition 2023 at our Town Hall along with the very experienced President Phil Arkinstall (now in his third and final year as President) and the President of the Greater Birmingham Chamber, Deb Leary, as well who kindly joined us.
The Town Hall was packed with exhibitors, with around 400 people involved in this important annual event. The Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council was exhibiting too, in particular in respect of the Master Plan for our Town Centre.
Among the sponsors to whom we are so grateful were Enoch Evans solicitors, Royal Sutton Coldfield BID and our Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council.
We are so grateful to today’s sponsors.
The Team from the Town Council explaining and talking about the Sutton Coldfield Town Centre Master Plan
Thanking exhibitors.
Mark Roberts, the Four Oaks Town councillor, who led for the Town Council at this event, and the RSCTC representative on the Royal Town Chamber of Commerce
Amazon
Amazon have briefed me on Wednesday evening ahead of an announcement confirming that the new Fulfilment Centre in Peddimore will open in October ahead of schedule. This is very welcome news and one that will lead to hundreds of new good quality jobs being created for local people. Amazon tell me that the Fulfilment Centre is a £500million investment in Peddimore and that operations will launch in October with 1,400 employees, growing to 2,000 people within three years.
I visited the state-of-the-art robotics site in May when I raised the subject of jobs, community engagement and local concerns. I have asked the company to keep me informed in the run up to the opening and I look forward to continuing to work with them in ensuring local people are securing the jobs being created by this latest investment, and also that the local community is respected and not inconvenienced in unnecessary ways.
Above: The Peddimore Amazon site, currently under construction
Headteachers’ Lunch
Once a year I have the great pleasure of meeting all my secondary headteachers and the head of Sutton Coldfield college (BMet), as well as all the Chairs of Governors for a discussion and lunch and today is the date it took place - courtesy of our hosts at Plantsbrook school.
It has been a difficult year on so many fronts with post-Covid academic recovery still highly relevant and strain on school budgets, as well as all the many difficulties over pay and recruitment as the government seeks to drive down inflation. The pay review board reports shortly.
I am very conscious of the concerns that were expressed by all my headteachers and the chairs of Governors and will be raising a number of them with my colleague, Gillian Keegan.
As always, it was a great pleasure to meet and catch up with those responsible for what are extremely good schools in the Royal Town, and to thank them for all they do for my younger constituents.
The hardworking headteachers of the Royal Town’s schools, with their Member of Parliament.
My Meeting with Carers in the Royal Town
I often meet organisations who play a major part in trying to keep people in their own homes for as long as possible.
That is what most of us would like and it is very much behind the plans we have developed for our cottage hospital which are now proceeding as we would wish with the major investment agreed there.
Today I spoke to a small business looking after some 80 folk and doing just that. It is part of my role as your MP to try and drive forward that agenda and to thank those engaged in delivering it.
The Ramada Hotel
As you may recall, I received a letter a few weeks ago from the Home Office. The Ramada is due to increase its capacity from 220 to 340 people as they work towards fewer hotels being used as asylum accommodation.
I pressed for answers on how this decision came about, especially since I believe the Ramada is simply not big enough to accommodate so many people. I have now been notified that Serco (the accommodation provider for the area) are converting rooms to be used for multiple occupancy, ensuring that PHE guidance is adhered to where applicable.
Serco are also looking at increasing the security, wraparound provision and support at the site to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all service users and will continue on the existing funding basis as before in order to minimise impact on local services.
I have made clear that I will be watching the implications of any expansions on this site with great care, and expect all of the local community to be protected from annoyance and inconvenience.
Good Hope and UHB: Second Review into Patient Safety
Earlier today, I was sent the Second Review into Patient Safety in response to concerns about the culture at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust, with the initial patient safety review published in March.
I am pleased to learn that the Trust is making good progress in building the foundations from which to build a healthier and more effective organisation.
Chief Executive David Melbourne has told me that the Trust Board and the wider organisation have taken this process incredibly seriously, and huge strides are being made in their performance across areas such as cancer, ambulance handovers and elective care.
Here is his letter to me in full:
‘Dear Andrew,
Over the past few months, you have played an important role in supporting University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust and the wider health and care system to respond to concerns raised by BBC Newsnight about culture at the Trust.
I’d like to firstly thank you for your efforts and contributions. Our shared determination, including that of UHB, has led us to a point where the Trust has been able to make good progress in building the foundations from which to build a healthier and more effective organisation, albeit with many challenges ahead.
Following the initial concerns a patient safety review, led by Professor Mike Bewick, was carried out and a report published in March 2023. It set out that services at the Trust were safe, but that there were a number of areas of concern, particularly with regards to governance and leadership, culture and staff welfare.
A follow up report has today been published, showing where improvements have been made and in which areas. Some of the key points of progress include:
1. Dame Yve Buckland has been appointed as permanent Chair of the organisation, driving forward a revised approach to Board governance designed to create a culture of continuous improvement as well as resetting the tone of the organisation.
2. Additional committees have been established for finance and performance, quality and safety and workforce and organisational development, supported by a clear reporting structure.
3. A Board development programme has been implemented, reflecting key findings of NHS England’s well-led review and a number of new Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) have been recruited, bringing new skills and a fresh perspective.
4. The Trust is also moving towards a new group operating model, which will create local leadership at hospital/site level, enabling each hospital to run services according to local patient need and expertise.
5. The Interim Chief Executive has established and embedded a staff engagement programme meeting regularly, online and face-to-face, with hundreds of staff each week.
Both the initial review and this follow up report have been done in the spirit of helping UHB get to a place where they can work with their partners to start to fix these issues.
The Trust Board and wider organisation have taken this process incredibly seriously, whilst simultaneously competing with significant challenges and demands on their services, and making huge strides in their performance across areas such as cancer, ambulance handovers and elective care.
The publication of this follow-up report marks the end of one phase, but also signals the beginning of another one defined by continuous improvement and support. The areas for development have been identified, and now begins further work to ensure appropriate improvements are made across the Trust and its hospital sites.
Further areas for consideration are highlighted in the report, which will be looked at in more detail through the ongoing culture review. These areas include:
1. Concerns over GMC referrals and the overall processes around this in place at the Trust;
2. Concerns over the integrity of data entry in cardiac surgery;
3. Concerns over allegations of misogynistic behaviour and sexual harassment.
Meanwhile, details of today’s NHS England’s well-led review are included in a detailed progress summary from UHB.
I’m sure you will agree that this is just the beginning of a long improvement journey for UHB, with much work still be done to create a lasting and different culture across the Trust and its sites.
I’d like to extend my thanks, once again, for your ongoing support and hope you will join us in continuing to work alongside UHB throughout this next period of change.
Best wishes,
David
David Melbourne
Chief Executive
NHS Birmingham and Solihull’
I am keeping a close eye on developments and remain in very regular contact with David and the Trust on their progress.
Honours List for His Majesty’s Birthday
I was delighted to hear that two Sutton Coldfield locals were awarded Honours for the King’s Birthday.
Stephen Glyn Hughes, CEO of Birmingham Education Impact Academy received an OBE for his services to children and young people with special education needs and disabilities.
Zoe Bennett, a local entrepreneur and motivational speaker, was awarded a BEM for services to Charity and inspiring disadvantaged people.
A huge congratulations to both.
BCC Failings
The news about Birmingham City Council, which I reported a couple of weeks ago, continues to cause very great concern.
Please see below an update from our own Cllr Ewan Mackey, deputy leader of the Conservative Opposition:
‘Heads have to roll. The Labour Party have been in charge for 11 years- the Cabinet for most of that time. Their refusal to do their jobs is now set to cost the council from equal pay to oracle at least £650m plus £100m and worse seems to still be costing our residents up to £14m a month. Labour have failed our city. They have bankrupted the Council. They have to go now’.
Cinema Update
I am cautiously pleased to say that matters to do with the cinema are moving forward; in respect of that progress, the owner has authorised me to say “plans are in progress to provide the Royal Town with a boutique cinema in the near future and I hope to be able to provide more details shortly.”
Rome
Earlier this week as part of my ministerial duties I was in Rome for a meeting with food agencies, with representatives from the Food and Agricultural Organization, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and the UN World Food Programme.
I discussed the preventative and anticipatory action needed to avert crises and help the poorest and most vulnerable.
The world is facing the greatest food crisis in a generation, exacerbated by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Community Organisations Invited to Bid for Life-Saving Defibrillators
I very much welcome the news that the government is inviting community organisations to bid for funding for a defibrillator for their area.
The Department of Health and Social Care is inviting interested organisations to register expressions of interest for its £1 million Community Automated External Defibrillators (AED) Fund, aimed at increasing the number of AEDs in public places where they are most needed and help save lives.
The funding is part of the Government’s drive to equip the health system with the right technology to ease pressures, reduce backlogs and cut waiting lists, and to improve public access to care when they need it.
An estimated 1,000 new defibrillators are to be provided by the fund, with the potential for this to double as successful applicants will be asked to match the funding they receive partially or fully.
Examples could include community centres, local shops, post offices, ensuring that defibrillators are evenly spread throughout communities and easily accessible if someone is experiencing an unexpected cardiac arrest.
If you would like to submit an expression of interest, you can do so by visiting: https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=MIwnYaiRMUyMH-9N6Jc6HLfy1IJ_lPFFotCZIB4mEYlUQ1VUWU9ISjI4MjNTVzlPWFk1SDQ2SzhRSi4u
Summer Concert at St Columba’s
Birmingham Male Vice Choir are performing some wonderful music next Saturday at St Columba’s Church.
Please see below for details.
Walk for Parkinson’s
Trent Valley Line Summer Upgrade
From Saturday 15 July to Sunday 23 July, along with Sunday 9 and 30 July, Avanti West Coast will be running a reduced service on the West Coast Main Line as Network Rail carry out major upgrade work to the Trent Valley line. Customers making journeys in this period are strongly advised to plan ahead and check the Avanti West Coast website before travelling.
Royal Sutton Coldfield Community Games 2023
Outdoor Cinema in the Parade
A cinema will be opening in Sutton Coldfield this summer - a pop-up version in the Parade showing films and sporting events from Friday, July 14 to Sunday, July 16 with the films to be shown set to be announced nearer the time.
The pop-up venue will feature a large cinema screen, deckchairs to sit back in, a grass floor and white picket fence. And it will show a ‘selection of films and this year’s men’s and women’s Wimbledon tennis finals’, with those days featuring morning movies.
Our brilliant local rugby team - The Spartans, will be hosting taster sessions on the following days. Sign up now to get involved!
