Weekly Message to Constituents 192 - Seasonal news as Christmas approaches

In the Constituency

Visiting Amazon

My morning has been spent- along with our brilliant West Midlands Mayor Andy Street - visiting the new Amazon facility to see their Christmas operation supplying hundreds of thousands of items to thousands of my constituents in the Royal Town.

I had the pleasant task of opening Amazon Sutton Coldfield earlier in the year. The operation now employs 2000 people (exceeding previous estimates of 1600) and has 1100 local good quality jobs, is an investment of £550 million, and produces 3.6 MWh of solar energy. In Peddimore, Amazon holds more than 30 million items. You can probably tell I am impressed by the extraordinary investment in our Town and window on the future, but also at the number of high-quality jobs secured and local employment opportunity.

Amazon are also playing a role in our local community more widely - I have already asked them to look at supporting some terrific local charities which they are doing – particularly at the suggestion and Organisation of local councillor Ken Wood, Amazon led the Water Orton Lane litter pick!

Visiting Birmingham City Council

I visited Birmingham City Council this morning to meet with the Chief Executive, Deborah Cadman, and the Director of Intervention Response, Rishi Shori. The senior officers of course work with this failed Labour administration which has done such damage to and broken Birmingham City Council’s finances. They also work with The Commissioners which the government have put in to run Birmingham council to try to sort it out.

Apart from a discussion about the future structure of council services and the need for serious devolution of services, we also discussed the Midland Lodge in the park which has gone to rack and ruin under Birmingham’s ownership and also our Park where I am very concerned about the Labour administrations delay in managing to take sensible decisions about its future.

I shall be reporting back to you in more detail early in the new year I also made clear that I do not expect to see Labour’s financial failure billed to my constituents council tax . Assets must be sold off by the council which owns more assets which are not necessary for its proper functioning than any other local authority in the country.

This week Birmingham Live published an article illustrating the extent of the financial mess Birmingham City Council is in, which you can read here:

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/broke-birmingham-city-council-ask-28274531

Above: meeting Deborah Cadman, the Chief Executive, and ad Rishi Shori, Director of Intervention Response at BCC

I also visited our hard-working official team in the Conservative offices in Birmingham Council to thank them for their work and support. Our Conservative team are doing everything they can to try to hold to account this Labour administration who have bankrupted Birmingham and also seek to protect the Royal Town from the dreadful effects of labour council action and inaction.

Above: with the Conservative team at BCC

Jack and the Beanstalk at the Town Hall

A joyous ‘VIP Night’ at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall as we enter a new and exciting era of transformation, growth, and development.

VIP night consisted of Trustees, staff, volunteers and a range of people representing our communities and business partners across the Town who all contribute towards the success of our much-loved venue.

Tonight, brought an opportunity to build new connections and nurture existing, including with our professional Pantomime production company - TaleGate Theatre Productions presenting our GIANT of a pantomime ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’.

Its BEAN a very exciting year and we are excited for what’s to come !

Don’t miss out, book your tickets here! - https://www.suttoncoldfieldtownhall.com/pantomime-2023/

Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School Giving Tree

I am looking forward to visiting Bishop Vesey’s Giving Tree tomorrow, an annual project for which the school’s students are seeing the growing success.

“The Giving Tree - Spirit of Christmas” can be found from 27 November onwards at Gracechurch Centre and Mulberry Walk, Mere Green and will conclude on 21 December when the final gifts will be distributed to the chosen local charities– YMCA, St Basil’s Hostel and St Giles’ Hospice. Students have produced a corresponding flyer which explains the range of gifts that are needed (see below).

The Giving Trees can be found from 27 November onwards at Gracechurch Centre, Sutton Coldfield Town Centre and Mulberry Walk, Mere Green. BVGS students will attend each afternoon (2pm-5.30pm) and all day on Saturday and Sundays (10am –3.30pm). Students wrap up all gifts in festive paper and on the final day, 22 December, distribute all donated gifts to the charities in time for Christmas Day.

Digbeth Street Food Christmas Fair

One of the best things about the festive period is the Christmas markets, and tomorrow I will be the Digbeth Festive Food Market which is appearing live in the Royal Town in the Gracechurch Centre, tomorrow between 11am and 2pm tomorrow.

I am looking forward to sampling some mulled wine and Christmassy street food from the stalls!

Cinema update: nearly over the line!

We are nearly there! I am advised that there is an 80% chance that we will enjoy the news in next Friday’s message (fingers crossed)!

The plans which I have been taken through are fabulous.

Delivering leaflets in the Royal Town

I improved my step count today, leafleting near the centre of Town- letting people know what our Conservative local councillors, our West Midlands mayor Andy Street, and I, your MP are trying to do to help.

Don’t forget, if we can ever help you, please let us know.

In the Commons

Urgent Question on Diplomacy in the Israel-Hamas War

On Monday I answered an urgent question on the international diplomacy surrounding the Israel-Hamas War and answered 47 questions from colleagues across the House of Commons.

The Government are undertaking extensive and global diplomatic engagement to get much greater aid into Gaza, support British nationals and the safe return of hostages, and prevent dangerous regional escalation.

If you would like to, you can watch the debate here: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/049c012d-0c14-4997-bfcb-c4c1a1c1ac69?in=15:30:04

Foreign office questions

On Tuesday, I deputised for the Foreign Secretary during foreign office questions in the House of Commons. I answered a number of questions from colleagues such as on the International Development White Paper, and the developments in the Middle East.

You can watch the full debate here:

https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/26b0dd30-b987-4d9c-8a2b-a6e6915e6019

Stopping the Boats

On Tuesday evening, there was a vote on key legislation in our efforts to stop the boats and proceed with the Rwanda Policy.

Legislation was passed, supported by a legally binding treaty and backed up by evidence that Rwanda is safe, to respond to the Supreme Court’s concerns and end the merry-go-round of legal challenges to our plans to stop the boats.

We will do whatever it takes to make our partnership with Rwanda work and stop the boats.

The Global Refugee Forum in Geneva

On Wednesday I attended the second Global Refugee Forum, in which the UK announced 15pledges to support refugees and the countries that host them.

Whether in response to conflict or climate change, the number of people forced to flee their homes has risen by over 35 million since the first Global Refugee Forum in 2019. As a result, the need to tackle the root causes of displacement has never been greater. In doing so, not only will the UK be able to provide vital support to refugees and the countries that host them but also reduce the number of individuals attempting dangerous onward travel in a bid to enter the UK illegally.

COP28

I was in Dubai attending COP28 over the last few weekends for the 28th annual UN climate meeting, where governments discuss how to limit and prepare for future climate change, a topic of great concern for many across the Royal Town and beyond.

This COP28Gender Equality Day, I was pleased to announce UK support for the Gender-Responsive Just Transition & Climate Action Partnership.

It’s vital that we promote & advance gender equality in the transition to a green economy to ensure no one is left behind.

UK funding commitments were also announced to help strengthen early warning systems in countries on the front line of climate change & make health care in these areas more resilient and able to withstand disasters.

Above: With Baroness Patricia Scotland, the secretary general of the Commonwealth. I presented her with a copy of the new UK Development White Paper, something I worked very hard on and which was well received all round.

Further Information

British Gas Energy Trust (BGET) Individuals and Families Fund

the British Gas Energy Trust (BGET) Individuals and Families Fund has now re-opened for new applications.

The Fund provides grants of up to £1,500 to customers who are struggling to pay their bills and is available to both British Gas and non-British Gas customers with pre-payment or credit accounts. Full details of how to apply to the funds and eligibility criteria can be found at: https://britishgasenergytrust.org.uk/

Sutton Coldfield Heritage Network - calendars for 2024

These delightful calendars are now on sale in the Trinity Centre (alongside Sutton's only charity Christmas card shop selling cards for a range of charities on behalf of "Cards for Good Causes).

They are appointments calendars with detachable postcards featuring the winning photographs in the competition held during Birmingham Heritage Week in Sutton Coldfield in September.

At just £5 each they make a perfect Christmas gift for Suttonians or those who have moved away and would like a reminder of the Park and other iconic buildings in the Royal Town.

Do come to the Trinity Centre, B72 1TF, between 11am and 1pm on Saturdays or during office hours in the week. (Also available around evening bookings - check on 0121 321 1144 if you want to confirm the Centre is open at any point).

Upcoming Events

MHRC Locations

Please see below the visits scheduled for the week commencing 18th December 2023 of the BCC Mobile Household Recycling Centre.

Mon 18/12/2023, Welford Road B73 5DP, 07:00 - 12:30, Sutton Vesey

#MYTOWNHALL

Your Town Hall requires donations to protect our heritage building for future use.

We are launching an APPEAL FOR £200k in order to continue to support Your Town Hall and protect it for the future community use, value and enjoyment.

In this present situation of rising material prices, heating bills and social costs, why should YOU consider supporting your town hall? Because it is a precious historical building, an asset to the area, and the Trust needs support to keep it functioning.

How to Support:

We are asking you to be as generous as you can, to enable the Town Hall to meet its present commitments. We are relying on your support. Every little helps !

Thank you!

From all of the team at Sutton Coldfield Community Town Hall Trust and the trustees.

Donate with PayPal Giving Fund

You can read and subscribe to the Town Hall’s newsletter here: The Town Hall Presents: Summer is Here! (mailchi.mp)

West Midlands Railway: Passengers reminded of upcoming December timetable change

Passengers travelling with West Midlands Railway (WMR) are being reminded to check their journeys ahead of changes to the national railway timetable in December.- https://www.westmidlandsrailway.co.uk/dec23