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The Government’s cruel cut to Winter Fuel Payments hits 19,000 pensioners in Sutton Coldfield
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Above: There has been widespread condemnation of the Labour Government’s decision to withdraw Winter Fuel Payments from millions of pensioners.
This week I joined calls on the Government to reverse its plan to scrap the Winter Fuel Payment which will impact ten million pensioners, including 19,663 in Royal Sutton Coldfield.
Just weeks after the election, the new Labour Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced a cut to the Winter Fuel Payment which will reduce it by between £100 and £300, money that would usually have helped pensioners with their heating bills during the winter.
Between 2010 and 2023,the Conservatives had lifted over 200,000 pensioners out of absolute poverty. The Conservative Government’s unprecedented cost of living support following Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine also prevented 400,000 pensioners from falling into absolute poverty after housing costs in 2022-23.
The Government’s scrapping of the Winter Fuel Payment comes despite Labour’s Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Darren Jones MP, saying that Labour had ‘no plans to make changes’ to pensioner benefits.
The new Government has chosen to remove the Winter Fuel Payment from around 19,663 pensioners in Sutton Coldfield and this will have a devastating impact on vulnerable people this winter.
Rachel Reeves must reverse this decision so that those who worked hard and saved all of their life, live with dignity and security in retirement.
Even in the period of great austerity after 2010 the Conservative Government never sought to take away the cold weather payments – it is quite shocking.
There are more than 21,000 pensioners living in Sutton Coldfield, and around 19,600 of them will now see their Winter Fuel Payments withdrawn.
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We must have transparency over Police Station plans
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Above: Last week’s debate in parliament over the future of Sutton Coldfield Police Station provoked a strong response from worried residents.
There has been a phenomenal response across the Royal Town to last week’s Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons on the threatened sale and closure of our Police Station.
I called for this highly unusual debate after Sutton residents were angered by the sudden appearance of ‘for sale’ signs outside the Police Station, after no consultation whatsoever by the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).
In the debate, I urged the PCC to accept an invite to attend a meeting of our Town Council, to answer questions from councillors and the public, and finally provide the transparency that has been so desperately lacking.
After the debate, I have received a huge swell of support from constituents who share my concerns over the plan to replace the station with a much smaller facility, by converting some run-down old police houses at the back of the site.
And most of all, Sutton residents are furious that they have not been consulted at all on the sale of the station, which has watched over us since 1960.
Incredibly, following the debate, the PCC has again written to both me and Cllr Simon Ward, the leader of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, to once again invite us to a behind-closed-doors meeting with him at the Police HQ in Birmingham.
We have both written back to him, to say - no!
As I said in the Commons debate, the PCC’s role is to represent the public, not the police, and he should accept the Town Council’s invite and face local residents to explain this wrong-headed plan.
Even at this late stage, I hope he will do the right thing and accept this invitation, because Sutton Coldfield residents deserve to have their say on such a vitally important matter.
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Still time to enjoy Heritage Week events
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Above: I’ll be visiting some of the locations in Sutton Coldfield taking part in Heritage Week this weekend.
This week has seen an incredible variety of events held across Sutton Coldfield celebrating the history and heritage of the Royal Town.
The Heritage Week events, organised by Sutton Coldfield Heritage Network and supported with funds from Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust, have included everything from tours of historic New Hall Hotel to magical medieval music at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School.
I’m very much looking forward to joining in this weekend. Tomorrow (Saturday) I will be taking advantage of open day events to visit the Town Hall, the Masonic Hall and Holy Trinity Church, and then on Sunday I’ll be taking a look around the remarkable New Hall Water Mill, and all the other wonderful historic things to be seen at the site on Wylde Green Road.
This has been a tremendously successful week and I would like to thank everyone in Sutton Coldfield who has helped make it happen. As we approach the 500th anniversary of our Royal Charter in 2028, it’s great to know that there are so many local people who are determined to celebrate and share our unique story.
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Working hard to ensure future of Four Oaks Playgroup
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Above: I have been involved in a number of meetings to secure the future of a much-loved Playgroup in Four Oaks
I returned on Thursday to Four Oaks Primary School for a meeting to discuss the vexed issue of the future of the Playgroup there.
I fought hard for the school to be completely rebuilt during the last parliament and was absolutely delighted when we managed to persuade ministers that Four Oaks Primary should be included in the rebuilding programme.
However, the future of the much respected and outstandingly good Playgroup based at the site is now in some doubt and I am determined that my young constituents who live nearby should continue to have the benefit of this excellent local resource.
So, yesterday I convened a meeting at the school with representatives of the school, the playgroup, Birmingham City Council, and the Department for Education. I am particularly grateful to the very senior officials from the Department who responded positively to my request that they come in person to the meeting and who travelled some distance to do so.
Now we need a solution that preserves the Playgroup without delaying the school’s rebuild. That is what - with good will on all sides - I hope we can now succeed in achieving.
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Backing ideas from local entrepreneurs
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Above: With Sutton-based health innovator Valleesh Athreya.
In recent days I have met with two brilliant Sutton entrepreneurs who show just what an innovative place the Royal Town is for business.
Today I met with my constituent Ian Watson, a serial entrepreneur and local businessman to discuss ways of getting young people into work and the provision of schemes for training in the building trade.
I will be taking his ideas to the relevant Department in Whitehall for ministerial attention.
This followed another meeting with Valleesh Athreya, a Suttonian and leading entrepreneur with great ideas for delivering future health technologies and innovation.
His firm, Capri Healthcare, has some impressive innovations which could help modernise and drive forward the NHS.
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Above: With entrepreneur Ian Watson.
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Keeping my finger on the pulse of local healthcare
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Above: With Simon Jarvis and Jonathan Brotherton, two of the leaders responsible for healthcare in Sutton.
This morning, I went to the QE in Birmingham to discuss healthcare provision in the Royal Town and to update myself on health issues affecting us in Sutton Coldfield.
I met with the CEO of all the major Hospitals across Birmingham, Jonathan Brotherton, and Simon Jarvis, who is the Executive Director of Good Hope.
We had a chance to discuss the challenges as well as the self-evident successes of our local services, including the need to do more to move those who no longer need to remain in hospital out into the community.
Currently nearly 10 percent of hospital beds across Birmingham are blocked in this way.
The cost of our healthcare spend in the Birmingham area this year is £2.5 Billion. It is an extraordinary figure and we must make sure every penny of this tax payer resource is spent to best possible effect.
On behalf of our local community, I thanked both Jonathan and Simon for all their work on our local health provision.
This week I also had one of my regular meetings with senior Doctors in the Royal Town - on this occasion Dr Fraser Hewett and Dr Steve Garbutt - to discuss the challenges facing our local health care system and how to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of local health care and in particular GP services.
It was obviously fitting that our meeting took place at the same time the government published the report by Lord Ara Darzi on the future of the health service, which all politicians should read with an open mind since the aim - of all of us - must be to see the NHS modernise and flourish.
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Ambitious club is sailing into a bright future
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Above: With members of Sutton Sailing Club at Powell’s Pool.
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I had the great pleasure of visiting one of the Royal Town’s many gems today when I went to see the Sutton Coldfield Sailing Club and meet the senior management team and those who run this brilliant local club and facility.
Sutton Coldfield Sailing Club has been on the water since1931. Based on Powell’s Pool, the club, which is open to anyone, gives members of all skill levels the chance to experience Sutton Park’s splendour year-round
Meeting with the Commodore Simon Belcher and the Sailing Secretary David Dunn, I heard of the terrific plans which are afoot to renovate and modernise the changing rooms - so that they can fully serve the 300 members there and also the wonderful outreach work the club does in the community.
I hope the club’s own resources will be bolstered by the successful application for grants being made locally - which as their MP I strongly support.
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Looking forward to this weekend’s food festival
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Above: Brummie Michelin-starred chef Glynn Purnell is due to take part in a new Sutton food festival this weekend.
This weekend I will be attending Sutton Coldfield town centre’s first ever Food Festival.
Featuring culinary TV stars, a Michelin starred chef and local experts showing off their cooking skills, the free two-day event on Saturday 14th September and Sunday 15th September has been organised by the brilliant Visit Royal Sutton Coldfield BID, in collaboration with LSD Promotions.
I’m looking forward to visiting at 1pm on Sunday – and trying some of the tasty treats on offer. I work closely with the BID, which is funded entirely by local businesses, and who regularly organise events that attract visitors.
From tomorrow, the free festival will transform The Parade into a marketplace featuring more than 50 traders offering a diverse selection of fresh food, local produce, and artisan gifts.
A highlight of the festival will be the cookery kitchen, sponsored and hosted by the Gracechurch Centre, where visitors can watch live demonstrations from TV Chef Phil Vickery, Michelin star chef Glynn Purnell, star of TV’s Extreme Cake Makers Molly Robbins, the Bracebridge restaurant team, and Sutton’s own Military Chef, Liam Hall, founder of the town centre’s latest chocolate shop.
Entertainment throughout the weekend will include stilt-walking chefs, a comedic waiters duo, balloon modelling, a bubble-ologist, live music and free activities including face painting and glitter tattoos.
Sutton Coldfield Food Festival promises to be a weekend filled with delicious food, engaging entertainment, and community spirit! The festival will open on Saturday 14th September from 10am-8pm and Sunday 15th September 10am-5pm.
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Meeting the region’s Mayor
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Above: Under the gaze of the Iron Lady – meeting West Midlands’ new Mayor this week in Sutton Coldfield.
This week I met with the West Midlands’ new Mayor, Richard Parker, for the first time.
I am very keen to establish the importance of a good working relationship to help drive forward the objectives we have in the Royal Town .
I am pleased to report that the Mayor was sympathetic to the key work we are pursuing and I am grateful to him for his commitment to work closely together, wherever possible, in the interests of Sutton Coldfield - and of course I shall deliver that same commitment.
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Proud to sponsor lunch in honour of Sikh heroes
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I was honoured to sponsor a very special luncheon in Parliament, commemorating what is often called one of history's greatest last stands!
The Battle of Saragarhi took place on 12 September 1897,when 21 Sikh soldiers defended to the last man a small communications outpost against 10,000 enemy tribesmen on the North-West Frontier close to the modern Afghanistan border.
The men were from the 36th Sikh Regiment of the Indian Army under the British at the time. The battle gained much recognition and since Indian independence in 1947 has been commemorated each year in the sub-continent.
Well known Suttonian and Army Reserve Captain Jay Singh-Sohal has spent more than a decade researching the battle and bringing it to the UK mainstream with books and films. The luncheon he organised is an old regimental tradition but has not been held since 1977.
In attendance were dignitaries from the Indian High Commission and His Majesty's Armed Forces. The event, which I'm honoured to have supported, helped foster greater links between Britain and India through our oft forgotten shared military history.
You can find out more about the battle on Jay's website: https://sikhatwar.wordpress.com/
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Have your say on the future of Town Council
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Above: A consultation into the Town Council’s Draft Strategic Plan has been launched.
I want to urge residents to take part in the important consultation now being carried out in Sutton, on a plan to deliver more local control of community services and assets.
Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council’s Draft Strategic Plan for 2024-2027 sets out its priorities for the next four years and represents a new era of local delivery for Sutton Coldfield.
The council’s ambitions include working to help create a revitalised Town Centre, transferring control of 14 local parks and green spaces to Sutton Coldfield and working with others to create a new Trust to oversee Sutton Park.
It could also include the Town Council stepping in to help avoid reductions in services currently provided by bankrupt Birmingham City Council, such as library and community services.
The Town Council is also proposing a first-ever increase in the annual precept that residents pay for its services - to help fund this new era of local delivery for Sutton Coldfield.
The Public Consultation runs until Friday, September 27th,2024.
Councillor Simon Ward, Leader of Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, said: “There is still time to have your say on the Draft Strategic plan. We are about to enter a new era, bringing more local control of valued assets and services.
“For example, we have identified more than a dozen green spaces across Sutton which we would like to transfer to local control, and we want to work to make the dream of a trust that oversees Sutton Park a reality.
“We also understand concerns about local services being impacted by reduced budgets at Birmingham City Council, so we are also looking at how the Town Council can step in to help support locally-delivered services.
“And the next four years will be crucial to the rebirth of the Town Centre, and the Town Council will work with the Town Centre Regeneration Partnership to drive forward delivery of the change that everyone wants to see.
“I would urge all Sutton Coldfield residents to engage with the Public Consultation into the Draft Strategic Plan – this is your opportunity to have a say on the future of Sutton Coldfield.”
For the consultation, from the 2nd – 27th of September, thousands of returnable surveys are being delivered to addresses across the Royal Town.
The surveys can be either filled in and posted back to the council offices, at Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, 62 Anchorage Road, Sutton Coldfield, B74 2PG, or returned through 16 drop boxes situated in local churches, community centres and libraries.
Alternatively, the survey can also be filled in online at the Council’s website.
You can also have your say in face-to-face community meetings across Sutton Coldfield throughout September – see the further information section at the end of this email for details.
This strategic plan is of great importance, and I urge everyone Sutton Coldfield to have their say on its ambitions.
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Putting on the style to support Cancer Support Centre
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There’s still time to get a ticket for Sutton Coldfield Cancer Support Centre’s black-tie ball this winter, which will raise funds for its important work supporting local people post-diagnosis.
I am honoured to be Patron of the Cancer Support Centre, which is based in the same building as St Giles Hospice in Lindridge Road and I know just how important its services are to the people of Sutton Coldfield.
The Cancer Centre is there to support local people - they may have just received a diagnosis, be about to have surgery or receive hospital treatments, be currently undergoing conventional treatments such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy, have finished your treatment and been discharged, be approaching one of the many follow-up appointments, or be supporting a loved one on their journey.
Set to be held at Aston Wood Golf Course, Blake Street, on Friday 29th November, the dinner looks like not only being one of the biggest dates on the Royal Town’s calendar it will also support a brilliant local charity.
If you are looking for a glamorous, fun night out, I’d urge you to consider going along to support the Cancer Centre.
Tickets are available individually or as a discounted table of 10 – see the ‘further information’ section at the end of this newsletter for more details.
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