Royal recognition for Sutton woman Esther

Above: Esther Brittan has been awarded an MBE.

As we begin 2025, it’s that time of year when we celebrate those who have been recognised for their efforts in the New Year’s Honours.

And I couldn’t be more delighted to congratulate Esther Brittan, who has been awarded an MBE.

A former Fairfax pupil who is now Chair of the school’s PTFA, Esther is an active member of the Sutton Coldfield community.

Esther has been presented the prestigious award for her voluntary and charitable services to young people, having worked hard to connect Hilton, for which she is HR Operations Manager in the UK and Ireland, with various charitable organisations.

Her work has helped Hilton reach out to individuals facing barriers to employment, to help them find meaningful jobs. Through partnerships with Down’s Syndrome Association’s WorkFit programme, Aurora Foxes, Only A Pavement Away and Springboard, Esther has helped open up the job market to many who would otherwise struggle to find employment.

Thank you, Esther, for your dedication to the community and tireless work for charity. 

Arise Sir Andy!

Above: With the newly knighted Sir Andy Street, a great supporter of Sutton Coldfield.

And I’m sure Sutton Coldfield people will join me in congratulating our brilliant former West Midlands Mayor Andy Street, who has been knighted for services to Public Service.

Sir Andy is held in high regard by the people of the Royal town, for his tireless campaigning during his time as Mayor, which resulted in significant investment of all kinds, from new rolling stock on the Cross City rail line to funds for our town centre regeneration and the rebirth of our town hall.

Sir Andy, who received his knighthood for contributions to public service, said it was "an accolade for the people in the West Midlands" instisting he had only been "the front man".

When asked what he was most proud of during his time as mayor, he said he felt the West Midlands had been lacking self belief in 2017 and that he had helped create a "confidence in the region".

I have passed on the congratulations of everyone in the Royal Town to Sir Andy.

Police Station survey results

Above: Sutton resident and campaigner Capt. Jay Singh-Sohal outside the police station.

The overwhelming majority of residents in Sutton Coldfield say they do not trust the West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) when it comes to retaining policing services in the Royal Town.

That’s the damning result from a resident’s survey of Sutton Coldfield, initiated by local campaigners fighting the closure of the current police station in the Royal Town.

The residents’ survey was a necessity after Labour PCC Simon Foster failed to publicly consult locals about his controversial plan for Sutton Coldfield police station.  

The survey was designed and conducted by local campaigner Capt. Jay Singh-Sohal, a strategic communications director who has been very active in the campaign to save the Police Station.

The survey, conducted between 11 October to 08 December 2024, reveals that:

·      91% said they did not have enough information about the PCC’s plans for Sutton Coldfield Police Station

·      97% did not feel that the PCC has treated Sutton Coldfield and its residents fairly and respectfully over our police station

·      97.5% said they do not trust the PCC when he says we'll retain current policing service

When asked what they wanted, 92% of residents said the PCC should engage local residents with a public consultation.

Capt. Singh-Sohal will now be writing to the Home Office and Policing Minister about the need for Sutton Police Station’s closure to be halted amid plans to merge the PCC responsibilities into the Mayoralty. He will also call for a change in law to ensure that PCCs consult with residents when they make contentious decisions to close police stations.

For the full story, visit: https://jaysinghsohal.uk/2024/12/19/wm-pcc-no-trust/

Social care reforms must not be ‘kicked into the long grass’

Above: At Sutton Cottage Hospital, where work has begun on a new clinical hub.

While I am pleased the government is seeking to address the complex issue of social care, I urge them to reconsider the time scale they have set for resolution, with their deadline set all the way in 2028.

While they are rightly seeking to bring on board the opposition and other parties, it is crass in the extreme to have it finalising in the likely year of the next general election, when its conclusions will inevitably get caught up in electoral politics.

This issue remains a key issue for us locally. It is at the heart of issues affecting the daily running of Good Hope, and highly relevant to our plans for our Cottage Hospital.

Indeed, I hope that our ambitious pans for the Cottage Hospital – which will create a hub to help older local residents live in their own homes for longer – could potentially provide a template to be copied elsewhere.

I shall do whatever I can to help ensure this “Rubik’s cube” of an issue – one that affects us in the Royal Town more than most other constituencies because of our age profile – is dealt with in a pragmatic and sensible way.

I hope it will be solved in a way which expands options, underwrites personal security and removes uncertainty from a critical area of all our lives.

Mastering Mandarin at Bishop Vesey

Above: Bishop Vesey students showcasing their Mandarin.

Staff and students at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School are delighted to hear that their participation in the Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) has been funded through 2025 – though the future of the programme is uncertain.

BVGS has proudly participated in the MEP since 2018, with hundreds of students taking on the challenge of learning Mandarin Chinese. 200 current Vesey students are enrolled in the programme.

Many Year 9 students have even had the life-changing opportunity to attend an immersive study trip in China.

With China’s major role on the global stage, it is more important than ever for young people to have the chance to appreciate the country’s significance, while also honing their language skills.

It is excellent news that the government has approved funding for the MEP, though the successful programme’s future beyond August 2025 is uncertain.

Above: With Hunor Veres.

Just before the Commons broke up for Christmas, it was great to welcome Hunor Veres, a former student of the Royal Sutton School who stopped by to see me while passing through London. 

A former winner of the Sutton Coldfield School Debating Contest, I was very proud to hear that Hunor continues positively to contribute to the Royal Sutton School by giving talks to the students on how to thrive academically and offering guidance on applying to the University of Oxford, where he is currently studying.

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