10 January 2025
Weekly Message to Constituents 248 - Huge investment at Sutton school
In the Constituency

Things are looking up at school – as work begins on new roof

 

Above: With students and staff at Hollyfield School, where more than £800,000 is being spent on a much-needed new roof.

This week I had a wonderful visit to Hollyfield School, together with local Councillor Richard Parkin.

We had a good look at the important building work being carried out on the school’s roof which I helped secure funding for before Christmas and congratulated the young winners of the Hollyfield’s weekly awards. 

I even had the opportunity to speak to the older children about my role as their MP and answer their (very interesting) questions!

New roof will make a huge difference for school says Councillor Richard Parkin

Richard writes: “I was delighted to visit Hollyfield Primary School with Andrew Mitchell MP this morning where we met with Headteacher Andy Holmes and the roofing contractors.

The school has long suffered from multiple water leaks caused by the deterioration of the 70-year-old flat roof. Water regularly drips into the school kitchen, dining hall, classrooms and Headteacher’s Office, impacting on schoolchildren and staff.

After visiting the school last year to hear about the problems I arranged a meeting between the Headteacher and Andrew, who immediately backed the school’s request for funding to tackle the urgent issue. 

On behalf of the school, Andrew lobbied the previous Government and successfully helped to secure £815,000 of Department for Education funding to pay for essential and extensive repairs to the roof. 

Almost 200 liner metres of scaffolding has now been put up and 220 solar panels temporarily removed from the roof in readiness for the repair works, which start next week and are expected to last until May.

The old roof will be fully stripped and replaced with a four-layer felt roof system before the solar panels are re-installed. The large project also includes new roof lights, downpipes, gutters and windows, and the chimney will be repointed.

The new insulated roof and the solar panels will vastly improve the thermal dynamics of the building, cutting down on heating bills and stopping the regular water leaks.

I have visited Hollyfield Primary School many times as the local Councillor. It is a fantastic school with dedicated staff and governors and exceptional schoolchildren. 

I am so pleased that the funding for roof repairs was secured as it will make a real difference in improving the school environment for both staff and children.

 

Seeking answers for worried residents after shocking gun crime

 

Above: Sutton residents have been left dismayed after a shocking gun crime in the Royal Town.

 

This week I have been contacted by numerous Suttonians about a shocking gun crime in the town. I would like to reassure residents that I have been in touch with the police to stress the deep local concern being felt. 

Numerous people have contacted me about the incident on Tuesday morning, in which three men broke into a family home in West View Road and stole their BMW at gunpoint, in what must have been a frightening experience. 

Local people are understandably unnerved by this appalling and intolerable incident, and I have contacted local police leaders to express my deep concern, and demanding an urgent update on the steps being taken to investigate. I understand that the crime may have been caught on CCTV, which will hopefully aid officers.

With question marks over the future of Sutton Police Station, it is understandable that people want to know what’s happening after a disturbing incident of this nature. I stand by local residents calling for increased police presence in the Royal Town and urge the Labour Police and Crime Commissioner to consider the impact of closing the Police Station on local crime rates and security.

 

 

Cherished launches Flourish project in local schools

 

Above: The brilliant team at much-loved Sutton charity Cherished are launching another ambitious project to help local youngsters.

The wonderful folks at Cherished are appealing to local businesspeople, entrepreneurs and financiers to help with their latest project, Flourish, and make a difference to hundreds of young girls in Sutton. 

 

Cherished have been empowering young people in Sutton for years with their highly personalised mentorship schemes and courses.

Now, the much-loved charity is launching Flourish, which aims to support young girls with their financial literacy and business skills. It is being piloted at the Royal Sutton School, after which Cherished hope to launch it in schools across Sutton Coldfield.

Girls will undertake an eight-week programme, in which they will be helped through the process of creating a product or business idea, with engaging activities to spark their creativity and develop their business skills.

The final session will be a Dragon’s Den style panel, in which the girls will present their ideas to a panel of businesspeople. 

Cherished are seeking local business owners, professionals and entrepreneurs to apply to be on the panel and help bring their incredible Flourish programme to a wonderful close.

If you are interested in applying, please contact hello@cherisheduk.org

See the More Information section at the end of this message for details.

 

 

Productive meeting with Town Council chief 

 

Above: With Olive O’Sullivan, Chief Executive of the Town Council.

This week I enjoyed a very positive New Year’s catch-up with the Chief Executive of our Royal Sutton Coldfield Town Council, Olive O’Sullivan.

We reviewed the progress we are making on the Towns Fund (which has seen £20 million allocated to Sutton), after Government officials visited this week for discussions with Olive.

Crucially, the £20 million is to be administered here in Sutton Coldfield, rather than going through Birmingham.

Many thanks to Olive and her colleagues for all their hard work on this most important endeavour for our Town’s future.

 

 

A warm welcome in a chilly Wylde Green

 

Above: Plenty braved the cold for a meeting in Wylde Green this week.

Last night I had the great pleasure of meeting a number of my constituents, who braved the freezing temperatures and came to the Wylde Green Ward meeting.

The meeting was chaired by local Councillor Alex Yip and attended by Wylde Green Town Councillors Amy Millichope and Leeford Allen.

Also in attendance were the former Sutton Mayor Terry Wood and Councillor David Pears, who is leading the Royal Town’s efforts to stop Labour Birmingham’s iniquitous plans to charge local people for parking in Sutton Park.

Well respected local campaigners Councillor John Cooper and Anja Pawson were also there.

Councillor Yip Writes: 

“My thanks to Andrew Mitchell MP for comprehensively updating the many residents who braved the sub-zero conditions on Thursday evening. 

“Andrew spoke on main key issues affecting Sutton residents including his work on Sutton Cottage Hospital, the Town Hall, the Gracechurch Centre, Sutton Park’s future with Cllr David Pears, our Police Station and the Royal Cinema to name just a few. 

“We then heard points from a Birmingham-wide, national, and international theme showcasing the breadth of Andrew’s experience and service to residents, with residents showing their appreciation for his time by asking an array of demanding and questions! 

“I was particularly pleased to mention Andrew’s work for mandatory helmets for children in snow sports, International Development, the Assisted Dying legislation and his adjournment speech on the Closure of our Police Station which residents received a copy of at a previous meeting. 

“It is always valuable to pick the brains of our hardworking MP, and I am grateful for the time he spent with us.”

 

 

New Year, new attractions at Highbury

 

Above: There’s lots to see at Highbury Theatre Centre.

Highbury Theatre Centre has released details about upcoming shows for early 2025 – and it looks to be an excellent start to the year!

The Theatre, based on Sheffield Road, has excellent shows and movies slated for January and February.

‘Home, I’m Darling’ is running from 21 January to 1 February, with ‘Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice’ showing in the middle of the run on 26 January.

After that, the Theatre is welcoming the Neil Coley Big Band on Monday 3 February, and showing classic movie ‘The Princess Bride’ on Sunday 16 February.

For more information and tickets, please click this link: https://highburytheatre.co.uk

 

Strike sees bins go uncollected

Above: Bin strikes have hit collections across Sutton.

This week is the first full week of strike action by members of Unite the Union, and of course, the city has seen a reduction in service delivery. 

With bankrupt Birmingham set to move bin collections across the city to fortnightly, this strike has simply added to the misery already being caused by the mismanagement of the Second City’s finances. 

Monday 6th January, the first full strike day, saw around 35% of resources deployed, which is equivalent to 70 rounds compared to the standard practice of 198.

Wylde Green Councillor Alex Yip has shared the following useful messages:

1.    Excessive waste (or side waste) will be collected and ‘tags’ will not be used during strike action. 

2.    Please make sure any excessive waste is placed in black bags. 

3.    Leave out any missed collections presented on subsequent days and they will be taken away ‘as soon as possible’

4.    Bin lids also need to be closed, as if not there is an increased risk of causing damage to bins and vehicles, as well as an increase in waste spillage. 

5.    Please report missed collections via this link: Report a missed bin or sack collection | Birmingham City Council.

The next bin strike dates are: January 14th, 22nd, 30th. I have also been asked to clarify Council’s practice on taking away Recycling and Residual together. On behalf of Council thank you for your patience.

In the Commons

Putting migration on the agenda

 

 

At Westminster this week I attended a meeting with the two leaders of Conservative Friends of International Development, to discuss ways of stopping migration and encouraging fragile states to discourage emigration and stay home.

Just as in 2010 the Conservatives did so much to reinvigorate development policy, so the next Conservative government must find new policies to help stem migration, protect us from pandemics and focus on tackling conflict and building mutual prosperity - all of which are clearly in Britain’s and Sutton Coldfield’s interest.

 

Backing global health programmes

 

 

I was most grateful to have been asked to deliver a keynote speech alongside Tanzania's Health Minister, Hon Jenista Mhagama and Beccy Cooper MP at the Global Health Partnerships event (which I will always know as THET!). 

I explained to fellow MPs, NHS Executives and Partners, civil servants as well as representatives from the diaspora why I have always backed Global Health Partnerships during my time in government and will continue to do so now. 

The UK has a crucial role to play on the international stage and must continue to pull its weight to boost efforts in promoting universal health coverage, enhancing the quality of care and addressing health inequalities.

Further information
 
 
 
 
 

Breast Friends, Make Up Workshops