Weekly Update – A Full House and a Full Diary
Last week was both unexpectedly busy and thoroughly enjoyable. Our son, his parter, their 1-year-old, and two cats moved in with me for a week while their windows were being replaced. With builders' dust flying in their home, they needed a haven—and I was more than happy to provide one! It was such a joy to spend quality time with them, even if the house was a bit chaotic.
Despite the extra house guests, it was still a full week of council and party work:
🎉 Saturday night: A joyful celebration
We had the pleasure of celebrating fellow Hillside councillor Moses Iyengunmwena’s birthday. It was a brilliant evening – full of energy, laughter, and great company. A nice reminder of how important community is in politics and life.
🏏💙Sunday: Invited to the HSS charity cricket match on Sunday, a very enjoyable event raising funds for a local SEND charity.
💬 Monday: Community Safety briefing
I attended the shadow portfolio briefing on Community Safety and the Environment. I raised concerns about the botched lease of Cantley Park to the Berkshire FA. Officers acknowledged the poor communication and offered an apology. I’ve followed this up all week with senior officers, including the CEO and CFO, and have now seen the business case and the protection for other users. The key lesson here? Unnecessary secrecy and misleading press statements only make things worse.
🎓 Tuesday: A-level politics interview
A local sixth-former interviewed me for his politics project. He asked some excellent, thoughtful questions, particularly on asylum and immigration. It’s always encouraging to see young people so engaged in current affairs and political ideas.
📚 Wednesday & Saturday: Berkshire Conservative Conference
I spent time preparing for and speaking at three panel sessions at the Berkshire Area Conservative Conference. These conferences are invaluable – not just for networking but for challenging our own ideas and hearing the full spectrum of Conservative thinking. A lot of energy, a lot of discussion, and a lot of policy!
🏛️ Thursday: Shadow Housing & Local Government
An all-day meeting in London with the Shadow Housing and Local Government team. We heard from colleagues around the country and shared feedback on local issues. I made sure to highlight the challenges we face locally and contribute to national policy discussions. Just made it back in time for the evening Conservative Group meeting.
🤝 Friday: Cross-party working in Earley
Took part in a cross-party working group at Earley Town Council, responding to the Borough Council’s budget consultation. Surprisingly, the two Liberal Democrat councillors, a Labour councillor, and I were all on the same page with our feedback—especially around efficiency and spending priorities. A moment of unity!
Local Casework and Issues
Alongside the meetings, I’ve been busy tackling a range of local problems raised by residents:
✅ Chased up several roads where the road sweeper had clearly missed the gutters for months – some now properly cleaned for the first time in over a year
✅ Followed up on overgrown bushes and weeds, especially in local play areas in Hawkedon
✅ Responded to reports of fly-tipping in Shinfield – pleased to say it's now cleared
✅ Reported a deep hole in the grass beside Copperdale flats – this has been passed to the managing agents
✅ Continued efforts on a long-running flooding issue in Hillside – now escalated to a formal complaint after two years of inaction
✅ Raised concerns about an HMO in Maiden Erlegh and potential issues with its residents
✅ Helped a local resident concerned about a neighbouring property that’s been left derelict
✅ Responded to multiple enquiries about Labour’s VAT on school fees policy and the significant negative impact on a local Christian school
✅ Questions on how local council grants are being allocated – residents want to know it’s fair and transparent
Looking Ahead
I’ve also had two briefings on the new local government settlement from the Labour Government – and unfortunately, the early signs are not encouraging. We’ll know more next week, but councils are already under pressure and we need fair funding.
After all that, I’ve enjoyed a bit of peace this Sunday—catching up on laundry, reading a book about political advertising, and responding to residents' emails. Back at it tomorrow, fully recharged and ready for another week of representing Hillside and our community.
