Annual Report 2008-09

Introduction

Welcome to my Annual Report to constituents for 2009. This is the 11th report I have produced and as you can see from the YouTube links below quite a lot has changed over that time.

The printed version is available on this site as a PDF. I have produced 35,000 of these to be delivered by Royal Mail to your doorstep over the next few months. This uses about 75% of the annual Communication Allowance I am given by Parliament. Details of this and other expenditure are available via the links on this report.

The idea of the report is to give you a brief taste of the hundreds of things I am doing during the year as your Member of Parliament. The rules about Communication Allowance expenditure only allow me to talk about what I am doing locally and not to make any party political points. So I am not allowed to say that I am campaigning against the Tories at County Hall against Surestart cuts for example. I have to find a way to express this more generally. Whilst I understand the need for these rules it does make it all a bit of a nonsense locally for campaigners who know who to blame!

If there is something missing from this report email me and let me know what I should include next year. I have tried to covert all the suggestions I have received over the years.

I hope you find it useful and informative.

Yours

Andy Reed MP

Office Statistics & Pay and Allowances

In order to carry out my duties as your Member of Parliament I have maintained my promise to you to set up a full time office in the Loughborough constituency.

Full details of my current staff and their duties are listed on my website.

I have 3 office spaces as I need to work in Westminster on parliamentary issues and in the constituency when the Commons is in recess. I have my main office at Unity House on Fennel Street, Loughborough where my constituency based staff work. I also work from home over weekends on the desk bound activities.!

As a team we deal with:-

3-400 emails a day

100 letters a day

40-50 phone calls a day

100 briefings and reports from all sorts of campiagns and organisations as well as government initiatives.

Since the 2005 general election alone I have been contacted by just under 7000 constituents to deal with individual cases and casework. Some will be complicated cases requiring months of ongoing work to seek a solution. Others may well be people lobbying me about a particular Bill going through parliament. It now means since 1997 I have dealt with just over 22,000 constituents at some stage in my capacity as MP. This does not include people I have just met and not been in correspondence with over that time.

I also produce a full Blog on all Expenses stories and have produced my expenditure details on line for a number of years. These Can be found here on my site too.

Casework & Testimonials

Since 2005 alone I have dealt with nearly 7000 cases from individual constituents. Each month I am humbled to receive thank you cards and letters from constituents for the successes we often have on their behalf. I have kept all of these as a reminder of how gracious people can be.

Here are just a few examples:

Economy & Business

Not many people predicted the global economic recession and the speed at which it took grip this time last year. Globalisation and our dependence on finance means we are all affected by what happens in the American Sub-Prime market and its consequences.

Whilst I take a keen interest in economic matters at Westminster and sit on the Treasury Backbench Committee I am also keenly aware of the impact on the local economy.

I joined the Labour Party in the 1980s recessions because I saw what the Tories were doing to us locally. I suffered the housing crash of the 90s under the Tories and 15% interest rates. I want to make sure that our local economy does not get neglected and left to suffer in the same way as it did then. I guess that is the big difference between Labour and Tory. They let recessions take their course without considering the social as well as economic impact.

Over the last year I have met with businesses of all shapes and sizes to hear what it is like on the ground for them. From one person shops to 3M and Astra Zeneca I maintain a dialogue.

My background is in economic development and so I use these skills to encourage those who can make a difference locally to act. So I have lobbied the Borough Council to be more proactive on its retail strategy and have been critical of them for removing the Town Centre Manager post at a time when Leicester & Derby have improved their retail offer.

I have worked on projects to bring jobs to the town and secure others. For example over 600 jobs will be at the new Loughbourough Sports Park near the University thanks to money from EMDA, Sport England the local councils and the University.

Local and national governments can't run businesses but locally we can try and generate the right partnerships to create economic regeneration. So projects like improving our infrastructure and transport links are vital. I also believe it's vital our skills base matches employers needs - so working with the schools and Loughborough College for example on apprenticeships are the way we invest in our future. The government have recognised the need for more apprenticeships and are investing heavily in them.

To make the economy real I have asked Government Ministers to visit my constituency. I have had Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks to see the work of the Energy Cluster developing around Loughborough University. Investing in future technologies is the real way to secure long term economic prosperity for Loughborough. I have also had Skills Minister Lord Young visiting Preci Spark.

Education

I have always felt that Education is not only the most important element of a person's development but in Loughborough it is a key economic driver too.

We have 35 state schools, a College, the RNIB College and a University employing 2500 people and catering for 14,000 students.

In my first term as an MP I made it my priority to visit all 35 schools and maintain a dialogue with Heads, Governors, children and parents.

Each year I still visit and meet with a dozen schools. I have been invited to assembly, to meet parents to join classes and meet students to talk about their issues. Over the last year I have been to Hind Leys, Shepshed High school, Newcroft, St Barts, Redlands, Cobden, Shelthorpe, Humphrey Perkins, Burleigh for example.

The OnethroughSchool campaign has successfully convinced the County Council to adopt the new model of schooling. I have lobbied the government to make the £80m available to Loughborough to rebuild all our High schools. I am lobbying the County Council not to force any model which is not universally agreed by all local schools and parents. The the new schools will also have to take into account the new Diploma and approach to post 14 education.

I have worked with Loughborough College over the last year again - presenting excellence awards and seeing it continue to develop and improve. This year should see the start of further capital improvements to the site on top of the excellent new reception and building that finished last year at the Radmoor Centre.

I have also worked with the RNIB College again this year. We are lucky to have such a nationally renowned College in Loughborough.

The University continues to excel and I have visited various parts of its world beating work. From Energy to sport technology to water & sanitation training for developing countries - it all happens at the University. In fact I am sure it would be a full time job as MP just to keep on top of what is happening at Loughborough. I have also maintained my relations with the Student Union Executive and was pleased to welcome the President and Lucy to Parliament when they gave oral evidence to the Education Select Committee.

Health

The National Health Service is ironically a very local service delivered by a range of partners who are fiercely independent and not easily directed by Ministers. It does mean that I mainly find myself lobbying those who are accountable for the service delivery locally on your behalf. Over the last few years the number of complaints have dropped dramatically and the number of letters of praise and positive experiences has increased.

Over the last year I have sought to influence national policy and funding decisions and then their impact locally. Our local NHS services are delivered now by the Leicestershire PCT for localised primary and community health care. The big hospitals in Leicester are part of the Leicester University Trust. Most of our daily contact with the NHS is through those contracted to work with us - GPs, Dentists, Opticians and Pharmacists for example. All are effectively private enterprises contracted to the health service and this has always been the case. Remember many of these fought against the NHS being established in 1948.

I have taken an interest in the work the Trusts have been doing to meet our promise to have a maximum 18 week wait. Remember the days in 1997 when you could wait up to 18 MONTHS for an operation. I also encouraged the extended opening hours of GPs - despite strong and aggressive GP opposition from some. I also campaigned against the use of 0844 numbers in the NHS and we are making progress on bringing this practise to an end.

During the year the PCT consulted on improving the work of the Walk-in-Centre by integrating it with the Loughborough Hospital at Epinal Way. Clearly there was a balance to be struck by improving the facilities and integration of the highly successful walk-in-centre with the loss of a town centre location. I made the case on behalf of users to the PCT about improving transport links BEFORE any move could take place - especially for those who actually do walk to the centre and for those without a car.

Dentistry remains a concern although the PCT have taken steps to provide enough NHS places for those who want them.

Crime, Police & Justice

I continue to meet with the Police at various levels when needed. Leicestershire Police Authority for example has been underfunded on a formula basis for a number of years so last year when the percentage increase in their budget looked dramatic in cash terms it was not. So we had to convince Ministers that the increase was necessary.

Locally we have sen our increased police numbers maintained. The presence of PCSO and the neighbourhood approach undertaken by Leicestershire in the last few years is paying off. Having a local named beat officer seems to be making a big difference to local communities. I am aware that anti-social behaviour still blight too many lives and the local crime partnership is in place to bring the agencies together. When it works it is excellent. We just need to spread the best practise across the whole of the constituency.

The Environment

Protection of our local environment falls under a number of local agencies - including our local authorities and the Environment Agency. As well as fighting to maintain our existing environment I am also really aware of the need to make improvements where we can.

We live in a particularly beautiful area of the Charnwood Forest and we must ensure that we leave a lasting legacy whilst at the same time meeting the needs of a changing population. We need to maintain a sustainable level of development that maintains our economic vitality but not at the permanent expense of our local environment.

As we are rich in quarrying material this always hangs over us a threat. We also suffer from flooding in the Soar Valley - which is required - but we need to make sure this does not impact on local properties and is properly managed. Following the awful floods in 2000 in Sileby I have maintained pressure on agencies to maintain our defences and to maintain culverts etc.

Planning & Housing offer the greatest challenge and our local authorities have an unenviable task trying to find sufficient housing to meet your demands and yet maintain green spaces.

Consultation is taking place in Charnwood on this issue and proposals to build at Garendon, Dishley, Cotes etc are the most contentious issues. These will properly be decided by local councillors with the full weight of officer support in making their determinations. I can offer help and support to those wishing to make their voice heard and have encouraged people to get involved in the process before it is too late!

Transport

Transport remains one of the most important issues locally. Over the last year and during 2009 the improvements to rail service and the facilities at Loughborough station remain a priority.

We should finally see the platform lengthened, inceased car parking, station refurbishment and disbaled access lifts across the platforms.

I also take a keen interest in road plans - including the inner relief road and M1 widening - which now looks as though it will be dropped.

As a cyclist and pedestrian I have loobied on behalf of local pressure groups for local authority transport policies to reflect the fact that most journeys are taken on foot!

The government has introduced the concessionery bus schemes for pensioners and once again highlighted the importance of a local bus network. I use the bus myslelf to get to Loughborough and know how vital it is that we have a clean reliable and regular bus service acorss the constituency.

Local Voluntary Sector & Charities

I am personally a big supporter of the role of the voluntary sector in our local communities. I support a number personally as well as through my role as an MP.

In Parliament I sat on the Morgan Inquiry looking into encouraging youth volunteering and work closely with national volunteer bodies. I chair the national body which represents the 4million sports volunteers.

Locally I have continued to support the 3M/ Loughborough Echo Community awards as well as sitting on the Loughborough Building Society Community Awards Panel. I work closely with Rainbows at different stage throughout the year both locally and nationally. I sit on the Trustees of STEPS based in Shepshed.

Throughout the year I make available tours to Parliament as raffle prizes to many local charities for example.

BUSM Pension Battle

Last saw victory in the long running battle over the BUSM pensions. A government compensation scheme was established to ensure that thousands of locals from the BUSM company who stood to lose all their pension entitlements will now get almost their full pensions. I had been involved with a number of constituents and Paul Gill the local organiser. I had taken a delegation to see Ministers and argue the case for the scheme locally and nationally. There is a YouTube from East Midlands Today of my visit to see James Purnell MP the Pension Minister.

2012 & Sport in Loughborough

The Olympics coming to London in 2012 gives Loughborough a unique opportunity to gain significantly.

As a world class sporting facility Loughborough University will host one of the leading nations as a training camp (hopefully I will be able to say more soon) and I have been involved in the detail of the bids and work with the BOA on this. Bringing the right team to Loughborough will be a significant boost as well as a financial long term gain.

I sit on the Leicestershire Partnership for 2012 and have been nominated as Champion for the County. To make the case for Leicestershire at LOCOG and government and to encourage all sectors to make the most of the games locally - business, culture and tourism for example. Leicestershire is already winning business at the Olympic Park.

As we get nearer to 2012 I will encourage even more people to get involved and perhaps volunteering.

Local Issues & Campaigns

Throughout the year 'Campaigns' spring up all around the constituency where I try to help and lend my support.

Whilst I can't get involved directly in planning applications - these are rightly decided by elected local councillors with all of the issues laid before them - I can offer advice on how the system works and what is best to do.

Other local campaigns have a national focus. So locally I helped take up the campaign led by the Post Offices on the Post Office Card Account - and along with other Labour backbenchers convinced Ministers to give the contract to the Post Office.

Details of the campaigns I have helped are available on the constituency profile pages and/ or the Local issues pages on this site. These will include fighting closures by the County Council of SureStart facilities, fighting against proposed closure of Shepshed Fire Station for example. Many campaign are ongoing and below the radar. So ongoing work with SARG and the residents of Palma Park for example are ongoing pieces of continued work.

Conclusion

These are just a quick snapshot of just SOME of the things I am doing in each area listed above. On top of this I am working in Parliament on major national issues of importance and international issues raised by constituents as well as those where I have an interest. The various links on this website give a further taste of what I am doing - from news releases and Blags to articles about a typical 14 hour day in parliament.

Thank you for taking the time to browse this report. If there is anything you would like to see included please email me via this site.

With Very Best wishes,

Andy Reed MP