David Smith

Following the role that I have in the West Midlands I will shortly by visiting Poland to head a delegation representing a wide range of companies looking to develop business partnerships with local companies.

Wudz is the 2nd. largest City in Poland and heads the Wudz Region. We have been developing a wide range of links for several years many in the area of education, skills, local government, environment, food and drink, medical technologies, building, tourism and leisure.

The visit is in conjunction with the West Midlands Confederation of Chambers of Commerce who have led on the development from the beginning.

While in Wudz I will be having discussions with the Marshall of the Wudz Region on trade and cultural development between our two areas.

In my acceptance speech following re-election as Chairman of the West Midlands Regional Assembly, I called for the abandonment of the transfer of responsibility for regional housing, planning and transport to Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) on the basis that it is not deliverable in the life of this Parliament:

"Proposals to transfer powers from largely local government control to agencies is expected to be in the Queen's Speech on 11 December and will fight for legislative time in the 2009 parliamentary session.  Responsibility remains with Regional Assemblies until March 2010, at which point it could revert to local government control.  The Parliamentary timetable will have to overcome the highly critical proposals for transfer of power from largely local government and will have a difficult time in its passages  through both the Commons and the Lords and would be extremely unlikely to be implemented before the end of this Parliament. 

"These powers are the only part of the Sub National Review that require primary legislation, and if they were dropped, the Regional Assembly, together with Regional Development Agencies and other partners, could begin the task now to fight off some of the potential ravages of the growing recession."

Section 106 monies are designed not just to improve a new development, but are also intended to improve nearby facilities and amenities, to ensure the local area is both enhanced by, and can cope with the additional community demands any new development brings.

Over 50% of the £1.4 million section 106 monies raised through Darwin Park will be used within or very close to the development itself.

Projects are set to include a new underpass, creating a community hall, a new scout hut on Christchuch Lane, and maintaining the open space across the site. In 2007 a team at the Council consulted with local agenices, action groups and people living in the new development through a postal survey, on what else the section 106 monies should be spent on.

Projects that will be supported include the enhancement of Beacon Park, investment in youth facilities, and improvements to the area just outside of the Garrick which will make it more pedestrian friendly and accessible to all.

On a personal front I was over the moon to go together with our family to see my wife, Gay receive a first class hon. degree in Philosophy at Staffordshire University.

It was a great day for us all despite the rain to see one of us older ones hitting the high spots.

Birmingham planners as part of their options appraisal are considering an approach to Lichfield DC. to develop a housing site in the Green Belt at Little Aston.

May I say that we are committed to the protection of the Green Belt around the City as a protection against Urban sprawl and will defend our boundaries against any development proposals by Birmingham to expand beyond the City limits.