Rock on the Hill party

… was thrown at the Kings House Coffee Shop on Monday night by Eileen Martin and her team from the Knaphill Residents Association for all those who were involved with the Rock on the Hill series of three music events for young people in Knaphill over the Summer. These were mainly young people, from the Winston Churchill School, the Woking Youth Arts Centre, and the Knaphill Challenger Scouts.

The High Sheriff of Surrey (did you know there was a Sheriff of Surrey?) gave out awards and certificates, and there was much-appreciated pizza and icecream for all.

I think the the experience gained by those taking part made the series of events well worthwhile, though it would have been even more valuable if more under-eighteens had been there to enjoy these well run gigs; but such things take time to build up, and Eileen has kept the enthusiasm and the teams going so that there’s going to be another ’Rock on the Hill’ event on the 2nd of December at the Winston Churchill School. More info at http://www.myspace.com/rockonthehill, unless you’re trying to view it on a computer using the SCC server - in which case you’ll find ‘Access Denied’ and that your attempt to access the site has been logged.

(Gosh, that makes me feel really baaaad … reminds me of my days in the Young Liberals when we were radical …)

I should add, you can’t get in to Rock on the Hill unless you’re under 18 or helping. For me the former is out, so it will have to be the latter. 

JAR - the Secretary of State states her terms

I mentioned in an earlier posting that Surrey has now been issued with its ‘Improvement Notice’ following the appalling Joint Area Review of Childrens Services. I couldn’t find it on the SCC website, so contacted a senior officer. He sent me the link a couple of days lates, and at that point it wasn’t so hard to find. Whether because the site had been adjusted or I hadn’t been looking properly to start with is perhaps not very useful to ask.

If you want to look at it, you can find it here.  I hope.

It’s quite clear and stark, ending with a reminder of the Government’s statutory powers to intervene directly.

While on the subject of the JAR follow-up, I was recently sent two printed copies of the Young Persons Jar.Very nice quality paper, colour printing, large font size, full-page colour photographs including nice photos of the Executive Member and of Andy Roberts, described simply as the ‘Chairman of the Children and Young People’s Commissioning Partnership for Surrey’, though probably better known within Surrey County Council as Surrey’s Strategic Director for Children, Schools and Families.

I feel a Question coming on for the next full Council meeting about costs (even though we did have to publish it, did it need to be like this?) and the claim that is was written ‘by young people, for young people’.

Last Friday was suprisingly performance oriented - an unexpected call at 10.30 to stand in, instantly, leading Knaphill library’s Mother and Toddler rhyme time. It was fun. More fun than when there’s time to prepare and get nervous. Heads and shoulder, knees and toes … the wheels on the bus … and one of my favourites, a modern variant on Hickory Dickery which goes ‘Rocketty Tocketty’, and the mouse goes ‘fun!’ , then ‘coo!’ then ‘whee!’ to rhyme with one, two and three. 

In the evening, Surrey County Harp Ensemble.We had the school hall at Westfield instead of the usual over-crowded music room where the harps are at serious risk from the sharp edges of the music stands.  New repertoire - some O’Carolan, and some film music, to go with our utterly unique version of the theme from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Earlier that week, the Local Committee ‘Awayday’ - neither away, being held in Quadrant Court, Woking; nor a day. More a few hours in the evening, and since it was held in private I can’t write it up. But it involved a number of Surrey and Woking Officers as well as the Woking and Surrey members of the Local Committee, and a lot of exchanging of ideas and information. 

Warbury Lane VAS: Surrey and EDF again

There have been the usual e-mail and telephone inquiries and comments to follow up. Including pushing a residents patient but determined complaints about the new but not-working VAS sign at Warbury Lane up to Director level, having failed at Local Highways Manager and Head of Service levels.

I am told it is now working, though I have yet to see it myself.

EDF, you may not be surpised to know, was again involved.

EDF and OFGEM have both agreed to make an appearance at the Transportation Committee on the 3rd of December. The meeting will be at County Hall, and should be open to the public. Although I’m not a member of the Committee, I think I’m going to have to be there to hear what’s said - minutes never catch the authentic flavour.