Russell Field

Opposition to Care Home Closures

russellfield — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 11:38:58 +0000

Last week I helped to arrange for the Conservative Cabinet’s proposals for closing the last of Coventry Council’s care homes to be closed and the residents in them moved out into new homes.

Originally, I supported the idea of New Homes for Old, and even though it meant land I would have wanted used for a Health Centre by Stoke Heath School was lost, I accepted the location of the new care homes on Heath Crescent.

However, I am concerned for some of the residents who are to be moved from their existing homes. Some have severe dementia and need routine and consistency. I have even been told of cases where the stresses of moving can, in some cases, cause these vulnerable people to die.

I do not know what all the risks are, but if there are such big risks then I think the Council should do everything it can to mitigate them.

The Cabinet did not listen when these issues were raised at their meeting and pressed on with the idea. That is why I now want the Council’s Scrutiny Co-ordination committee to look at the issue. It has the power to ask the Cabinet to think again.

It may not do so, if the Conservative members on the committee side with their party leadership. I am not even clear on Labour’s position on this case, but I do know I do not feel enough has been done to try to protect our most vulnerable citizens and I am determined to try to get the Council to think again.

The crutial meeting is this Wednesday, 13th August, at 1pm.

End the Police Divide of Upper Stoke

upperstokefocus — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 19:51:18 +0000

Upper Stoke is currently served by two different Police stations and the dividing line between them runs down the middle of Shakespeare Street and part of North Street, cutting the community in two.
The Lib Dem FOCUS Team and local residents believe this is hurting the fight against crime and anti-social behaviour by duplicating Police efforts and causing confusion.
Cllr Russell Field has launched a petition calling for the boundaries to be changed so that the whole community is served by the same station. If you agree, please get in touch to sign our petition. You can call Russell on 7661 2689 or email russell.field@covlibdems.org.uk

42 Day Detention

upperstokefocus — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 17:49:11 +0000

Cllr Russell Field has expressed his disappointment that Parliament has agreed to extend pre-charge detention for terror suspects to 42 days, with the votes of the Democratic Unionist party.

Russell said, “The government has not yet made the case for 28 day detention, why is this needed? They are playing games with civil liberties and it is not acceptable. It is crazy that in the UK people can be detained for 6 weeks without charge when France, Spain, Germany, Russia and the United States do not see the need for such laws in their countries.”

Russell has welcomed David Davies’s decision to resign and fight a by-election and that Nick Clegg has pledged not to oppose him on this occasion. He said, “It will help keep this issue in public view and make sure the public are fully aware of what is at stake here. If it is acceptable to hold terrorists for 42 days, why not allow it for all major crimes? Passing extremist laws only encourages extremism around the world.”

Morris Common Petition

russellfield — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 20:17:56 +0000

Over 200 people have signed Russell Field’s petition calling for the Morris Common (officially Stoke Heath Common) to be improved and developed. Russell said, “I would like to thank everyone who has signed the petition. We will need a lot more if the Council are going to listen. I would really like to get over 500, maybe even 1000 signatures, before I present it.”

If you would like to sign the petition, or could help collect signatures in your area, please contact Russell on 7661 2689.
Email: russell.field@covlibdems.org.uk.

The Council is to receive around £100,000 ’section 106′ money from the Liberty Park development, which is most likely to be spent on children’s play facilities on the Common. However, Russell would like the Council to take this opportunity to draw up a plan to develop the whole of the Common, including dealing with the drainage and other surface problems, provide proper changing rooms and sports facilities, as well as making the area into a proper park for residents to use. Russell said, “It will be a big undertaking but I think that Stoke Heath needs it and the Common has gone to waste for far too long.”

My Duties as Councillor

russellfield — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 22:04:48 +0000

At present, my duties on Coventry City Council include:

Representing the Upper Stoke ward and voting on issues at full Council meetings.

Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group. (It’s just me at the moment though!)

Non-voting representative at the Cabinet.

Vice-Chair of the Children, Learning and Young People’s Scrutiny Board. (Scrutiny Board 2). This is the Committee I chaired for two years during my previous term on the Council.

Member of the Audit Sub-Committee.

Member of two Advisory Panels: Supporting Members (to consider how much help the Council gives to individual Councillors) and Electoral Arrangements (to look at how elections are conducted in Coventry).

I have also agreed to attend the Children, Learning and Young People’s Consultative Forum when I can.

I will be avoiding taking on anything else at the Council, as I think that is enough to keep me busy and I have lots of local issues in the Ward to work on as well as my keeping down a full time job.

I am also currently Chair of Coventry Liberal Democrats, which involves me in a certain amount of political work too.

Welcome to My Website!

russellfield — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:54:18 +0000

Hello and thank you for visiting my new website.

I intend to use this site to keep local people aware of my activities as Liberal Democrat Councillor for Upper Stoke. I will include my activities on the Council, larger local issues in my area and any other Coventry or national issues I am concerned about.

You will be hearing much more from me in the future.

Regards,

Cllr Russell Field