Good Morning Wednesfield. Its the start of a new year. Mary and I want to wish you well in the coming year of 2024. We offer you our warmth and good wishes and we hope that health wealth and happiness visit you over the next 12 months.
I know many of you, like our own family will have suffered family bereavement during 2023. I do so hope that 2024 will dissipate that pain and as time moves on, the sadness and personal disruption you are feeling now, over time will lessen, leaving just the great memories and warmth of feeling to remember and cherish.
A New Year always offers hope. This one is just the same. The year ahead will bring many challenges and many opportunities for individuals, and our communities.
We are facing change as the World itself changes. The Wars in the Ukraine and the huge disruption and loss of life in Gaza and Israel points to the ever increasing dangers that continues to unfold.
Today New Years Day, as if to underline the uncertainties that we all face in our lives. We are hearing about the huge 7.6 magnitude earthquake that has struck Japan, and the warnings of a Tsunami, in Japan, Russia and South Korea.
Plus, our Government have today warned that they may be about to strike South Yemen .Nothing stands still, nothing stays the same.
There is for your Councillors huge issues to face up to this year, as there is every year. There is also likely to be a General Election here in the UK.
That will bring change, and that will be a welcome event for many in our Community and further a field. We already have our Labour Party General Election candidate for Wednesfield and Willenhall in the Wolverhampton North East constituency. Sureena Brackenridge already selected and in the election campaign out and about meeting residents.
Also in this year we will be facing a Municipal Election on the first Thursday in May. I can inform you this morning that the Wednesfield North Labour Party have already chosen our Candidate for this local election. The Labour Party will be announcing the City election candidates for this important City Council elections in due course.
Local Government really matters and the big decisions facing our City Council will be all around finance, the setting of Council tax, and the maintenance of all our front line services. Our current Government have been poor with regards to the resources it has supported our City and Local Government as a whole with over the last thirteen years.
The Citizens Advice has reported record numbers of people seeking help across the Country, from homeless services, foodbanks and energy bill support in 2023. Some pretty uncomfortable reading for Local Government again as a whole is the information that 600 people leave prison every month in the UK, and fall straight into hopelessness. Prisoners released without homeless help, just puts them back onto the crime trail and a fast route back to prison.
These are all major challenges. Welfare, Public services, a poor economy, cost of living and low growth will all be on the agenda in Councils across the Country. Happy New Year Wednesfield, and all our friends and relatives -You enhance our lives and you enrich our soul. Both Mary and I will try hard to continue to serve during 2024.
3a Broad Lane North Wolverhampton WV12 5UH.
Election Agent Mr PTA Bateman 3a Broad Lane North Wolverhampton WV125UH
Phil Bateman Online
