This coming week sees a number of interesting meetings on the timetable.  Tomorrow Alan and I concentrate on being Parish Councillors looking at the positioning of traditional toddler swings on St Margaret's Play Area as well as looking at the issues around flooding on that ground.  The excessively wet weather last year has exacerbated problems all over the ward, but we are thankful that our flooding is relatively small scale and only affects the open spaces - no-one had to evacuate their house in Eaglescliffe as becks broke their banks!

On Tuesday Stockton Council's Local Development Framework Steering Group meets.  This group looks at proposals for planning and development in the borough and offers comment as well as political steer on the proposals.  On Tuesday we'll be looking at the preliminary results of the consultation that was undertaken last year on where new housing developments should go.  Unsurprisingly perhaps some land owners and developers have re-submitted land which was discounted after the first consultation.  Some have even submitted new pieces of green space.  Sadly, no-one seems to want to submit brownfield sites.  Should we be surprised?  Sadly, no.

Later in the week I'm heading to London to meet with a couple of government ministers to discuss some issues of importance to us in the region.  More on that after the event.

Meanwhile, don't forget - Christmas cards can be recycled in the cardboard & plastic collection if you've no better use for them.  Real Christmas trees will be collected on the same day as waste this week, and will be shredded and composted for use on the flower beds in our parks and public spaces.