Busy summer diary for MP Bob Russell
September 7, 2010 10:40 AM
Although Parliament is currently on a long Recess over the summer, for Colchester MP Bob Russell it is proving to be a very busy time.
But Colchester's MP says he loves the job so much, and with increasing numbers of people seeking his help or inviting him to make visits or attend events, that he does not mind that he only finds time for two weeks holiday a year. "Fortunately my wife Audrey is very supportive, or perhaps she prefers me not getting under her feet if I was to take my full holiday entitlement!"
Since the House of Commons rose for the Summer Recess on 27th July Mr Russell has held five Advice Bureaux for residents, with 20-minute pre-booked appointments. The one on Tuesday this week lasted for seven hours. In addition he has dealt with scores of individual letters on behalf of constituents, along with hundreds of e-mails.
"There is a lot of unhappiness experienced by so many people, and the situation is sadly getting worse," said Mr Russell. "Issues raised with me by residents cover just about every subject you can think of, ranging from housing to anti-social behaviour and from immigration cases to child benefit matters - plus 101 other subjects. My casework is now double what it was when I was first elected."
In addition to dealing with a ever-rising increase in casework on behalf of residents, Mr Russell has also had a full diary of events and visits associated with his work as a Member of Parliament. The roll call is extensive, with the following giving a flavour:
Undertaking the official opening of a pharmacy, attending the 25th anniversary commemoration for St Helena Hospice; visits to three local day nurseries; judging a competition at a summer school for new Year 7 pupils going to Thomas Lord Audley, Alderman Blaxill and Stanway Schools; attending a site meeting with a parent and representatives of a local housing association to take forward proposals for a children's play area; visiting the Essex hospitals heart centre at Basildon; meeting Mile End residents over the future of the local playing fields and a separate meeting with residents over a specific development site; representatives from three different sports clubs over separate accommodation issues; Colchester Food Bank; visit to charitable organisation setting up a new social networking site; visit to a quarry site; attending Tai Chi performance in the Castle Park; visit to the Papworth Trust seedbed centre in Colchester; and visit to St Helena School.
Mr Russell has also held meetings with the Divisional Commander of Colchester Police, Chief Executive of the North Essex (Mental Health) Partnership, a local charity helping people with disabilities, representative of the Homes and Communities Agency, Haven Gateway, Colchester Crime Reduction Partnership, Colchester Institute, St. Helena School, Colchester Children's Care Centre, Armed Forces Pensions Group, and with a Cabinet Member of Essex County Council at County Hall, Terrence Higgins Trust, a care home company, Colchester Volunteer Centre and Age Concern, a charity for deaf people, and a care association.
Three hours were set aside for a "case conference", organised by Mr Russell's office, which involved 11 people from six different agencies to discuss - and resolve - a complicated case involving an individual with difficult health and housing issues. He said: "Months of tooing and froing were resolved in a single afternoon! We cut through all the red tape and got the result which will transform this person's life. It was a most satisfying and rewarding moment when all the pieces of the jigsaw fell into place. It was three hours well spent."
Mr Russell has also found time in his busy diary to meet and say farewell to a group of Girl Guides from the Island of St Helena who had been in the UK to attend the World Centenary Celebrations of the Guide Movement. He raised £2,000 to help pay towards the journey of a life-time for the Guides from the remote island in the South Atlantic which shares its name with Colchester's Patron Saint.
Parliament returns for two weeks in September, and then there will be a further break for the three Party Conferences. As the above shows, Mr Russell has a busy diary even when the House of Commons is officially on a summer break!
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats