Week 3 – Finding our feet

Week 3 – Finding our feet

It’s now been three weeks since the election, and like most of the new MPs I and beginning to find my way around the maze of corridors, staircases and impressive hallways.

Just getting set up with local offices, finding staff to help and where to stay when in London, and managing my diary to make sure that I am in the right place when critical things are happening has been a challenge.  Along with the 350 other new MPs simply finding a place to sit down and catch up on urgent messages has been tricky at times.  Daily business in the chamber is announced at short notice, as has been the calling of colleagues to give their maiden speeches.  Like in all new roles, finding the rhythm of the organisation comes in its own good time.

I’d like to thank all those people who have contacted me for their patience, I will get to your emails and letters as soon as I can, it will get quicker after I have a staffed office to help.

This week has been debates on the Kings speech and starting to get new announcements from the Government on their plans.  I am heartily relieved that Teignbridge has already submitted the new Local Plan to be ahead of any changes that will be introduced.  The decision was taken to stick with the mandated numbers of houses required, despite verbal assurances from the then Conservative Government minister about their relaxation.  Those numbers are now going to be mandated again, so Teignbridge is in a good position to control speculative development.

Devolution for Devon has raised its head again, and I have tabled questions about making sure that our District Councils keep control on aspects including housing.   Although details are still emerging, it looks like we will have to negotiate what a Devon Devolution will look like largely from scratch. 

I was delighted to join Zero Hour to hand in a petition to number 10 supporting the Climate and Nature bill.  It was great to see the right Hon. Jennie (Steve Darling MP’s guidedog) meeting Larry the number 10 cat.  Jennie is now on Tic Tok as well as Twitter /X and appearing in national media.

Back in the constituency I have been working with the NHS after they concluded that they couldn’t afford the proposed Teignmouth Health and Wellbeing centre.  This was a huge disappointment, and the meeting of the Integrated Care Board has confirmed the project will stop.  I am in discussion with the impacted GP practice and others to make sure that we bring everyone together to help find a new solution.

We have had traffic chaos in Newton Abbot Town as a major road has been closed to upgrade a Gas pipeline.   After working with Devon County Council and Wales and West Utilities we managed to get Traffic Marshals in place to ease some of the issues.  I’m not sure that it is fully solved, but hopefully made some improvement.  I know that local County Councillors have been pointing out the issue for some time, and I will be following up next week for the future stages of roadworks.

This coming week I will be standing down as Leader at Teignbridge and seeing the appointment of my successor.  After 15 months as leader, the council has embarked on a series of reforms, and updating the way the council works, including a new council strategy that is up for debate at the full council meeting. 

I am particularly pleased that Teignbridge has begun building new Council Homes for the first time in 30 years.  The team is in discission on the project to build five new homes in every village that wants and needs them.

I wish the new Teignbridge leader every success and look forward to seeing the council continue to deliver great things for our residents.