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Wednesday, February 28, 2007
WHAT UTTERLY FANTASTIC PEOPLE!!!
Last night I had the fantastic honour as Chair of the Worcs CC Corporate Parenting Board, along with Richard Hubbard, Director of Children's Services; of presenting Long Service Awards to Foster Carers for Worcestershire.
These are "ordinary" men and women who do the most extraordinary job in providing an experience of real family life and real parenting to some of the most damaged and vulnerable of our young people. It really is impossible to praise them highly enough they are simply fantastic.
One amazing lady, who had previously fostered for Birmingham, had clocked-up a stunning 46 years as a foster carer whilst there were quite a few who had completed over 25 years.
I was presented with a super bouquet by Graham Ballinger's lovely daughter Sara who manages the Foster Care Recruitment Team and as well as being photographed with all the Award Winners and with my bouquet I also got "snapped" dipping a strawberry into the chocolate fountain!!
There was an excellent buffet supper and we were entertained before the event by a superb young harpist and during the event by Indigo, an absolutely superb community arts group of young people from Redditch.
Meeting wonderful people like those Carers is what makes being a County Councillor worthwhile.
posted by Oborski, 09:10 | link | comments
Thursday, February 22, 2007
A tale of two budgets!!
What a day! 10a.m. the ghastly Tory controlled County Council Budget meeting. Unlike Wyre Forest, the County does not run proper scrutiny exercises on ALL parties' budget proposals so the Labour and Lib Dems had to table their amendments on the day. To be greeted by, guess what? a geriatric rural Tory who attacked the opposition for wanting to dare to debate the budget!! Shock horror!!
Labour proposed a sensible amendment to put and additional £500K into Adult Services, a tiny amount given the crisis facing Social Care in Worcestershire; it was - of course voted out by the Tory majority.
The Lib Dems then proposed what I thought was an even better amendment moving £250K Revenue from "Communications" into restoring posts who advise people with Mental Health issues on benefits claims and then changing the Capital programme to dump totally obscene Tory plans to spend £750K upgrading the Council Chamber and Member facilities and spend the money upgrading west Malvern Outdoor Education Centre so we can keep it open.. Well no surprise there then! Tories voted to put their own comforts aheads of the interests of those we are elected to represent!!
Then back to Wyre Forest Cabinet
What a difference. All parties, those like us who had put in budget amendments and those like Lib Dems who hadn't, had already had discussions about budget changes.
As a Group we Liberals had put in 6 amendments and over 90% of what we wanted is now incorporated into the Tory Budget proposals. We have a group meeting on Monday but Graham Ballinger and I will be recommending our group to support the new budget proposals.
Sadly Health Concern haven't managed to get involved in the discussions----well no surprise there then!!
posted by Oborski, 22:38 | link | comments
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Apology
We didn't mean to upset the many nice people in the Tory Party, and particularly not John Paul Campion; we have therefore removed our criticism of Steve Clee from the Mike's Tributes item.
Hopefully sense will prevail and a joint County and District election for Mike's 2 seats can be held in May!
John Paul has sent a lovely text!
posted by Oborski, 11:36 | link | comments
Congratulations, Rachel and Michael
With all our sadness over Mike Oborski's death we have been terribly selfish and have forgotten to congratulate Rachel Lewis and Michael Akathiotis on their recent marriage.
Rachel now jumps ahead of John Aston and becomes the , alphabetically, first member of Wyre Forest DC.
Better keep very alert during named votes, Rach!
posted by Oborski, 08:32 | link | comments (4)
Monday, February 12, 2007
Donations in Mike's Memory
Several people have asked about donations in Mike's Memory. It was Mike's wish that donations should be used to assist the Kidderminster Polish Saturday School. This is a new project very dear to Mike's heart.
Established by a voluntary committee the "Saturday School" runs classes in Polish Language, Culture and History to support children of new Polish immigrants and to ensure that those who later return to Poland will be able to fit back into the Polish Education system.
The Saturday School employs qualified Polish teachers who will also be supporting older teenagers to do GCSE Polish; currently we have two Polish girls at King Charles 1 who are going to sit GCSE Polish this year.
Donations should be sent to Henry Lemiech at 18, Comberton Park Rd. Kidderminster.
posted by Oborski, 21:51 | link | comments
Tributes to Mike
There have been some wonderful tributes to Mike, thanks to all those who have filled the house with flowers and cards. Friends from across the Political spectrum are being wonderful.
Particular thanks to Tavis Pitt, Tom Watson MP and Wyre Forest Lib Dems for the tributes on their websites.
We are also happy to acknowledge the tribute to Mike from the Tory Party on their website.
We have accepted that they are not trying to force an election and thank them for their support. A particularly nice card has been received from Tracy Onslow.
A lovely letter has arrived from the House of Lords from Professor Lord David Alton who Fran and Mike campaigned with back in the 70's
posted by Oborski, 21:20 | link | comments
Cllr Mike Oborski
Michael Maciek George Oborski, Born 18-08-46 Glasgow died 11-02-07 Priory Hospital Birmingham
Father; Czeslaw Maciek Oborski ( born in Warsaw,died 1996 Surrey) Mother Florence (Floss born London now living in Camberley Surrey)
Mike's Grandfather was a Colonel in the Polish Army and, at the outbreak of war in 1939 the family got Mike's father (then aged 15) out via Romania, he eventually ended up in Scotland with Polish Troops and completed his education there.Mike's Grandmother and aunt returned to Warsaw where they were involved with the Polish Underground. His Grandfather was captured and spent the war in Murnau POW Camp.
Mike spent part of his childhood in Kenya during the Mau Mau uprising where at the age of seven he was taught to use a pistol and slept with it under his pillow if his parents were out.
On the families return to UK he was educated at Northwood Hills Secondary School and St. Nicholas Grammar School, Middlesex before going to the then Worcester College of Education in 1965.
Mike and Fran met at Worcester and became engaged there.
Whilst a student Mike was a founder member of the Liberal Society and was the first student ever to stand for local election, standing as a Liberal in the St Clements Ward in the 1968 Worcester City Council Elections.
Mike and Fran were married at St Basil's Church Bassaleg, Gwent on 26-08-68 and both started their teaching careers at The Abraham Darby School, Telford in Sept 1968. They lived in Much Wenlock for the first three years of marriage, moving to their current home in Kidderminster in August 1971.
Mike was elected in 1973 to the "new" Hereford and Worcester County Council whilst Fran was elected at the same time to Wyre Forest District Council.
Early on Mike realised that his County Council career effectively put a clamp on his teaching career and having been appointed to a Head of Department post at Cherrywood School Birmingham in 1970 he sought no further career progression and eventually transferred, happily, to Birmingham Primary Permanent Supply Staff, taking early retirement, on an offer he said only a fool would reject, in 1996.
Mike had dual Polish-British Nationality and, in view of his Political Involvement it was not considered particularly safe for him to travel to Communist Poland. Once Martial Law was declared, Mike became Midlands Office Director of Solidarity with Solidarity and Chairman of Wyre Forest polish Solidarity Campaign.
Following the fall of Communism in 1989 Mike and Fran were both awarded the Gold Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. Mike was later to be Honoured with both the Officers and Knight's Crosses of the same Order.
Mike and Fran visited Poland together for the first time in 1989 and were actually present when the final Communist government collapsed. That visit was the first of many and Mike's cousin Wojtek became his dearest friend, Mike becoming Godfather to Wojtek's younger son Michal.In 1996 Mike became Honorary Polish Consul for the West Midlands.
Mike is a past member of the Committee of the Federation of Poles in the UK and was the organiser of "Poland Comes Home" which was the UK co-ordinating committee which campaign for Poland's EU and Nato Membership.
He was the Organiser of Father Bernard's Children's Fund which raised thousands of pounds for a specialist facility for disabled children in Silesia. Mike was the author of "Bigos and Chips"- the perils of an Anglo-Polish life.
At the time of his death Mike was actively workng on two new projects:
Wyre Forest No Barriers whch he was establishing to praise those local businesses and organisations which made access "Barrier free" for all people with any form of disability and for the Kidderminster Polish Saturday School which is promoting Polish culture and language work with the new generation of young Polish Children who are here with their families.
Mike has, as all his friends would have expected, planned his own funeral which will take place at St. Ambrose RC Church on Friday March 2nd at 12 noon followed by a Reception at the Polish Ex- Combatants Club in St George's Terrace and then by Internment at Kidderminster Cemetery.
As far as Mike was concerned, in politics it was Kidderminster first, then Wyre Forest then the County!! The service will be a full Civic Requiem Mass led by the Charter Trustees and Charles Talbot, Town Clerk is co-ordinating everything.
Both Mike and Fran hope that his many friends, from across the Religious and Political spectrum, will attend the service and that there will be plenty of what Mike always called "the real people" there as well as dignitaries.
Fran
posted by Oborski, 11:19 | link | comments
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Cll. Mike Oborski
It is with very deep sadness that we have to tell you that Cllr. Mike Oborski died at 07.35 on Sunday Feb.11th at The Priory Hospital, Birmingham.
There will be a Civic Requiem Mass at St. Ambrose RC. Church Kidderminster at 12 noon on Friday March 2nd followed by a Reception at The Polish Club and then Internment at Kidderminster Cemetery.
At Mike's specific request it is "business as usual" for his fellow Liberal Councillors; (and Fran is trying to edit the blog title to remove his name!!)
posted by Oborski, 09:59 | link | comments (6)
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
So where were the public? Especially the Bloggers?
Fran chaired a meeting of the Prosperity Panel tonight which considered, amongst other things, the progress of all Council Initiatives in Stourport.
Considering the amount of interest in, and comment on, everything proposed for Stouport by certain local bloggers it was to quote Fran "somewhat surprising" that the Public Gallery was completely empty!!
After all it hadn't started snowing at 6pm, nor when the meeting finished at 8.30.
posted by Oborski, 23:48 | link | comments (2)
Monday, February 05, 2007
THE CHASE IS ON!
are the very latest Issues raised with Jon Fraser Senior Highways Liaison Officer for County Councillors by Liberal County Councillor Fran Oborski.
Please note that these priorities are listed in random order, depending on the order in which the sites were visited. So here goes...
Let’s resurface Shakespeare Drive above Shaw Avenue .
Tackle the need for traffic calming on the EAST side of Tennyson Way once the “safe routes to school” work is completed on the WEST side
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Sort out the appalling state of the grass verges on Comberton.
Get bollards in place on Borrington Rd to prevent anti-social pavement parking opposite the schools.
For heavens sake lets replace the plastic barrier on part of the Borrington Rd / Comberton Rd walkway before it celebrates its second birthday.
Let’s stop the use of the Stourminster layby by people parking and operating commercial vehicles and for the sale of vehicles.
Carryout an urgent condition check on the trees in Somerleyton Avenue and take action to prevent speeding down the Avenue.
Take action to improve visibility at the Chaddesle Rd / Comberton Rd junction and increase the physical obstruction to prevent the abuse of the “No right turn” at the Chaddesley Rd / Chester Rd. North junction.
Take urgent action to get rid of the dangerous loop of wire projecting from the pavement and wall at 495 Chester Rd South .
Consider urgent action to stop the abuse of the “Access Only Order” on Barnetts Lane . |Give active consideration to the proposal made by local residents to cul-de-sac the lane on the Comberton side of the Oldnall Rd junction.
Sort out the dangerous pavements and uneven road surface in Holmcroft Rd.
Sort out the pavements, road surface and horrendous potholes in paved areas on |Eastwood Drive.
Sort out once and for all the signage mess at Offmore Lane by: A “No Entry” sign just below the Cricket Club entrance; an extra “No Through Road” sign at the Chester Road North end AND Yellow Hatching to prevent idiotic parking in front of the Offmore Lane sign at the Chester Road end. AND while we are at it repair the enormous pavement pothole on Chester RdNorth by the entrance to Offmore Lane .
Carry out safety checks on all trees in Lyndholm Rd.
Take urgent action to tackle the serious problems in Hurcott Village cause by speeding vehicles using it as a rat run between Stourbridge Rd. and Birmingham Rd.
Tackle the chaos on Hurcott Rd above Chester Rd North caused by indiscriminate parking on the Turton St side. At peak hours traffic is backing up across the A449.
Carry out a safety check on trees in Roden Avenue .
“Top” the leylandii trees in Radford Ave opposite the St. Georges Club.
Review parking restrictions in Radford Ave so as to : increase the double yellow line protection at the Horsefair junction AND reduce the single yellow line restrictions along the St Georges Park side of the roads so as to provide parking for parents visiting the park whilst not encouraging town centre shoppers into the area.
Urgent action at the Leswell St/ Coventry St junction and along Leswell St to improve the appalling road surfaces.
Put much needed double yellow lines at the Chapel Hill/Pitt St junction alongside the Methodist Chapel.
Tackle the awful road surface and parking on the grassed island on Baskerville Rd.
Tackle the damage to grass verges caused by matchday parking on Chester Rd South .
AND while we are at it; replace all the damaged sections on barrier on the Ring road particularly below St Marys!
posted by Oborski, 18:52 | link | comments
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Kidderminster Shuttle put in like this..
Town centre seats 'too cold to sit on'
A LEADING Kidderminster political figure has called on Wyre Forest District Council to put practicality in front of style when it comes to future projects.
Fran Oborski has criticised the new metal seating built outside the Town Hall - part of a £1.3million revamp - claiming they become useless when the freezing weather bites because they are too cold to sit on.
The Liberal, who sits on both the district and county councils, said: "The new stone and chrome seats outside Kidderminster Town Hall look very attractive - right up until the moment you actually try to sit on them.
"Given the fact the people most likely to want to sit down are mums with small kids, the elderly and the disabled, the situation is totally unacceptable.
"The whole business is yet another classic example of the modern triumph of design and look over practicality. Who exactly wants to sit on an ice cold metal seat in the middle of the winter?
"The council must take steps to ensure that, in future, new seating in public places is as comfortable and practical as it is attractive. That is absolutely essential."
Mrs Oborski added similar problems would occur in the summer because of high temperatures making them dangerous to sit on because of the heat.
The extensive works to the Vicar Street landmark, which now houses the council's Worcestershire Hub customer service centre, have already been the subject of controversy.
Last year, a petition was signed by more than 1,000 Wyre Forest residents who argued the modern ramped entrance and hand rails were out of character with the rest of the building.
John Campion, the council's cabinet member for finance and corporate affairs, said the design of the seats was necessary to make them fire-resistant.
He explained: "It was always going to be difficult to please everyone and designs cannot be to everyone's taste. The seats could not be made out of wood because of issues with fire safety. I think they are quite tasteful. It would be hard to find any material that would have been warm enough to sit on when temperatures drop near and below freezing."
posted by Oborski, 10:22 | link | comments
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