District Councillor Maureen Cummings

1. How long have you held your role?

I was elected in 2004 when the all-out elections took place following the boundary review (15 years to date).  Crofton Ryhill & Walton (incl Havercroft with Cold Hiendley, Notton & Chevet) was a newly created ward.

2. What does your role involve? What responsibilities do you have?

The role of elected member is to represent all residents in the ward and help with questions queries and complaints.  To work with all community groups to help them access funding.  Organise information and fun events such as Police meetings and fun days. To respond and act on emerging issues such as anti-social behaviour. In Crofton particularly kids had nothing to do so along with the Police and volunteers we have opened the youth club on Fridays. This has proved very successful and we are in our third year.  ‘Holiday hunger’ is a big issue in some parts of the ward, so we have accessed funding to run a Kids Kitchen in Havercroft and during the holidays we run at least once a week with between 30/40 attendees.

I have been a Cabinet Member for WMDC since 2006. My first portfolio responsibility was Adults & Health, 2006-2011, responsibilities included, housing, homelessness, adult social care, elderly care and provision for adults with learning disabilities.  From 2011 to date I have been the portfolio holder for Communities and Environment this covers a range of responsibilities, waste collections, cemeteries, crematoriums, enforcement, environmental health, domestic abuse, hate crime, community engagement and much more.

I chair the District’s Community Safety Partnership, the Domestic Abuse Management Board, I also chair the West Yorkshire Domestic & Sexual Abuse Management Board for the Police & Crime Commissioner.  I am a member of the Community Lead Local Development Board where we evaluate funding applications to the EU pot of £1.3m.

I support Marie House, the District’s Womens Refuge for those women fleeing domestic abuse.

3. What are your favourite parts about the role?

I enjoy solving problems for residents which could range from getting bins emptied to organising public meetings to discuss specific problems.  More often than not people can be very negative but when you receive a thank you it means a lot.

I enjoy my volunteer work with Marie House, people across the ward are very generous with donations such as food, toiletries and sanitary products and these are gratefully received.

I also work with Havercroft Parent Forum organising free holiday activities for kids and their families during the school holidays.

Crofton Youth Club is also exhausting but very rewarding and keeps the kids off the streets and engaged.

4. How and why did you become a councillor?

As a member of the Labour Party, following interview I was accepted onto the panel of candidates in 1993.  I wanted to be a councillor because having the title Councillor helped open doors to enable me to help other people, I have always wanted to help people, open doors, solve problems and find solutions.

5. What is the best way to contact you?

There are a number of ways to contact me:

Mobile 07834 997767

Home 01925 363165

Email mcummings@wakefield.gov.uk

Facebook Cllr Maureen cummings (I take lots of casework on Facebook)

6. My interest outside politics

I am a season ticket holder for Wakefield Trinity and have been a supporter since 1967.

Maureen Cummings’ official profile can be found here.