Over the past month whilst Parliament has been in recess, I have been working hard in the constituency, holding advice surgeries, attending local events and visiting local businesses and community groups. Normally, owing to Westminster commitments, I am not able to spend as much time at these events as I'd like, so the summer is a great opportunity to do just that.
I will be returning to Westminster next week and enjoying my first week as Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for Digital and Culture when the Commons is sitting. There are Culture, Media and Sports Questions on Thursday and will will be beginning work on the Digital Economy Bill, the BBC Charter Review and rolling out broadband nationwide.
Meanwhile, may I wish you all a wonderful bank holiday weekend. Fingers crossed for decent weather with so much going on across Eastleigh and the school equipment to get ready, let's hope the sun shines for the last few days before the kids go back to school.This newsletter is just a small snapshot of the work that I'm doing in Westminster and across the Constituency of Eastleigh, where I am also currently a member of the Women and Equalities Select Committee and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Digital and Culture. If you want to find out more, visit my website www.MimsDavies.org.uk, like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Mims4Eastleigh or follow me on Twitter@MimsDavies
Please feel free to follow me on They Work For You. - this is an interesting instrument that looks at the work that MPs do.
It has been an amazing summer of Olympic sport to be proud of. We have all been totally caught up in the excitement of Rio and the incredible success of our team GB athletes. Like so many, I was glued to the TV late into the night watching marvellous Mo, wonder woman Jess, the hockey heroes and our swimming superstars to name just a few.
How do they achieve these amazing feats? It’s no accident. It’s the everyday slog of training in all weathers, maintaining the right diet, staying focussed and, perhaps most importantly, their deep personal commitment. The sacrifice of families as a whole, by partners, parents and children is something that simply cannot be underestimated by us mere mortals.
I’m training for the Great South Run and I am certainly no speedy runner. But on the days when it’s been easier to say “don’t bother”, I’ve thought about what can be achieved by a healthy mind and body . I know from speaking with constituents that there are many children who are inspired and engage with sport as a result of Team GB’s performance on the world stage. Next up in Rio is the Paralympics and we have our own local champion in David Smith who will be competing in the Boccia. Good luck to David and let’s hope our Paralympians get the chance to shine. I think our winning streak is far from over!
It certainly won’t be if we continue to use the legacy of 2012 and the excellent support from the National Lottery. Back in Atlanta in 1996 we managed 15 medals. This year Team GB have achieved the whopping 67 in Rio and the honour of 2nd place in the medal table. PM John Major back then used the setting up of the National Lottery to benefit our potential medal winners by funding sport directly. This has supported Team GB to its best performance in more than a Century. We are seeing Sport Aid lottery funding help too. I met teenager Kyle Finch from Fair Oak back in March, who is UK number 3 in Squash for his age. Remember his name for Tokyo 2020!
Well done to Southern Vipers who won the inaugural KIA Twenty20 Super League. Based at the Ageas, I saw their first game in July. Their fielding was immense and it was great to see the ladies taking centre stage. A TV deal for next season is on the cards to showcase this exciting new league. This was matched there by an England win against Pakistan on Thursday in a one day international game.
Meanwhile, good luck Eastleigh FC on Saturday as Ronnie Moore takes charge for his first game. The boys have had a tough start. Come on lads!
Hampshire Local Government Consultation
I am urging local residents to take part in a public consultation about how local government should operate in Hampshire.
The independent eight-week dialogue sets out the potential options for how the Hampshire County Council and the 11 district councils could change, or be reorganised in a devolution deal.
I presently favour a unitary single Hampshire authority with enhanced services along the same lines as the existing county council, but taking over the functions of district councils.
It would do everything from emptying the bins to maintaining the roads and offer considerable cost savings leading to lower council tax, but with local accountability through town and parish councils having more say.
This is a very important consultation that could do much to change how we are governed locally here in Hampshire, how much we pay for services and how much we can save, in the years to come..
I’m pleased local people will have a say on what they think before any decision is made.
The consultation is about the area covered by Hampshire County Council and the 11 district councils. It does not concern Portsmouth or Southampton or the Isle of Wight who are asking residents about their proposals for a separate so-called Solent City combined authority.
Those who take part will answer questions on a number of options involving proposals to create combined authorities, elected mayors and unitary councils, as well as the status quo.
'Meet Mims' Summer Tour of the Constituency
I have been out and about meeting many of you at informal 'Meet Mims' summer tour events all over the constituency. This included Haskins in West End, at the TK Maxx at Hedge End, Wyevale Garden Centre in Fair Oak, the Swan Centre and Eastleigh Museum in Eastleigh, the Velmore Community Centre in Chandlers Ford and Hillier's Garden Centre in Botley, to name a few.
This has been in addition to my usual advice surgeries, regularly returning to Westminster to pick up constituents' correspondence, contact Ministers, and reply to policy enquiries.
In between 'Meet Your MP' drop in events, I have been meeting many local groups, including local anglers at Lakeside Park, attending the Solent Mind open day and meeting local children and parents at the Bursledon Regatta. If you have a local event that you would like me to attend, then please contact my constituency office on 02380 406344 and I'll do my best to join you.
The summer recess affords me these further great opportunities to meet people without them having to come to a formal advice surgery and I have enjoyed hearing feedback from a wide range of people. If you see me where you are, then please do come over and say hello! Thank you to all the businesses, community groups and volunteer groups who have given up time to meet with me this summer and more pictures and updates are always available on my Twitter, Facebook, and website.
Visiting Eastleigh Holiday Fishing Project
I accepted an invitation from the Hampshire based organisation 'For Life Experiences' (FLE) to visit a summer holiday fishing project for local youngsters as part of Eastleigh Borough Councils Parksport Programme. I was accompanied to Lakeside Country Park by Martin Salter, National Campaign Coordinator for the Angling Trust and FLE director Graham Mabey.
I was delighted to visit ‘For Life Experiences’ (FLE) summer holiday fishing project at Lakeside Country Park this week and to meet their dedicated teaching team of Graham Mabey, Tom Oliver and Michael Wickens along with Martin Salter from the Angling Trust. I joined many young boys and girls from across the Eastleigh Constituency attending an hour and half’s tuition on a beautiful sunny day on the bank.
It was wonderful to see how excited and engaged everyone seemed, catching and releasing a variety of fish. Fishing is great outdoor sport for all ages, with a small set up cost for the basic equipment. It is an accessible hobby with many benefits including a break from technology and fast pace of modern life.
My daughters were totally enchanted and are keen to try fishing again. I think FLE are delivering a wonderful project and a great introduction to the sport for young people which can turn this initial experience into a long term hobby.
Raising Money at Solent Mind's Eastleigh Wellbeing Centre
I was delighted to attend the Open Day at Solent Mind’s Eastleigh Wellbeing Centre that has raised £532 in total, which will give the centre’s gardening group a great opportunity to add to the wellbeing garden and the appeal of the centre in Eastleigh.
Solent Mind, is the leading health charity across Hampshire and was recently holding the Open Day to give the opportunity to tell people about the wellbeing services available at the centre and to raise these vital funds for the group’s work in the garden over the coming year.
Local businesses had been extremely generous in their donations for the open day to raise money for the centre’s wellbeing garden and I thank them for their generosity. It meant there were several stalls set up around the building, offering opportunities to purchase items such as plants and cakes, or take part in a tombola, a raffle and 'guess the name of the wellbeing bear' competition.
It was wonderful to see such a welcoming place with everyone working together for improvements for their garden at the centre. It was also encouraging for me to meet some familiar faces who help our community and meet service users who are very much on a path to recovery and this centre makes an important impact on mental health in the local community and helps to take away the stigma surrounding mental health issues by being accessible and open. I fully support this group and their goals to improve mental wellbeing and their campaign to raise awareness and improve understanding of mental health.
Great Bursledon Bake Off at Bursledon Windmill
I visited one of our local landmarks, Bursledon Windmill, with my children for their summer holiday event 'The Great Bursledon Bake Off'.
The event was scheduled to run from 11am - 3pm, but finished around 1.30pm as it was so popular that the 100 pizza dough balls kindly donated by a local artisan baker, Happy Toast of Hedge End, ran out in record time.
The family event let all ages make their own pizza; after kneading, rolling and adding individual toppings, the pizzas were cooked in the outdoor bread oven and then eaten in the beautiful gardens by the peaceful woodland habitat at the windmill.
Operated and funded by Hampshire Cultural Trust, Bursledon Windmill was built in 1814. After undergoing extensive restoration thanks to a Heritage Lottery Grant, it was reopened in November last year and continues as a working windmill and heritage visitor centre, and is tucked away with a traditional timber framed barn, granary and pond.
My children and I were given a tour around the windmill by Gary the miller, and discovered that they are hoping to be producing their own flour to sell to the public shortly.
We enjoyed a wonderful sunny afternoon at the windmill, my children thoroughly enjoyed the history, creative cookery and beauty of this very inspired event. I would like to thank all the volunteers that helped with the pizza preparations, especially the hot work of cooking each pan in the outdoor bread ovens. We were very lucky to be shown around the windmill, climb up the very steep steps, imagine life as a miller and even have a go at moving the sails. I would highly recommend a visit or joining one of these special events.”