A day in the life Cllr Mike Le-Surf (Lab), Brentwood borough council

As a councillor with a background in advocacy and inclusion for people with learning difficulties, I have  recently become involved in supporting the closure of a day centre in the borough in a quest towards helping Brentwood become fully inclusive for all its citizens.

The letters page of the Brentwood Gazette has printed one of my letters challenging a fellow councillor’s point of view, and four other letters from parents  of people who attend the centre cite reasons why I am not their most popular  councillor.

In a two-tier system of local government, adult social care is usually dealt with at county hall in Chelmsford, and this is the first time the topic – with all the emotive feelings it brings forth – has come to Brentwood.

At 10am I deliver plants to a cafe that is run by a local charity. The plants are grown at an inclusive project I work at called Cemetery Gates – a title that comes from the location of the project at the London Road Cemetery. Also fans of indie band The Smiths may appreciate the homage.

Police support

At 10.30am I go to my ward, Brentwood South, to support a mobile police station on an estate where anti-social behaviour is becoming a regular nuisance. In a ward with one police community support officer and limited back-up, it is good to see the efforts of local people bringing the head of Brentwood police to the area to talk to concerned residents.

At 6.45pm my wife Julie and I head to Brentwood town hall for the council’s environment panel. Julie attends the start of the meeting while I slip off to the local radio station Phoenix98FM to talk about learning difficulty issues with the editors of Brentwood Gazette, who do a weekly slot called ‘Newsdesk’. Local radio is a great way to get your message across.

Back at the town hall the council meeting was rubbish – but in a good way. Recycling to be precise, and litter, street cleaning and graffiti. Brentwood takes its environment seriously and the officer who is head of waste and street care has a contagious passion for the topic.

Later it’s back to the radio station for the show that Julie and I host from 10pm until midnight, Centre Ground. We wanted to find a way to engage politically with younger people. Our show is based (loosely) on local politics, current affairs and music from the 1970s to the present day. It also satisfies the needs of a frustrated DJ and is a great way to forget about the pressures of a busy modern life.

One year in as a councillor and it feels like 10! The pride of election night in May 2007 is still strong and the responsibility of helping people, especially the most vulnerable, to speak up is still as enjoyable.

There’s time for one more cuppa before bed and the guilty pleasure of unwinding to a taped episode of The Apprentice: you’re fired!