A Day in the Life of Councillor Mishal Saeed

There’s really no such thing as a ‘typical’ day or a week in the life of a Councillor. Every day brings new opportunities as well as challenges. What makes this role so fulfilling is knowing that the work we do – whether big or small – has a real impact on people’s lives. That’s what really matters to me – being able to make a difference.

Casework and Community Issues
I usually start early with emails and casework — helping residents with everyday issues that have a real impact. No issue is too big or too small. My first job was reporting antisocial behaviour to GMP and our local partners, then on to key projects affecting our residents. Recent successes include: 

• Planning the launch event for the new children’s play area on Buckthorne Lane - a key manifesto pledge and a big win for our residents and Salford Labour.
• Following the Labour government of the £20m ‘Pride in place’ investment for part of Peel Green over the next 10 years, I’m planning to work with our City Mayor Paul Dennett, MP Michael Wheeler, local councillors, community groups and most importantly, our residents to ensure local voices shape how the funding is spent. This is very welcome news as we know that Peel Green is one of the most deprived areas in the city and I have always advocated for improved investment in the area. Together, we’ll make sure Peel Green thrives for generations to come. A survey is open for residents to share their views.
• Clearing a local area following a fly-tipping incident.

Cards for Kindness campaign is launching across Salford with the aim of bringing warmth, connection, and joy to older people in the community who may be feeling lonely or isolated

As we approach Christmas, I’m really glad to be involved in launching a new Cards for Kindness campaign. We know that for some older people, a simple card at Christmas can make a world of difference and I’d really encourage people from across Salford to pick up a winter postcard, especially for older people who may not have frequent visitors, or who live alone.

Full Council: Policy, Budgets, and Health
We go to various meeting with other councillors and this one is at Full Council, which is where we debate and pass policy, budgets and governance related decisions. This one is a packed agenda, where I’m presenting a motion to ask for the council’s full commitment to play its part in supporting, protecting, and rebuilding our NHS. 

I’m proud to say each motion debated was passed with a majority.

• Welcomes the investment in GP surgeries.
• Calls for greater consideration for residents’ voices to be heard in shaping health services and ensuring they are accessible to all.
• Collaboration with Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to consider the diverse needs of our communities.
• Rejects any move toward privatisation or insurance-based healthcare models, proposed by some parties and to stand united in protecting our publicly funded NHS, which needs to remain free at the point of use.

Once everything is done in the morning, I usually head off and grab some lunch before joining other meetings that will help to shape and improve our communities. 

Improving Social Care and Supporting our Unpaid Carers
As a key Mayoral manifesto pledge to improve the quality of social care in our city, which will deliver a more cost effective service and improve terms and conditions for workers, I’m meeting the Aspire Transition board, which involves the council taking control of social care in Salford.

I’m also visiting unpaid carers to update them on the work I’ve been leading on to redevelop the carer’s strategy, ensuring that the strategy meets the needs of unpaid carers in Salford and recognises the incredible work that they do.

Devolved Community budget: Supporting our community groups
We’re keen to support our communities and do what they do, so I’m joining a community devolved budget meeting, where we’ll make decisions on funding applications from community groups. This time, it’s a pleasure to support applications from Salford veterans, Irlam Community Festival and youth partnership with Salford Community Leisure Centre.

Improving our roads
I’m committed to pushing for further improvements - whether that’s tackling potholes, enhancing signage, introducing traffic calming and decongestion measures, or improving road safety for all users. So a highways update meeting is where I can find out more about current and upcoming schemes and the opportunity to suggest new ones and check on progress. I’m proud in the last couple of years that we’ve delivered road resurfacing works on Cutnook Lane, Silver Street, Broadway, Latham Road and School Lane.

Opening of Alder Brook Hub (£450,000 investment) at Fiddler’s Lane Community Primary School
Visiting Fiddler’s Lane Community Primary School for the opening of the new Hub in Alder Brook is a brilliant example of how we’re reinvesting in local infrastructure to support families, children, and frontline services in Salford. Following a £450,000 investment from the council to redevelop the former children’s centre in Salford, it’s great to see how we’re improving opportunities for young people. 

Securing PCSO support and supporting Tindall Allotments
Following a series of break-ins earlier this year at Tindall Allotments, I’ve been working with GMP to increase police presence. Councillors secured a social value donation from Horticun to help the committee improve security and I’m really pleased that we now have a dedicated PCSO for the site.

Litter Pick and Leafletting
I also get involved in evening events, which has seen me join a litter pick on Alexandra Road, followed by some leafletting before finishing just in time for a well-earned late dinner.

I really hope this gives a flavour of the sort of work I’m involved in and the importance of what we all do across the council as we work collaboratively to creating a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city for all. For me, being a Councillor is all about listening, acting and standing up for our communities. That’s why I’m grateful to our residents for the opportunity to serve and thank the people of Salford who are very much an integral part of our remarkable story of transformation.

Councillor Mishal Saeed • Salford City Council