Today the calendar tells me it’s the 3rd of June and I can’t believe a month has gone by since the residents of Beddington North ward placed their trust in me. It is a privilege to serve them and together with the other Independent councillors, Tim Foster and Nick Mattey, Beddington North residents and their interests will always come first.
On the 8th of May I signed a Declaration witnessed by the Chief Executive. I must admit to an inward smile as I felt like George Washington signing the Declaration of Independence (ts)!!
What’s it like being a first time or Fresher Councillor. A little daunting to be honest with so much to learn and absorb. The Freshers Fayre where Councillors meet representatives of different Council Departments was very informative. The staff of ICT were extremely helpful in trying to get my lap top set up for the different Council systems. I’d like to thank them for their patience and I can report that after two hours all is working as it should. Now they have to sort out my phone!!!
What has struck me in my first month as a Councillor? The party political posturing for a start. It is my opinion that local councils should be run by Independents who have the interests of the residents at heart and are not bound by ridiculous party politics. A local government of all the talents would be a good democratic way to go but while the Liberal Democrats have a working majority this is most unlikely. However rest assured I, together with Nick and Tim, will shall do our utmost to oppose matters which are going to affect our lives in Beddington North and to keep you all informed. I suspect the Liberal Democrats will do everything they can to sideline our opinions, they do this at their peril.
Councillors are given a basic allowance plus more allowances depending on what positions they hold on the Council? This was news to me, I thought a small allowance for time, effort and expenses, would be offered. If Councillors allowances were cut just think of the good that could do, perhaps for a carer or to keep a specialist unit open in a school.
I have been delegated to sit on the Licensing Committee, the Scrutiny Committee and the Neighbourhood & Environment Committee. This is as well as full Council meetings and all the training and induction so a very busy time is in store.
I have been dealing with several residents’ problems. I am assured that my enquiries of Council officers should be dealt with in a certain time frame – we shall see – answers are due by 6th June.
A wise man has told me to concentrate on things that affect Beddington North and I will do just that but it does not stop me having concerns about matters that come to my attention. Ruth Dombey in her short video on Sutton Scene says the Liberal Democrats have work to do. They are committed to working with Age UK to help the elderly. I hate to point the finger but Ruth you’ve had years to sort these things out and I’m sorry but blaming it all on Government cuts just doesn’t wash. Yes there are strategic matters that are demanded by central Government and the Mayor of London and this can affect funding but this is not the whole problem.
Ruth Dombey says the Liberal Democrats are the party for the environment, really, so why have we in Beddington North had to see the building of an incinerator and not the country park we were promised. It seems to me that our ward is the dumping ground for anything Liberal Democrats don’t want to put in another area to jeopardise their support. The Charles Cryer theatre is another case in point. Nowhere in the Borough for the performing arts is a real problem. I suspect although I have no actual knowledge that the bids that are coming in to run the Cryer will be listed as not suitable and the original plan to knock it down together with the Gurner building and the Fox and Hounds pub to build flats will go ahead. I may be wrong here, I hope I am, but I’m not holding my breath.
So, residents of Beddington North, what are my aims as your ward Councillor. To endeavour to do my job as honestly and as transparently as possible. To keep you informed of situations that will affect all our lives and to fight as hard as I can when I think they are wrong and to hopefully encourage others to consider standing as Independents in four years time.
Beware political parties in Sutton the Independents are coming!!!