Letters – What difference would a Labour councillor make?
A resident asks why we fight so hard.
Due to low turnout the election was close last year.
a Grange resident
But what benefit would another Labour councillor be?
What do you see as the councillor’s role?
Dear resident,
You are correct about the turnout and margin of the last election. Above allegiance to political party, I believe in democracy and all people getting a say. So many of my efforts in the last year have been about increasing turnout and registration numbers. I also believe that most people who haven’t voted in the past would benefit from Labour representation and can be convinced of such. While out door knocking, people sometimes say there’s no point voting because it makes no difference and I empathise with that feeling. However in this local election it really CAN make a difference. So I am confident we can make up the 200 or so votes and swing this ward.
Voting in this election really CAN make a difference!
Jonathan Brown
What we then do with the extra councillors is another important question. Currently we are limited in the subcommittees we have a presence at, let alone a voice and vote – so more councillors means we could shout about decisions we didn’t think were in the public’s best interests. That alone makes the other side more wary and potentially more generous.
Essentially this is the role of a councillor – to listen to residents and raise those views at council, and then disseminate council decisions back to the people. Within that, you’d hope they would also liaise with local groups and get them working together to produce benefits for locals. Speaking for myself as a resident, I don’t feel our councillors are listening to us, representing our interests, or feeding back to us about what’s going on! I have the pleasure of working with our councillors on various committees but outside of that I never heard from them. They are not horrible people, but nor do I think they are effective councillors.
I don’t feel our councillors are listening to us…
JONATHAN BROWN
They are not horrible people, but nor do I think they are effective councillors.
