WHEN A NEW BROOM SWEEPS CLEAN

This year’s local elections have brought about significant changes to all local councils, at all levels.

As the level of responsibility is increasingly being devolved, driven by a lack of central funding, many parishes are really struggling to fill places.

The sad thing about this situation is that when insufficient people put themselves forward to represent their community there is no need for an election and all too often when things are not going their way local residents can as a result be up in arms about parish council members not being elected. Serves them right. I feel pretty much the same about those who choose not to vote. Even a spoilt ballot paper expresses a view.

In the vast majority of cases, the role of parish or town councillor is unpaid and requires a high level of dedication, time and effort, not all of it rewarded; you cannot please all of the people all of the time.

Those who suddenly find themselves in a chilly village hall one evening, having to make decisions about dog litter bins, signage, speeding, grass cutting, planning applications – a whole myriad of issues to resolve, tend to fall into one of two camps.

The returners, many of whom have been involved since Noah was a boy, seen it done it all, and often stuck in their ways, resisting change, and those who having decided to take the plunge and get involved for the first time (often newcomers to the area) are keen as mustard to make their mark.

The danger here is in newcomers being all too ready to identify the weak areas and wanting to ‘get things moving’. Over the last 16 years of my involvement in local politics I have learnt that the wheels turn very, very, very slowly……which can be frustrating for those who feel that they have a lot to offer by way of skills, experience and knowledge. It is all too easy to rock the boat and send those dollies flying right out of their prams.

My advice, patience is a virtue that will not go unrewarded, although given the age of most of us it would be natural for there to be a level of haste in wanting to get things done.