Tag Archives: Local government

Although it is tough at times, I still really enjoy my role as a Councillor. It is not easy to combine it with my full-time job, all the other commitments, which include the hardest role of all, being a parent.

It is such a privilege to hold any public office. Being able to serve the community, try to act and make it a better place for everyone, is a blessing and I treat it with enormous respect. However, I suppose like many of my colleagues, there are moments, when I question myself and wonder whether it would be better to give it all up, do something else as the opportunities to make a difference can be achieved in so many ways.

This week, on Monday night, Welwyn Hatfield Borough Councillors were discussing the budget, which is always a difficult subject, particularly now when the public finances are under a lot of pressure. Where to save? What else could be done to make the work of the Council more efficient? How can we all contribute to a meaningful debate without scoring cheap political points? Often, these are meetings, which I often struggle with the most. How genuine are we when making these decisions? How often do we reject an idea, only because it might be coming from opposite benches? Do we really try to collaborate when it matters most?

Although the budget has been set this week, the Council had to make a lot of painful decisions, some of which are driven by national legislation. No one wants to see cuts to services or reduction in local provision. However, I am pleased that Monday night felt “civil”. I bumped into the Council Officer during the week, who said that he found the debate pleasant and relatively productive. I actually felt that for the first time in quite a while, we actively listened to each other. We had a constructive discussion about Council finances. I am also happy that we were able to challenge our positions and scrutinise our legislative ideas.

It was a very moving and poignant moment for all who attended the Remembrance Sunday services, which are held across the country in the last week or so. As an EU national, who has lived abroad for more than 20 years, it is quite an important month for us too as Poland celebrates re-gaining its independence on 11 November.

As I was walking back to my car, I bumped into a former Councillor, who stood down at the last elections. Although we sat at the opposite benches of the Council Chamber, I also had a lot of time for him. He was never confrontational, he always tried to put his views across well, in a constructive way, without a need to score cheap political points. When I asked him whether he misses his role as a Councillor, he said no. Some of the things that he mentioned were obvious and yet so hard to implement, even at the local level. In my experience, far too often, we have no ability to accept that our opponent or Council colleague might have equally good legislative ideas. We reject motions only because they come from the other side of the Chamber. Our former Welwyn Hatfield Councillor didn’t like this “democratic ping-pong”, which “empowers” party politics and doesn’t recognise our individual or collective contribution. Is this the fault of the system? Why is it so hard for elected members, Councillors or MP’s, to simply admit that someone might have a good point? Why is it so hard for us to listen to understand and not only listen to respond?

Bonkers? You have nothing better to do? What’s the point? Don’t you feel that your efforts are worthless? I often wonder whether standing again, literally after being elected 12 months ago, sounds “sane”. It feels like only yesterday I wrote to readers of the Liberal Democrat Voice to introduce myself as a candidate in the May 2022 Local Elections. I wanted to share my story, challenge some of the stereotypes and prove that only the sky’s the limit if we passionately believe in something. This is why I was delighted to get elected and overall, I am enjoying every minute of being able to serve you as your local councillor.

The national and international political landscape is not helping; the war in Ukraine, cost of living crisis, sky-rocketing inflation. Who would have thought that 12 months later, members of the Conservative Party would have selected their third Prime Minister? Has much changed? Not in my opinion. Is this why some many people are fed up with the Government, political status-quo and feel completely disengaged?