Two weeks ago, a friend invited me to a litter pick that she and a fellow borough councillor had organised in a neighbouring ward. I know how to gatecrash a party, and all because I asked whether they would be recycling their litter. What a sticky-beak eh?
So armed with a couple of bags (one for rubbish and one for recycling), a hi-vis vest, gloves and a litter picking grabber, I joined the residents for a rubbish busting tour of a local shopping parade and its immediate environs. As we worked our way along the backs of shops and the perimeter of the green spaces, I could see why the residents had called for something to be done about their local environment. It was a mess, with cigarette ends littering the pavement and bottles, crisp packets and plastic bags hidden in bushes.
But this was just one of many problems that my friend, now formally known as Councillor Sarah Stamp, has had to deal with since she was newly elected in May, the day that sealed her commitment to the residents of Southgate Ward to help improve their area and act as a voice on St Edmundsbury Borough Council.
Sarah says: “When doorstep campaigning before the local elections, the topic that came up frequently alongside traffic concerns and parking issues, was waste and litter on the estate. I sensed a real frustration amongst residents of all ages that despite having lots of bins provided by the Borough Council, they weren’t being used and litter was still being dropped.”
A busy mother of three children (aged five, eight and 12), running her own part-time marketing and PR business and a fully involved school governor, she already had her hands full with personal and work commitments. But it was January this year, after a stint working for a Suffolk MP, when Sarah decided to follow her passion for politics and stand in this year’s local elections.
After an initial chat with other councillors about the level of commitment needed to fulfil the role properly, she got in touch with the local Conservative Association and formally applied to be considered as a candidate.
Sarah explains: “It was a lengthy process, with form-filling and interviews, one informal with the Association Chairman, and then a more formal panel interview with four members. At each stage, I became more convinced that this is what I wanted to do. In February I heard that I had been selected and when the election was called at the end of March, I hit the streets in earnest. I wanted residents to see that I wasn’t planning on being just a face on a leaflet they get through their doors every four years – I really wanted to make a difference to their daily lives.”
Since the election, Sarah has quickly become integrated into council life, not just dealing with ward issues such as the litter pick, but also joining the council’s Licensing and Regulatory Committee, Area Working Party and the Emergency Planning Working Party, and as a substitute member for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. She has also been elected as the Borough Council’s representative on the board of directors for Bury St Edmunds’ prestigious Theatre Royal, and has become a Director and Trustee of her ward’s Community Centre and her local Youth Club. In addition to this, there is a comprehensive induction programme for new councillors, meaning that three or four evenings a week, Sarah has to attend training sessions.
After the first two months, her enthusiasm is still clear though: “I love it – the opportunity to have a voice and truly make a difference, not just to those in my immediate ward, but to all the residents of St Edmundsbury is such a great feeling. I am still on a very steep learning curve, and it is hard work, but the support of the Officers, residents and more experienced councillors has been incredible, and when you get a letter or email of thanks from a local resident it’s easy to see why the role is so important.”
Sarah’s experience shows that it really does take an immense amount of commitment to represent people in your area and requires a special person who can balance the needs of residents and the representation of their political party where appropriate, as well as juggling their own personal demands.
Maybe I’ve now reached that age, but I can see that very soon I’ll be surrounded by a whole host of friends entering into local politics. This year, some of my other committed pals also stood for election around the country, representing their local Labour or Green party, or even standing as an independent. They didn’t get in on this occasion, but I know it won’t stop them next time around.
So if you’ve got what it takes to fight the good fight in your corner of the UK, it is worth planning ahead now and contacting your local council or political party to find out more information. Even though it’s London-based, the website Be a Councillor is a great starting point with links to other campaign sites around the country. By the time your local election comes around, it could be your name waiting for a cross on the ballot paper.
Useful links:
Be a Councillor
Conservative Party
Labour Party
Liberal Democrats
Green Party
Independents
More from The Philanthropic Housewife
The Philanthropic Housewife: An Introduction
The Philanthropic Housewife: Rolling Up my Sleeves for 2011
The Philanthropic Housewife: Be Part of BBC Local Radio
The Philanthropic Housewife: More Music, More Variety
The Philanthropic Housewife: Volunteering Your Words
The Philanthropic Housewife: Just Blog It!
The Philanthropic Housewife: Recycling on the Go
About the author
Describing herself as a philanthropic housewife, Karen balances the challenges of modern parenthood with support for community projects and freelance writing, with an emphasis on mainstream, yet sustainable lifestyle issues. She's also the creator of The Rubbish Diet blog and a frequent contributor to BBC local radio. To find out more about Karen, just visit www.karencannard.co.uk.
