It’s not all Zoom meetings, standing orders and Britney Spears!

WOULD you like to be one of the next Melksham Town councillors? Local elections are coming up in May – for town, parish and unitary roles – and residents are being encouraged to think about whether they would like to volunteer for their community.

The recent online antics of Handforth Parish Council and locum clerk Jackie Weaver – also known as Britney Spears – has shined a spotlight on the workings of local parish councils.

But it’s not all Zoom meetings, standing orders and shouting – well, most of the time anyway!

To share an insight into the role, Melksham News has asked Melksham Town councillors to share their thoughts on the role; give an insight into the work that they do; and what it means to them to volunteer for their community.

Cllr Mike Sankey said, “I first stood for election having seen a request for new candidates many years ago. I wanted to make a contribution to my community and thought I would give it a go.

“An important part of the role is listening to other people to discover their views, concerns and how they feel about local issues.  Once elected, it soon dawns on you how heavy the responsibility is to ensure best value is achieved when spending other people’s money.  Also, the realisation that the council can’t do everything people might expect them to do.  You can stand as a candidate on behalf of a political party or as an independent.  Serving as a councillor also gives you the opportunity to represent the council on other groups and organisations.  (For my own part and for a number of years, as a trustee of Melksham charities).  

“The role can be very rewarding, but sometimes involves having to think objectively to make difficult decisions.  The ability to compromise and consider opinions that might be at odds with your own is crucial to this role.  It is entirely an unpaid role, but one which is very satisfying.  I would urge anyone to give it a go, the town council has many long serving stalwarts of the community but would benefit greatly from some fresh blood…”

Cllr Terri Welch said, “I can only speak for my own example. My involvement with Melksham Town Council has been around 40 years, in this time the town has grown and my concerns have changed, initially, with children I concentrated on youth, the Adventure Centre and other youth activities.

“My involvement with the Tourist Information Centre has meant that I was readily available to the people of the town, making it easier for the electors to contact me and more able to act as the ears and voice of the public.

“As a councillor, I believe that it is our job to help the public make the most of the town facilities and to make Melksham a good place to live in and play. To be a voice. Most councillors have an interest that is close to their hearts, but it is the desire to work for the whole of the community that is most important. To be open to other views.

“We live in a community that could be divisive and I feel that it is the job of a councillor to help businesses and the inhabitants benefit from a society that accepts all and is a pleasant place to live in, to be involved in, to feel that they belong and are important.

“So in short, we need people to stand for our town who believe in Melksham and are prepared to offer their help and particular expertise to enhance our town. Everybody has something special to offer, why not stand for your town?”

Cllr Pat Aves, who is the current mayor, said, “When I was asked if I would consider being a town councillor, I nearly fell off my chair laughing. Me? You must be joking. I had been retired (from teaching home economics) for a few years but was still working as a supply teacher and was half way through another Open University degree, so it wasn’t as if I had nothing to do, but I agreed to have a think about it. 

“I reasoned that this was an opportunity to do something that I had never considered before, and that as I had nothing to lose (so to speak), I would give it a go. I was actually quite surprised to win.

“So what is it like being a town councillor? To begin with it was a bit overwhelming, with lots of things to learn about procedures and laws and so on, and there was some training, but I  mostly picked it up as I went along. I’m still learning. 

“Being mayor has opened up a whole new layer of experience for me. I quickly learned that all councillors come to the table with a different set of experiences and they are all of use at some point, be it professional or personal. Everyone has something to offer. Your opinion will be respected and you will be listened to. They may even agree with you! 

“You will serve on several committees which discuss matters relevant to the town, and you can volunteer for working groups or task groups which have a specific job to do, and which report back to the main committee. It’s a democratic process, and you will be a representative of your community.  

“Meetings take place currently online, mostly Monday nights from 7pm until (usually) about 9pm.  It can be a very rewarding thing to do; it can also be frustrating, tiring and may at times take up a lot of your time, but it will never be boring. It won’t cost you anything to do, but you don’t get paid, it is entirely voluntary. 

“For me it was an opportunity that I am very glad I took. I have met so many lovely people in Melksham, and made so many friends, and I have been part of so much over the last 10 years. If you are interested, don’t wait to be asked, get in touch with the Town Hall for further information and be part of the local councillor elections on May 6th.” 

Cllr Richard Wiltshire said, “We are all affected by the policies of national and local government, and most of us will pay through taxes and rates for their administration and the services they provide. Being a town councillor helps you to understand how your local community prospers or does not prosper under these policies at ground level. 

“Through my experience with town and district councils and working with Wiltshire Council and our local MPs, I am pleased to be able to help in directing residents with problems or issues to the appropriate agency. Our town is well served by many voluntary groups, supporting some of these financially through council grants provides very good value for the community.

“Whether you stand for council as an independent, member of a group or political party, you do not stand as a delegate, you stand as a representative being free to follow your own view of the issues.

“Once elected you are there to serve all individuals and sections of the community. You will need to be accessible to your ward residents through visits, telephone, mail and e-mail. Over many years I have never found this unduly onerous or intrusive on business and family life.”

Cllr Vanessa Fiorelli, and current leader of the town council, said, “As someone who loves to support their community, the role of town councillor has been an incredibly rewarding journey for me. I have had the pleasure of being a part of a team that is passionate about Melksham and delivering for the community. This was one of the key reasons I stood as a candidate and why I will always work hard for the residents of Melksham. What many people aren’t aware of, is that it is a completely voluntary role – there is no salary or allowances paid to councillors, we are here simply to dedicate our free time to enhance the community.

“Although the role is very rewarding, its not without a lot of hard work and a word of caution. During a typical week I will usually dedicate between 20-30 hours on council issues, meetings and projects; however, some councillors will spend less time towards their role of councillor as they have other commitments. You will very much need to be prepared to be scrutinised by the public (and other councillors) for anything and everything, sometimes this can be quite personal and confronting.

“Ideally, a council should be quite diverse and reflective of the residents it serves, so I would encourage people from all different backgrounds and ages to consider standing as you CAN make a difference!”

Cllr Geoff Mitcham, who is the current deputy mayor, said, “What does it mean to be a councillor? It means dedication to attend meetings and a pride in your town.  A desire to see the town move into the future.  Taking care of the town’s finances, keeping an eye on planning applications, looking after play areas and the King George V park and properties that belong to the town, reporting any problems that come up in your ward. 

“Attending Zoom meetings can be an ordeal and very tiring but it’s something that has to be done while we have restrictions. Hopefully we’ll get back in the Town Hall soon. 

“Apart from the normal council and committee meetings you are also expected to join committees on outside bodies and organisations.  All this can be time consuming.  Some can also be during the day which doesn’t suit everyone.  Personally I have been a councillor on and off for around 17 years and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the experience but when a council comes together and works as a  team so much can be done, but don’t expect things to be done overnight.  It can sometimes take months or even years to get things done after going through various processes but when it all comes together it makes it all worthwhile.”

Cllr Sue Brown said, “Being a town/parish councillor can be quite addictive. You only have to consider the lengths of service that some councillors have dedicated to their community to see this.

“And, if you like soap-operas, we have our own version here in Melksham. Thrills, spills, excitement, disappointment, exhilaration, joy. Every emotion possible They are all here, either in the council chamber or on the more unedifying Zoom meetings. We can, however, experience, periods of calm, though 2020 and now 2021 has brought its own challenges.

“Whether your interest lies with seeing the expansion of the town or supporting innovations to aid the town’s recovery, there is something for everyone. Sometimes all it takes is a bold heart and lashings of common sense and perhaps a few headache tablets.

“If you feel you  could fit this in with your family life, work and/or social activities and you feel you can commit for up to four years, then please contact the Town Hall or Wiltshire Council for impartial advice. It has been an honour for me to serve Melksham north.”

Cllr Adrienne Westbrook, the current deputy leader, said, “Well, after more than 30 years of involvement with Melksham Town Council (on and off) there is clearly something that keeps me coming back for more!  That thing is obvious: I love my community and the drive behind all of the irritations that come with being a councillor are ultimately worth it because we get to come together and represent (sometimes in forthright language!) our fellow residents.  It is all about making Melksham a better place to live and for that to mean something to as many people who live here as possible.

“Many of you will have seen the antics of Handforth Parish Council in the news over the past few weeks.  I can honestly say those scenes are a pretty accurate view into the life of being a member of a town or parish council!  It’s par for the course to be on the receiving end of a rant about standing orders by grumpy councillors, that’s for sure!  

“At times being a councillor can feel like a thankless task.  I will admit that there have been moments when I’m still sat at a meeting at 10pm on a cold winter evening, or reading criticism from negative residents  or fellow councillors in the local paper, or when a project close to my heart falls through, where one must dig into one’s reserves of stoicism to stay motivated!

“Yes, local government moves slowly, very slowly.  Yes, you have to work with, compromise with and duel with people you may not choose to spend time with in your own time.  Yes, things sometimes get ugly.  But democracy is as British as fish and chips, and there is a reason why it’s still here: it works.  Different people come together and put forward the views/concerns of the electors they serve and feed them through the system.  

“It’s only when we look back that we truly appreciate the collective impact we have the chance to make on our community.  It is that honour that makes it all worthwhile.”

For more information about how to stand as a candidate in the next town council elections on 6th May, visit.. www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/candidate-or-agent/parish-council-elections-england

Or if you would like to talk to someone about the role of town councillor and what it entails, you can contact Melksham Town Council’s town clerk, Linda Roberts, to arrange a chat, by emailing: linda.roberts @melksham-tc.gov.uk

In the next issue of Melksham News, we talk to Melksham Without Parish councillors about their experiences supporting the village communities.