It seems that 2024 has been a year of choices, or elections in a political context.
The council elections in May saw many councils change hands from one party to another, or from single party control to some form of coalition.
During the general election in July, we had the opportunity to choose who would be our MP and that choice exercised across 635 constituencies led to the formation of a new government. Today, as I write this column, the chancellor of the exchequer has just finished announcing her budget, thus expressing the government’s choices about economic policies that will shape our country’s development.
By the time you read this, the Conservative Party will have chosen its new leader, the fourth in five years, though this one will not automatically become prime minister. The United States will also soon be choosing its next president and let us hope that the people’s choice will be respected by both parties. Like all elections, these are important events, and the victorious candidate/party has the opportunity to enact policies that we might, or might not, view as positive. The choices that we make have consequences.
Wiltshire’s time to choose will come in May 2025, when elections will be held for Melksham Town Council, Melksham Without Parish Council and Wiltshire Council. The de-funding of local government over recent years has led to all councils finding it difficult to pay for the services they are obliged to provide, never mind those that they would also like to provide.
Before we express our unhappiness about what “the council” is doing, we should take some time to find out just which council is responsible for the matter we wish to complain about.
Knowing more about councils’ responsibilities might lead to some people deciding to do something positive. Could you be a candidate in next year’s elections for the relevant council? Councils value a range of experiences brought by different people from different backgrounds. That is how they come to truly represent their community. Give it some thought. Your turn to choose!
