Learn about being a Rutland County Councillor ahead of local elections three prospective Councillor events will be held in the main Council Chamber at Rutland County Council’s Catmose offices in Oakham.
I have attended some of these meetings in the past and they have always concerned me. The main reason being, they have only been attended by serving Conservative Councillors, with the Libdem's and independents refusing to attend. So it would not be wrong for me to say, when I have come away from these meetings it has felt like a Tory recruitment drive. So I hope the other parties will attend the meetings this time around.
It is common knowledge the Rutland Conservatives are struggling to find candidates and It would be fair to say all parties struggle and who would want to give their time to serve the community? Over the last few years, The Rutland Conservatives appeared to have lost the ability to bully those outside the party and started to concentrate on their own membership. Rutland Conservatives have seen many resignations over the last year. Some publicly stating this and other keeping quiet.
I think next years elections here in Rutland may see even more than the normal unopposed seats filled.
It should be a good year for anyone not waving the Tory flag and who really wants to serve there community. I think it is a real opportunity for anyone who is interested in doing just that. Forget the parish council / town council, that is just a waste of anyone's time or energy. There is no way being a town councillor, can make the slightest difference for residents. You can assist residents at county level, you only have to read what former Conservative county councillor Alan Walters published today. He says.
'The best bit - helping residents in my ward with their immediate problems - now that is something to celebrate when it happens.'
He also refers to the 'the persistent online abuse'
I personally know of County Councillors and their families who have been subjected to abuse in the street. None of this is acceptable, certainly something to consider when deciding if you want to become a county councillor here in Rutland.
Cllr Alan Walters post:
HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS AT Rutland County Council.
........as I approach the final four months of my 12 year stint as a county councillor I have reflected on the highlights and low points - watching over adult social care and seeing it regularly rated as number one in the country - single - handedly authorising many 100's of thousands £ of spending on changes to care packages to avoid the elderly being left without care when providers withdrew their offer of service - overseeing a brilliant team in the adults department making sure that Rutland residents were not part of the bed-blocking issue during Covid - fighting for services in Rutland which I believe was instrumental in recent investment at the RMH.
And yet set against that the persistent online abuse - the letter from the chair of the local Labour Party addressed to me in person and delivered to my home address accusing me of personally misleading the public and saying they had evidence that RCC was going to buy RMH and run it themselves - the complete utter failure to receive any support when I made a complaint of bullying - being sacked from Cabinet for refusing to be a Tory then others leaving the party and saying they wanted to stay on Cabinet (and doing so). Was it all worth it? Yes, but only just.
Good luck to anyone who is mad enough to stand to take my place. The best bit - helping residents in my ward with their immediate problems - now that is something to celebrate when it happens.
Rutland County Council asks:
Have you ever thought about representing your community as a County Councillor? Rutland County Council is offering you the chance to find out what it takes to be a local representative at a series of events in December.
Local elections for all 27 seats on Rutland County Council will take place in May 2023. It is hoped that shedding light on the work that Councillors do and encouraging more people to stand in these elections will increase the choice and variety of candidates for voters.
The first of three prospective Councillor events will be held in the main Council Chamber at Rutland County Council’s Catmose offices in Oakham, from 6.00pm to 8.00pm on Monday 12 December. The first hour will include a presentation and question-answer session. The second hour will be a drop-in session where people can collect information and speak to officers at any time between 7.00pm and 8.00pm.
Two further drop-in sessions will take place outside of Oakham – one at Uppingham Town Hall from 6.00pm to 8.00pm on Monday 19 December and one at Ketton Library from 2.00pm to 4.00pm on Wednesday 21 December.
Anyone can attend these free events, where they can learn about the role of a Councillor, the work that Councillors do and how to stand for election next year.
Councillor Lucy Stephenson, Leader of Rutland County Council, said:
“For those who care deeply about where they live and want to make a positive contribution to society, there is no better job than being a Councillor. That doesn’t mean it’s easy – bringing about change can be difficult at the best of times and we are living through a particularly challenging period in our history. However, if you are hardworking, responsible, public-spirited and willing to make tough decisions for the benefit of Rutland, as a whole, you will find being a Councillor incredibly rewarding.”
Rutland County Council is asking people to email: governance@rutland.gov.uk or call: 01572 720 993 to register an interest in attending these events, so that officers can gauge numbers and plan appropriately.
You can also submit questions about becoming a councillor by email, ahead of the events.
Event details
Monday 12 December 2022
- Presentation and drop-in session
- 6.00pm to 7.00pm (presentation and Q&A) and 7.00pm to 8.00pm (drop-in session)
- Council Chamber, Rutland County Council, Catmose, Oakham, Rutland, LE15 6HP
Monday 19 December 2022
- Drop-in session
- 6.00pm to 8.00pm
- Uppingham Town Hall, 49 High St East, Uppingham, LE15 9PY
Wednesday 21 December 2022
- Drop-in session
- 2.00pm to 4.00pm
- Ketton Library, 67 High St, Ketton, PE9 3TE
For more information please contact: governance@rutland.gov.uk
