Councillor D
A grandmother representing a rural ward.
1. How long have you served as a Councillor?
I have served as a Councillor for two years. I was elected at a by-election in June 2004 in a four-way contest. The previous year, in May 2003, I stood for election against the sitting Councillor and was defeated by six votes.
2. What initially attracted you to Local Government?
The attraction to Local Government was the belief that the elected member would have the ability and the authority to get things moving or done.
I have been involved in several organisations and groups in the community since moving to the Highlands over 30 years ago and as a community Councillor I have a general interest in everything which is happening or planned for our village.
I never really thought about it as politics more about getting decisions about local issues made at local level by local people.
In the wider context, I have always been extremely interested in current affairs at local, national level, and international level.
3. What has been your greatest achievement so far as a Councillor?
It is only two years since I was elected a Councillor and the wheels of local government move slowly, so the achievements have been miniscule.
Getting funding from a developer for a new crossing in the village, arranging to have the car park resurfaced and ensuring my ward is represented at all levels of decision making.
However, fighting for a permanent fire station for our retained fire fighters who were operating out of a portacabin with no running water or toilets has been my greatest achievement to date. We now have planning permission, funding is in place and work is due to start next month.
If housing stock transfer goes ahead in October this will be a great achievement as I am on the management committee of Highland Housing Association working to achieve this outcome.
4. What do you feel is the biggest challenge for Councillors?
On a personal note, I feel the changes in Local Government will create enormous challenges in 2007, new wards, larger areas. Loss of personal contact with the electorate could mean ‘local’ is removed from 'Local Government'.
I believe the biggest challenge for Councillors is to hold the interest of the residents, to ensure the electorate realise they have a say in local decisions, that their opinions will be listened to and acted on.
People tell me they feel more and more decisions are being made at the centre and their voices are not heard.
5. In your role as a Councillor, what gives you the most satisfaction?
I get the most satisfaction when I can actively do something on behalf of the community or a resident, whether it is ensuring the bottle banks are emptied when overflowing, or acquiring funding for a school project, or arranging and physically helping a group of volunteers to clean up areas round their homes to improve their environment.
Getting the community to work together is very fulfilling. It is terrific when adults, children and grandparents come together to lend a hand.
On a strategic level it is exciting to be involved in the big decisions which affect the City of Inverness and the whole of Highland Region, decisions which will change and shape of the economy of the area in the next 30 years.
6. What advice would you give to anyone wanting to stand as a Councillor?
I would advise anyone to 'go for it!'
It is the most interesting, enlightening, useful, fulfilling work I have ever undertaken. On the other hand, occasionally it can be mind numbingly dull.
When I am sitting in a freezing hall, at a Community Council meeting at 10.45pm, 20 miles up a glen on a cold winter's night, discussing sheep droppings at the side of the road, I sometimes wonder!