doulikefish Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 I've done it. Won every round till the last two, I'm quite proud of that considering the area I worked solidly voted no last year and it's a labour stronghold to this day. It's also hard work for practically no pay - £16k for a councillor. It's a weird experience. I'm unsure if I would do not again, Edinburgh behind the scenes can be 'interesting' at best, GoT at worst. I have been asked and I'm sure my name will come up again, but it's maybe the newbies turn next time out. Get the form filled out and ill come through and help for next may Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny Danger Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 I'm not being critical of those serving or wanting to stand for their local Council but if I knew then what I know now I wouldn't have done it. I suppose it's easy to be clever in hindsight but when I see how little ability there is to influence change then it makes me less enthused than I was at the time. That said we took over from a rock solid Tory administration who lost the election on the back of a whole bunch of primary school closures so I suppose it was better than the alternative. The problem is that 'Local Government' in this country is really 'Local Administration'; what I mean by that is that there is very little spend that is discretionary. This will be even more the case now with the Council Tax freeze so the ability to raise funds, let alone spend it how you see fit, is simply not there now. On the spending side, local authorities have huge statutory obligations in the areas of social work, education and housing. They also have a significant demand on everything from street sweeping to parks departments. Once these obligations are filled the ability to commit funds to other areas, however worthwhile, are virtually non existent. For the most part you are taking pre-determined budgets and spending them in a way that is largely dictated by statutory duties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rational Posted May 28, 2015 Share Posted May 28, 2015 Get the form filled out and ill come through and help for next may Cheers mate, it's 2017 iirc for council. I'm taking a back seat for the foreseeable future, I'm a bit scunnered with it all at the moment but that might change in the next year or so. I suppose it's a case of seeing who goes up in Edinburgh East next year. Martin? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doulikefish Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Cheers mate, it's 2017 iirc for council. I'm taking a back seat for the foreseeable future, I'm a bit scunnered with it all at the moment but that might change in the next year or so. I suppose it's a case of seeing who goes up in Edinburgh East next year. Martin? Could be a shout Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rational Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Could be a shout That would be something to behold! Although he might have to leave the two handled broadsword at home.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'm Brian Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 The new snp system revealed this week asks for your social media usernames and any accounts you have on websites to be disclosed. Thats my FM dream over. Blimey, a touch OTT. But I suppose understandable, given the ridiculous dredging of posts, by the opposition from people's teenage years. I reckon I could just about get away with it, but as I'll never be standing I can be as abusive to folks as I want I do know one or two though, who on learning this will be frantically searching through their history. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Wilson Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 I was a union rep. I mostly hid in the union room drinking carry outs and pretending to work on personal cases...If I wasn't in the pub. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I'm Brian Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 I was a union rep. I mostly hid in the union room drinking carry outs and pretending to work on personal cases...If I wasn't in the pub. Obviously you weren't doing it right. You should have endlessly been away on courses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Wilson Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Obviously you weren't doing it right. You should have endlessly been away on courses.I did that too...and conferences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rational Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Well that's me screwed. My profile on here pays to that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~~~ Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 [quote name="Mr Rational" post="9509547" timestamp="1432839264"It's also hard work for practically no pay - £16k for a councillor. f**k that, not worth the money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
welshbairn Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 It's also hard work for practically no pay - £16k for a councillor. Not bad for a part time job, how many hours do the really lazy ones do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rational Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 Well the ones I know are working just about 7 days a week and often in the evening as they are attending tenants meetings etc in order to find out what is happening in their wards and help out as much as they can. Lazy ones? There's lazy in every party, mine included so a couple of days a week is the minimum I think. You can get your pay up if you go on committees etc, but it's not the gravy train most folk think. You are also expected to help out if there's by elections near by, other campaigns etc. It's more of a way of life..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerwickMad Posted May 29, 2015 Author Share Posted May 29, 2015 When I used to help run residents meetings on the estate I managed, we used to tell the councillors not to come. Had them there at the start and they would try and dominate the meeting and impress people so we just told them not to come unless the residents decided to invite them. I think there is one parish council where I am thinking about standing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerwickMad Posted May 29, 2015 Author Share Posted May 29, 2015 This is the level of shit getting flung around about our town council today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny Danger Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 I am glad social media was not available when I was a councillor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rational Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 The sign of a good councillor is one that listens. In fact, anyone going into public service needs to do more listening than talking IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BerwickMad Posted July 31, 2015 Author Share Posted July 31, 2015 Was my results day today for the Castle Ward in Berwick. Lost by 12 votes! 232 to 220. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkoRaj Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 Was my results day today for the Castle Ward in Berwick. Lost by 12 votes! 232 to 220. Unlucky bud Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H_B Posted August 1, 2015 Share Posted August 1, 2015 Was my results day today for the Castle Ward in Berwick. Lost by 12 votes! 232 to 220. Postal vote shenanigans!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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