Hello again

It doesn't seem like five years since the end of my political career. But it is, and it's therefore time to resurrect it for the May 2013 Northumberland County Council elections. I've been thinking for the last year whether to stand or not; in 2008 I said that I would stand a couple of times because I ought to be more effective a second time around. I also have taken on a number of local voluntary roles since 2008 and I wanted to be comfortable that I had time, if I elected, to do the job properly. I think  can.

The roles - Citizens Advice, the local Abbeyfield Society, the Bamburgh Pavilion and Heritage Society and the Golf and Croquet clubs - have been a good opportunity to understand more about local issues and problems which should mean I could do a more effective job.

When I stood last time, the unitary council was new and I made a big thing about wanting to ensure the Council was held to account during the transition period and the importance of oversight and transparency of reporting. I still feel that strongly: the Council has had to deal with a sharply different financial environment and it still has much to do to keep within Central Government funding constraints while providing decent service to Council taxpayers.

At the moment I'm going through the selection process - although I think local politics should be more about the person than the party it is important to be part of a larger group if you want to be effective. Hopefully now I want to be selected I will be.

Then it's just a question of being elected..

 

 

I haven't deleted the various posts from 2008; I at least will be interested to see how the two campaigns compare..