Apoliticals in the Local Paper, err, the other local paper Options

[Simon Kirby]

Linky thing.

TWO candidates standing under an Apolitical banner are planning to put the cat among the pigeons by standing for Newbury Town Council at next month's by-election.

Married couple Charlie Farrow and Dave Yates, from Berkeley Road, will be fighting on Thursday, May 9, for the two Victoria ward seats left vacant when Liberal Democrats Liz Salter and Mukesh Bansal stepped down last month because of work and personal commitments.

They are hoping to shake up the established parties and Charlie said this week: "The Council's not listening. If we can get two Apolitical voices on Newbury Town Council maybe we can amplify the voices of the thousands who are not being heard."

I'm an Apolitical myself and I'm really pleased that Dave and Charlie are standing, and it would be just so great if they could beat Labour to win the election. The Town Council could be a real powerhouse in the community but over the last ten years it's become more and more alienated from the townspeople it is supposed to serve. The council needs councillors with fresh ideas and an openness to the ideas of others. If you're in Victoria ward I hope you'll vote for Dave and Charlie.

[On the edge]

I don't live in Victoria Ward but for this, wish I did! Appreciate the Greens haven't put up a candidate, which might be a good thing, because the electors will be spoilt for choice. As someone who thought local democracy was in its death throes, that we are having a contest at all, let alone with two new party options, who are treating this very seriously is frankly astounding. No matter the immediate outcome, this can only be good, so well done for standing. With luck, the Greens are keeping their powder dry for the WBC elections, when I'll get the chance and am hoping that I'll have a ticket that needs some careful thought too. If anyone here is from Victoria Ward, whatever your affiliation, please turn up and either vote or just put your ballot paper in the box.

[user23]

I don't live in Victoria Ward but for this, wish I did! Appreciate the Greens haven't put up a candidate, which might be a good thing, because the electors will be spoilt for choice.

Is choice a bad thing?

[MontyPython]

Is choice a bad thing?

No. It would be great to have a choice of CEO for WBC. Unfortunately we don't get that opportunity so we are left with the useless Nick Carter!

[On the edge]

No. It would be great to have a choice of CEO for WBC. Unfortunately we don't get that opportunity so we are left with the useless Nick Carter!

If the Councillors actually operated at the level they were supposed to, there is absolutely no need for a CEO.

[blackdog]

If the Councillors actually operated at the level they were supposed to, there is absolutely no need for a CEO.

WBC is one of, if not the, biggest employer in W Berks - and certainly needs professional management - of course it needs a CEO. You can't expect a bunch of part time councillors to run the day to day business of that large a 'business'.

However, the councillors are there to set policy, which should be about doing what is right and best for the people of W Berks - sadly the impression I get is that they rely on Council officers to tell them what to do far more often than they decide for themselves. Often the officers will be right (they are paid to know what they are talking about) - but it seems to me that alternative opinions are rarely listened to. The so-called consultation process they use is laughable - really just a way of collecting opinions that are almost always ignored.