Patrick Edwards' comments are not as unreasonable as they may first appear, provided - and here is the bottom line - that he is indeed using the time which he could be spending at meetings in a way which he genuinely feels to be of more help to his constituents.In my first four years as a councillor, when I was the sole community voice on an area committee of fourteen and a borough council of sixty, I frequently chose to spend time working in my ward with constituents in preference to council meetings, because amongst them I could work constructively whereas at council meetings my presence had absolutely no impact on the proceedings. At full council as a lone community member I could not have even proposed a motion because I would have needed a seconder. At area committee my influence was actually less than zero, because my support for or opposition to a particular recommendation would make a contrary outcome more likely.Now that there are three of us, and no political party enjoys an overall majority on the area committee, proceedings are far more relaxed and we do sometimes have an input - hence my higher attendance. At full council I have proposed motions (invariably defeated, but often vigorously debated), hence my increased participation once again.Ultimately the councillor must be free to decide where his or her efforts should best be concentrated. Where I would criticise Councillor Edwards is for his acceptance of posts on committees which he has no intention of contributing to. If he is too busy to attend a meeting of the Police and Community Consultative Group, then he should do the decent thing and allow his place to be taken by somebody who isn't. What is the point in accepting nomination to a committee and not being able to participate in it?Some councillors obviously put in more hours than others. I would say my own role takes up at least 60-70 hours in a week, but that would include organisational duties within the ICG which obviously a member of an established political party does not have, or at least not to the same degree. I have no doubt that there are councillors with a better record of attendance at council meetings than I have who nevertheless do not put in anything like the number of hours which I do. It's a question of horses for courses.Attendance at meetings is certainly one criterion by which a councillor's performance can be measured, but it would be wrong to make it the only one. Sitting gormlessly at meeting after meeting whilst doing nothing at grass roots level is not my idea of serving my community. Ultimately members of the public will have a good idea of whether or not their councillor is active on their behalf. If Councillor Edwards is being truthful when he tells us that he spends so much of his time with his constituents then he will have nothing to worry about. If not, well then that's a different story.
Phil Andrews ● 7438d