🗳️ THE COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ROLE OF COUNCILLORS

You sometimes see comments on social media about North Somerset councillors such as 'they get paid big salaries', 'they claim huge expenses' and 'they don't live here' - it's hard to know ...what's true. So I've answered some common questions ⤵️

🤔 Myth: Councillors get massive salaries.
✅ Reality: Councillors aren't employees and don't receive a salary. We are paid an allowance of £11,285.25 per year - we've voted to freeze this for the last two years. Councillors with extra responsibilities, such as cabinet members and committee chairs, receive an additional allowance for that extra workload.

🤔 Myth: Councillors claim huge expenses.
✅ Reality: Councillors are entitled to claim for specific expenses, but most, like me, choose not to (I've never claimed a single penny in my 7 years). Legally, expenses are very restricted to certain travel and subsistence while carrying out council work. Where councillors produce leaflets, websites, online newsletters etc the cost is covered by councillors personally.

🤔 Myth: Councillors don't live here.
✅ Reality: We do live here. We walk the same streets and shop in the same supermarkets. By law, to stand for election as a local councillor, you must live, work, or own property in North Somerset. This is unlike parliamentary elections, where candidates can move in from anywhere in the country.

🤔 Myth: Councillors are all retired.
✅ Reality: I don't know everyone's personal retirement status, but according to figures collected in May 2025, 70% of North Somerset’s councillors are over 50, and 42% are over 60. Just 12% of councillors are 40 or under - this includes me.

🤔 Myth: Councillors can't be forced to attend official council meetings.
✅ Reality: There is a legal requirement, but the bar set by national law is incredibly low. A councillor technically only has to attend at least one official council meeting every six consecutive months to keep their seat and their allowance. If they fail to attend any meetings at all for a full six-month period, they automatically lose their seat. North Somerset Council does publish attendance records online.

🤔 Myth: Councillors only turn up at election time.
✅ Reality: Elections get the most noise, but whether an election is next week or three years away, resident casework never stops. We are answering late-night emails, attending committee meetings, and fighting for the community we represent. Most nights I work late in the evening after finishing my day job, and I work on weekends too. (There will, of course, always be some who do this more or less than others!)

🤔 Myth: Councillors make all the big decisions behind closed doors.
✅ Reality: Most formal council decisions, debates, and votes happen in public meetings by law. Agendas and minutes are published online, and residents are welcome to attend and give their say. Furthermore, official council emails regarding council business are subject to Freedom of Information laws.

🤔 Myth: One councillor can't actually change anything
✅ Reality: Yes they can, but it's hard work and often takes a long time due to competing interests and pressures, and they may not always be successful. I might not be able to change national policy, but on a local level, I have helped to get roads resurfaced, new traffic lights, road markings, new bins, helped residents secure blue badges and improved housing allocation bandings, pulled organisations together to tackle anti-social behaviour, secured donations for local charities, and supported neighbours with many other issues.

Appreciate this isn't the most interesting topic, and isn't every question I've ever seen, but thought I'd shed some light on the mystery that is councillors.

🚗 HAYWOOD VILLAGE COMMUNITY CAR BOOT SALE

On Saturday there's a community car boot sale in the carpark of Haywood Village Academy in aid of Weston Hospicecare.

Tables available at £5 or just come along and support the community.

Details ⤵️

🗓️ ...Saturday 23rd May
🕦 11.30 - 13.15
📍 Haywood Village Academy Car Park

✅ CASEWORK SUCCESS

A lot of what a councillor does focuses on dealing with individual pieces of casework within their ward.

Recently, I received confirmation that I'd successfully helped a resident challenge their housing allocation banding - a great result, and I'm ...incredibly glad I could help!

Need assistance? If you live in Winterstoke Ward and need some help, please feel free to get in touch:
⤵️
https://n-somerset.moderngov.co.uk/mgUserInfo.aspx?UID=136

🚅🌳 NETWORK RAIL AND HUTTON MOOR ROAD

Several weeks ago, I met with some residents from Methwyn Close about the impact of the recent tree removal works by Network Rail at Hutton Moor Road.

The work was essential due to tree roots damaging property, but the removal of the ...trees has had a wider impact - resulting in more noise, litter, and a lack of privacy for those homes whose gardens back onto the area.

I am incredibly frustrated that after writing to the CEO of Network Rail to request additional solid fencing closer to the pavement, to help minimise the impact, this request has been declined on the grounds that their only obligation was to replace a like-for-like wire fence.

I understand Network Rail will be reviewing the area again soon, and I strongly urge them to do the right thing and agree to this entirely reasonable request from residents.