Jon is a co-opted member of the Planning Committee, which meets monthly. He sits on the committee and brings his expertise to discussions on planning and development in the village. However, he is not a full Councillor and does not have voting rights.
Why didn’t you want to be a Councillor?
I didn’t have enough time. I’m still working a little, am a Trustee for Community First Oxfordshire, I volunteer with two other organisations and have family commitments. I like to travel too, so would end up missing meetings too often.
When and why did you become co-opted?
I became a co-opted member in 2022 and the process was very easy. I had been managing Citizens Advice in the south of the county for the previous five years and wanted to find something to give me a sense of purpose, but without so much responsibility. The Planning Committee appealed as I have some background in that area and want to do my bit to ensure the new housing developments planned for Eynsham are as good as they can be.
Are you enjoying it?
It’s been a really positive experience and I enjoy working with the Parish Councillors, who are very committed to the village. As I said, I’m particularly interested in the bigger development projects happening locally and it’s satisfying to be able to review the planning applications and share my views in discussions. I’ve also been involved in writing a ‘Village Character Assessment’ that feeds into the new Neighbourhood Plan. This will help the Parish Council influence housing and other developments in the future.
What are the benefits to the Council of having co-opted members on committees?
There is a value in having additional people with experience and expertise to help inform discussions and ask pertinent questions. To oversimplify, I suppose co-opted members tend to be more specialist, while Councillors have to be generalists, though most Councillors will have or acquire specialisms. I think it may help to have some people who aren’t distracted by all the other Council business to make sure certain issues aren’t overlooked or forgotten.
What responsibilities are involved as a co-opted member?
We’re required to attend the monthly meetings as often as possible, which are held in the evening at the Village Hall. For the planning committee, you need to read all the documents – these can be long – and sometimes I will prepare detailed comments, which also takes time.
What was your profession?
My last job before retiring from full time employment was Director of Citizens Advice in Oxfordshire South and Vale. Prior to that I worked for central Government as a Director in the Department of Communities and Local Government.
Interested in being a co-opted member of a committee? Find out more on our 'Getting Involved' webpage.