Why were you interested in getting involved with the Parish Council?
We moved to the village with three school-aged children and I wanted to support the community to make it a great place for everyone to live. I was initially a Councillor but had to step down after a number of years because of family caring commitments, my mother being terminally ill at the time. However, as I had been a member of the planning committee for a few years by this point and had accumulated a certain amount of knowledge in this area, the Council asked me if I would be interested in being co-opted as a member of that committee specifically. As the time requirement for just one committee is much more manageable than being a full Councillor, I was very happy to be able to continue to contribute.
What was the process of co-option to the Parish Council like?
After being sent some detailed information about roles and responsibilities, I was invited to attend some council meetings to see how everything worked and judge whether I wanted to commit. Once I had decided, there were various bits of paperwork such as declarations of interests and about following the appropriate legislation and codes of conduct.
What do you enjoy about your position?
Being able to learn about what is happening around Eynsham and hearing the different views and ideas of residents and those who work in the area is the best part of it. Then, being able to contribute in some way to the ideas and responses that the Parish Council develop on behalf of Eynsham, so that the village can grow in a manageable way, hopefully with improved facilities.
What do you find challenging?
Planning is a tricky area because for the most part it’s the District Council that is the Planning Authority, which means they make the decisions (highways being one of several exceptions where the County or somebody else is in charge). So, I can understand that people locally feel they have little say in what happens and that responses to consultations are ignored, plus there is so much development taking place locally.
From a Parish point of view, the whole planning system can be frustrating, but we do try to build relationships with the District Council and all the relevant parties and represent Eynsham views as strongly as possible. This has ensured that many planning decisions have been more positive than otherwise may have been the case.
Would you consider returning to being a Councillor at some point?
The specific circumstances that saw me leaving the councillor role no longer apply, so certainly I would consider returning in the future if more time becomes available. With two children still at Bartholomew School and one now off to university we, like everybody else, have to juggle lots of priorities.
What does being a co-opted member offer you compared to becoming a Councillor?
The big difference is one of commitment. Though things have been streamlined in the years since I first joined (over a decade ago), Councillors (who are, after all, volunteers and not employees) have to give a lot of time on a regular basis. As a co-opted member working in one specific area, I can focus just on this, which has been much more compatible with my other responsibilities.
What would you say to someone who is thinking about becoming co-opted, but isn’t sure?
Go along to see how it works. If you think you can contribute, that’s great! If you feel you don’t have expert knowledge on all the details, don’t worry about that; training can be provided and you will pick it up over time. A co-opted councillor is every bit a councillor as one who has been elected. Somebody co-opted onto a committee, like myself, can contribute to discussion every bit as much as the other members.
How long have you lived in Eynsham and why do you feel compelled to be involved with local issues?
I’ve been in Eynsham since 2010. As this is the place where we have chosen to live and bring up our children, and have made many friends, it seemed only right to try to give something back to the locality. People do that in lots of different ways – some work for charities, support the Carnival, run organisations such as Scouts or Guides – but having had an interest in politics and government, getting involved with local governance seemed to be a good way to learn all about it.
What do you like most about Eynsham?
The community. There is so much going on for not a huge place, and it all works at a sociable and personal level. Having lived in cities before coming here, the environment is just nice.
Would you be interested in joining the Council as a councillor or as a co-opted member of a committee? Contact us to find out more via epc.comms@eynsham-pc.gov.uk.
Read about another co-opted member here.