Cllr Duncan Crow - standing up for the silent majority |
"The role of a councillor is to fairly represent the neighbourhood that elects them as well as to do their best for the wider town. There can be occasions when both these aims are not viewed as mutually compatible, but usually what is good for a neighbourhood will be good for the town.
Councillors
are often approached by people with vested interests or by lobbying groups. It
is right that that we are responsive to concerns and that they are given a fair
hearing. While it can often be the right thing to do, it is however not always
right is to tell such groups what they want to hear in order to gain favour for
hopeful electoral advantage.
Sometimes,
we can see councillors (often those who aspire to higher office), who aim to
please by supporting every available cause going. Over a period of time, this
can mean they end up endorsing things that are diametrically opposed to one
another. An example of this can be campaigning for more housing and then
consistently opposing all planning applications for new housing, when
approached by anyone against any new homes near them.
This is
becoming an increasingly common occurrence and I believe that over time there
becomes an issue of credibility. There is however a wider problem that builds
up over time if Council policy is determined by always saying yes to vocal
minorities who make a lot of noise regardless of merit, while not taking into
account the silent majority. The risk is not having a successful wider strategy
that benefits the entire town. By taking the easy option in always trying to
please all of the people all of the time, one can eventually end up pleasing no
one.
More often
than not, I do give support to causes when approached as they are usually
worthwhile, but crucially I recognise that sometimes one must not be afraid to
say no, in putting the wider interests of the town first. It may mean one is
not always liked, but always considering the silent majority will mean one is usually
respected."
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