10 Minutes with Cllr Jennifer TuffleyI became a Councillor as I wanted to 'do my bit', to be proactive in changing things I didn’t agree with and which I knew friends and fellow residents were also not satisfied with. I thought me being on the Council might encourage younger people to want to represent the village in this way, perhaps some parents of young children! I liked the idea of standing for election alongside other pragmatic thinking women, and joining a council that was younger overall than many previous councils. I also felt compelled to represent my late mother-in-law whose family have lived in Brill for generations. I wanted to be part of changing how the parish council worked, in particular to encourage more use of our beautiful spaces, primarily for local people, and improve how we as a village care for the open land we share. Parish Councils matter - up to a point. Councillors make decisions which impact local people and being on a parish council gives you a voice countywide. A big part of the role is listening to people. You find out what really matters to your neighbours and some of this can be surprising! Being a councillor is an education in how our society and political system work, and this really matters to me. You learn, on a micro-level, why decisions and actions matter so much and where the system needs changing to make it work better for everyone. Everyone needs to know this and I really think serving on a parish council should be compulsory, akin to Jury service. If everyone did it, maybe our country would be a better place. What successes have I had in the last five years? When I joined the council I felt the time was right for change; for working more effectively and generally getting the parish council house ‘in order’. Two examples: Secure storage for important information and documents in Dropbox, our online filing cabinet - and reducing our financial reserves. In the past, the PC reserves have been very large but we actually only need sufficient to cover the cost of mandatory spending responsibilities. It’s been good to spend some money on worthwhile projects such as the new playgrounds, windmill renovations, and common conservation work. I’m also proud of how the council responded proactively to current issues, in particular welcoming Ukrainians through Brill with Ukraine. Challenges? First of all, be prepared to compromise. This is crucial and necessary. Conversely, if you’re sure you are right, you need to convince people of you point of view - and this can be a lonely place because some voices shout louder. If you’re thinking of standing for the parish council in May, first reflect on your motives. Don't join if it's only to serve your own needs and desires. If you do, you’ll waste everyone's time - and discourage others from getting involved. If you’re sincere about being a councillor and working for the good of the community, try to join with one other person who shares your aims and your point of view. Grow a thick skin and, above all, be steadfast with your morals.
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