My first six months as a councillor for Chiswick Riverside ward

Riverside ward Councillor Amy Croft (R) out canvassing for Labour at the weekend

Guest blog by Cllr Amy Croft

It is just over six months since the local elections in May. Chiswick elected two first time councillors – one Labour and one Conservative. We asked them both to write a guest blog for The Chiswick Calendar about how their first six months had gone.

Here is Amy Croft’s piece – Labour councillor for Chiswick Riverside.

It has certainly been a busy six months since the Council elections back in May, there is a lot to learn as a Councillor and it has been a steep, but enjoyable, learning curve. The first two or three months, as I am sure all current Councillors will agree, has involved a large amount of intensive training sessions; training which is vital to understand quite the degree and scope of services and processes for which the Council have responsibility.

I feel really privileged to have been appointed as a trustee to the both Chiswick House and Gardens Trust, and the Chiswick Pier Trust; getting to know both of these organisations and working with them to see how, both I individually, and the Council more generally, can help ensure that residents of the Borough are able to gain the most enjoyment from these wonderful community assets, has been very rewarding.

I am the Vice Chair of the Council’s Licensing Committee, who are responsible for providing licenses to people and premises for a variety of reasons, and I also sit on the Audit and Governance Committee, who act as scrutiny for the finance, conduct and priority setting of the Council.

Outside of the more formal parts of the role, by far the most rewarding part of being a Councillor is getting to know residents and helping with casework on diverse issues ranging from fly tipping, LTN’s, parking and planning to hedgehogs and rosebushes.

I hold a surgery once a month at the St Michael’s Centre on Elmwood Road, my next one is on Saturday 3 December from 5pm until 6:30pm, however I am always happy to meet residents via Zoom or Teams, if residents wish to meet at other times. I have also been out door knocking in my ward, at the weekends, to introduce myself, and to see if there are issues where I can provide help to residents, I aim to get around the rest of the ward in the coming months.

I am in a somewhat unique position, as a ward Councillor for Chiswick Riverside, and the only Labour Councillor in the three wards which make up Chiswick. I think that brings with it some challenges, but these are far outweighed by the benefits.

I think that when you have an area, like Chiswick, where historically, the Councillors have been in opposition, it is very difficult for a “them and us” mentality not to creep in, especially where there are developments which split public opinion. I do not think this is specific to any party, and in honesty I think much the same would apply if the situation were reversed.

I think that this combination has led to a divide in opinion which has caused ill feeling amongst some residents both towards the Council, and/or towards other residents. This is deeply regrettable, and definitely a challenge, although one which is certainly not insurmountable.

As a Chiswick Councillor in the Labour group, I will work towards rebuilding these important relationships. I am also keen to ensure that residents are heard on the issues which affect them and that myself and the other Chiswick Councillors work towards positive resolutions to these issues. My ward and area colleagues, have, to their credit, been very welcoming and I look forward to continuing to work together with them for the benefit of residents.

The new administration of the Council has pledged to be a listening Council and from my experience of the last six months this is definitely the case; the amalgamation of the two exemption schemes in Riverside ward to allow residents better access is an example of this; and I am hopeful that this will be the first of many examples.

Should you wish to contact me, I can be reached at amy.croft@hounslow.gov.uk or on 07997 396014.

Read more stories on The Chiswick Calendar

See also: My first six months as councillor for Chiswick Homefields ward – Guest blog by Jack Emsley

See also: The Chiswick Area Forum discusses transport, traffic and parking

See all the latest stories: Chiswick Calendar News & Features

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