The Twelfth Angry Man

The Twelfth Angry Man: My disappointing attempt to join Audlem Parish Council

Having read the recent appeals (with which I strongly agreed) on AudlemOnline (AOL) for new candidates to come forward to join the local Parish Council (PC) in Audlem and be nominated for election, I bravely (and nervously) decided to throw my hat in the ring, hoping there would be an election involving a few new names to add strength to the existing good members of our PC.

I duly filled in the appropriate paperwork and submitted it to Cheshire East before the 9th April deadline and waited to hear about the election details on Friday.

Win or lose, I decided that it would be good for everyone in the village to have a proper election with the choice for local residents to select an all-new PC.

It was a bit disappointing therefore, when I was informed on Friday 10th that there were only 12 nominees (including me) and consequently, there would NOT be an election and that I was automatically co-opted onto the Parish Council.

This was a bit disappointing but worse was to come when I read on Saturday morning the new article on AOL by the PC's (Chairperson) Heather Jones, (someone I have a real genuine liking and respect for) taking issue with the previous AOL appeals and contradicting the assertions that the statements about working for the Parish Council were not onerous were totally wrong and that in fact to become a Parish Councilor was seemingly almost a full-time unpaid nightmare commitment involving long days and nights toiling over every detail of local Parish business!

In fact the whole article seemed to actively want to dissuade any new potential candidates and anyone with daytime work commitments from ever participating in the local Parish Council.

I was utterly taken aback by this statement and felt it was a very agressive deterrent to anyone who might be young, energetic or talented from even considering a role in a local PC.

As I am unable to commit myself to 24/7 unpaid work for the local community, due to other work commitments, I have had to therefore sadly withdraw from my newly appointed role as a new Audlem Parish Councilor by resigning immediately from the role.

But what is really extraordinary about this story is the way our PC have behaved in not commenting on a story first published on AOL on 20th March for three weeks, until 11th April – TWO DAYS AFTER nominations have closed for the PC elections to make their comments on the earlier story, upon which not only myself, but other nominees may have based their decision to put themselves forward!

This seems very cynical and possibly even a manipulation of the democratic process by those within the PC who clearly do not want an open and fair democratic election.

Any such comments should have been made well before the closing of nominations, and it calls into question the way our PC is being run?

I do feel AOL's original stories in which the appeals were made were perfectly fair and really encouraged me to want to contribute to the local community but the way the PC has responded made me feel very unwelcome indeed.

I cannot help feel that Audlem is the loser, but sadly, I will certainly have to think twice about ever getting involved in the future!

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