Firstly I would like to congratulate all the winning candidates in this week’s local council elections.  As an unsuccessful candidate I appreciate how much work goes into the campaign so I wish all of you the very best as your familiarise yourselves with council procedures and process.

 I would however like all of you to consider the very unusual position you find yourselves in.  With 31 RA councillors, some of whom have served the borough for a number of years, I would urge you to encourage challenge from the other parties and work with them to ensure the views of all areas and demographics of our borough are included in your deliberations. 

We have young people who need jobs, opportunities and decent places to live, older, more vulnerable residents who need to feel secure and hardworking people who often have to seek employment further afield. 

We are all lucky enough to live in a very special area, just on the edge of the ever-expanding London boundary. Whilst you need to protect our environment please try to think of all of residents and represent them fairly.  Those of you who are new RA councillors need to be clear that you don’t just represent your ward but need to consider the needs of all residents, as no area of our borough is more important than any other and working for the greater good should be your primary concern.

 To those in opposition, challenge when you see unfairness or disproportionality being applied.  Good luck councillors, your residents trust you to work hard for them.

Julia Kirkland

(Stood for the Liberal Democrats in Ruxley Ward, Epsom and Ewell)

Via email