On  behalf of the Residents Association (RA) councillors elected on May 7 I would like to offer our sincere thanks to the voters of Epsom and Ewell for their continued support.

Epsom and Ewell has been free from national party political control since its inception in the 1930s and it is clear from the result, and our increased majority, residents are as determined as ever to keep it that way. 

We now have an excellent team of 31 RA councillors all of whom will work tirelessly over the next four years to justify the faith voters have placed in us once again. We will not let you down. We know there are challenges and we will not shirk from them.  But there are  also opportunities to make life better for our residents.

Whilst I appreciate Julia Kirkland’s best wishes for all newly elected councillors in Epsom and Ewell in last week’s Guardian I am not sure I fully understand her comments about how RA councillors should now act. The fact that we have secured such a majority, and representation in all but two wards, would suggest residents know we do care about all sections of the community and borough.

Many of my RA colleagues have a background in  local voluntary and charitable service, and they continue to support local groups working with young people, vulnerable adults and those facing financial difficulties.   That knowledge and understanding of areas of deprivation and social need is translated into RA policies such as our ongoing commitment to increase affordable housing, support for the Citizens Advice Bureau and Age Concern and a recent agreement to provide grants to and champion the work of the SurreySave credit union.

Of course we seek to represent the views and aspirations of the local communities who voted for us to serve as councillors. But we also understand the importance of a borough-wide view. 

The RA, for example, has never had representation in court ward, but we know have a duty to ensure that issues facing this area are addressed by the council, a fact that is specifically referenced in our corporate plan.

Julia Kirkland asks us to "encourage challenge" from other parties. We already do that. Epsom and Ewell operates a committee system where individuals of all groups, including the national political parties, have a voice in policy-making. 

We pride ourselves on making our council an inclusive institution and certainly I believe opposition councillors in Epsom and Ewell are better placed to air their views and have their ideas considered than in any other council in Surrey.

My challenge to the national political parties is to work with us and become part of the decision-making process, rather than always being opposition-minded and negative. 

We expect to be challenged and held to account.  But if the approach is constructive they will find the RA group receptive, and perhaps that path leads to benefits for all residents.

Councillor Clive Woodbridge

Chairman, RA group of councillors