By Gary Cowan
As the late great Shane Warne said cricket is a simple game.
Keep it simple and just go out and play.
If only being a Councillor at Wokingham Borough Council could be the same.
Out of 54 Councillors only two are independent and that’s myself in Arborfield and Jim Frewin in Shinfield. I am up for election this year and its Jim’s turn next year.
Waiting at the crease to open the batting for the independents against the mighty ruling Conservative administration is a daunting experience but someone has to stand up for the residents against the excesses of the Conservatives in the Council Chamber.
For myself and Jim as independent batsmen it’s all about pitting our wits against a field of 31 ruling Conservatives including the umpires who are are Conservatives so no independence there. The first ball delivered is a googly but after a few balls you get the message that the Conservatives never deliver a straight ball.
Be wary though if you score a four by hitting the ball into the long grass it will end up among all the residents broken promises along with their aims and ambitions lying in the long grass that does not fit in with Conservative ideology.
Another no ball.
The good news if you are a cricketer in the North of the Borough will have lots of green fields to build cricket pitches as no houses are planned for their green fields. The opposite can be said if you live in the South of the Borough but you can travel North to play or watch cricket as there will be no green fields left in the South if the Conservatives get their way. Not very green but definitely very Conservative. Phew, a bouncer.
Waiting to bat I think as independents what do we stand for? It’s very simple really its serving our residents first without party politics. We can and do work with all parties as we have no party ideological restrictions. We vote for what we think is right for our residents and not what we are told to vote for. We are able to speak the truth (not party bluster) as we are not just a repeated voice of a party leader.
Whats very disappointing is how the ruling Conservatives do business. The ruling Executive consists only of Conservatives. With 31 Councillors they have a majority in the Council Chamber. They have arranged for all the Council Committees to have in built majorities so their ideology wins the day every time and this includes the four scrutiny committees and the standards board who in theory are there to scrutinise the Administration. It’s an impossible task to be open and transparent as these committee’s with their built in Conservative majorities are joined at the hip to the ruling executive and of course central government.
Waiting to bat one final though crossed my mind and that is I have never seen a streaker in the Council chamber and I must admit I’ve never got to the bottom of streaking.
Not streakers but I would love to see a few more Independent Councillors in the Council Chamber. The beneficiaries would be Wokingham’s residents.
Perhaps a boundary review might help but in all probability that might stump a few Conservative Councillors but I doubt it.
Residents deeply care about their communities as residents action groups nationwide have shown and as do independent councillors.
They act for what is right for the community. Sadly the Wokingham Model is as the Conservatives are all paid up members of the party they are expected to bend their knees and follow the leader.
Many contribute little to nothing to the community they now seek to represent if it clashes with Conservative ideology. Another bouncer now this is getting tough.
Between overs May 5 comes to mind as it will be an interesting election day locally.
The Conservative candidate who lost in Arborfield by 317 votes in 2018 is now trying his luck in Shinfield having failed in Arborfield.
Meanwhile another Conservative candidate and Shinfield Councillor having lost his seat in Shinfield by 432 votes in 2019 he is now trying his luck in Arborfield.
I wonder what message that sends to the electorate?
As bad light has stopped play it’s ended up as a draw. Now don’t forget to vote on May 5th. Your vote is a gift, use it wisely.
Cllr Gary Cowan is the independent canddiate for Arbrorfield in the forthcoming local elections
