Spare a thought for your local councillor

We are at the end of the most unremarkable political conference season ever, please spare a thought for those local politicians on the ground who are already trying to deal with the fall out of all the issues of Covid and of course the rocketing cost of maintaining local services. Its only just emerging that the extra money for the NHS will not cover social care for some time and that councils will (and are allowed) to add 2% plus to cover social care in addition to any other increase. Interestingly that on the same day as the increase in national Insurance “It slipped out” that the “triple lock was suspended” as if no one would notice, what wasn’t really noticed is the changes in duty on share sales etc, which ironically will affect pension fund returns which are already stressed, talk about a double hit for the pensioners.

Councillors (most are volunteers) are now spending enormous amounts of time trying to protect services and balancing the books for their communities often with more responsibilities and control than that of elected MPs (who do it as a job).

Do they really understand how their decisions impact their community?  (Particularly cabinet ministers) or do they rely upon their very inexperienced aids (often just out of Uni) who frankly know very little, don’t live or know the community but are ofay with the latest “big thoughts” or “dance techniques”.
Meanwhile the local councillors and councils are left to pick up the pieces to try and make it work long after the removal of any minister or change in “Big thoughts”, whilst at the same time explaining to residents that they will have to pay “several quid more” in their council tax to maintain the same level of service.
Unfortunately, I like others will end up with the usual abuse and confrontation over many elements that we have little or no control over. Is this what we signed up for, or did we sign up to support and help our community, I do wonder these days and it’s no surprise that getting quality experienced people to stand and make a contribution locally is an increasing problem.

Such is the democratic process