Councillors - General Information
Councillors are elected by local people to serve as their area
representative on a local authority. Most Councillors stand for
election as a political party candidate. In Bath and North
East Somerset there are 65 Councillors - 31
Conservatives, 26 Liberal Democrats, 5 Labour, 2
Independents and 1 Unaligned.
Some represent urban areas and others represent rural areas. The
areas they represent are known as Wards. The main roles of a
Councillor are:-
-
To represent the interests of the whole community that elected
him/her.
-
As a Member of the Council to participate in making the main
decisions about the level of local government services provided
throughout the Council area and how they are to be
provided.
-
To pursue political desires, e.g. for social change.
-
To represent the interests of the Council and its
area.
Councillors are paid out-of-pocket expenses and a Basic
Allowance to acknowledge their financial and time commitment in
performing all of the roles expected of them. Those with specific
roles also receive Special Responsibility Allowances.
Political Parties
The Conservative Party have formed the Administration and have
allocated 6 Cabinet places as follows:-
- Francine Haeberling - Leader of the Council
- Malcolm Hanney - Deputy Leader of the Council, and Cabinet
Member for Resources
- Vic Pritchard - Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services &
Housing
- David Hawkins - Cabinet Member for Development and Major
Projects
- Charles Gerrish - Cabinet Member for Customer Services
- Chris Watt - Cabinet Member for Children's Services
The Leaders of each of the Political Groups are as follows:-
- Councillor Francine Haeberling - Conservative Group
Leader
- Councillor Paul Crossley - Liberal Democrat Group
Leader
- Councillor Adrian Inker - Labour Group Leader
- Councillor Chris Cray - Independent Group
Leader
Political Group Research Assistants
This Council has taken advantage of a legal power to introduce a
scheme whereby the two largest Political Groups of Councillors on
the Council are entitled to appoint Political Research Assistants.
Unlike other officers, who have to be totally impartial in their
dealings with Political Groups, Political Assistants are expected
to work exclusively in support of one Political Group only. These
officers provide administrative support to Political Group meetings
as well as undertaking detailed research on behalf of Group
Members. They also offer advice about achieving the Group’s aims
within the Council.
Political Assistants are part of the Council and Member Services
Team of officers but who have a direct working relationship with
the Political Group Leader and Group Members. They are:-
- Conservative Political Research Assistant - Antony
Morrison - Telephone (01225) 394449
- Liberal Democrat Political Research Assistant - Jennifer
Pack - Telephone (01225) 477419
Group Support Officers
Members of the two smallest Political Groups have available to
them the services of part-time Group Support Officers who are part
of the Council and Member Services Team of officers but who have a
direct working relationship with the Political Group Leader and
Group Members. They are:-
- Labour Group Support Officer - Sarah Prettejohns - Telephone
(01225) 477494
- Independent Group Support Officer - Judith Clothier - Telephone
(01225) 396586
