Oundle Chronicle Prince William School Romance Lives 50th Anniversary pages 10-11 page 12 Established 1991 Best Newspaper 2016 Shine School Media Awards Spring 2021 The higher purpose of local government Ned Chatterton Last February one unsuspecting council and a certain Jackie Weaver were catapulted into the limelight. The YouTube video of a fractious Handforth Parish council instantly became a national talking point and phrases like, “You have no author- ity here, Jackie Weaver!” could be called out in the street to the know- ing smiles of any passer-by. Aside from its comic value, the video also reminded people of what some see as the pitfalls of local government. Amateurism, inefficiency and egotism – all these words could be thrown at those who serve as volunteers on our parish councils. But take a look at Oundle Town Council for a different picture. The council declares on its web- site that its aim is to maintain “a beautiful thriving market town re- nowned for being a fantastic place to live, work and a joy to visit”. It may appear relatively basic at face value but, of course, it takes a lot to keep Oundle this good. Georgina Backhurst, Ali Lloyd and Ali Winbolt are part of the volunteer team from Blooming Oundle who have designed The council carries out a new planting scheme across Oundle. With materials and plants donated from Coles Building Merchants, Nene Valley many day-to-day roles such as Brewery, and The Barn and with funding from many businesses, they have created new tubs, taken over old planters and renewed overgrown verges. The initiative is one of Transition Oundle's projects to promote greener living. maintaining and administering public outdoor and indoor spaces such as Queen Victoria Hall, Fletton House and Snipe Meadow Conservatives claim majority seats at new North Northants Council as well as consulting on planning, Robert Brettle Annabel de Capell Brooke, had previ- will inherit the decision of how to and allocating grant money. As Oundle has elected three councillors ously represented Oundle on the East dispose of the land. “My hope is to find Councillor David Chapple put it: to the new North Northants Council, Northants Council. “I was delighted a solution which can preserve the rich “This council punches way above all from the Conservative Party, in and honoured to be re-elected to rep- history. There are also vital planning its weight providing a small town what was a successful set of local resent the residents of Oundle and the applications afoot and I will be moni- with large town facilities.” elections for the Conservatives overall. villages. It’s a huge and diverse geo- toring these carefully.” However, local government, in These were the first local elections graphical area and I’ve been fortunate Helen Harrison was raised in Oundle at least, serves a higher to take place in Northamptonshire’s to get to know and work with many Laxton and went to Bulwick Primary purpose. Cllr Chapple said: “Of new unitary authority, which was won community groups and organisations School. As a chartered physiotherapist, course the council is about local by the Conservatives with 60 seats to over this time. I am very much looking she worked for almost a decade in the government, and this inevitably Labour’s 14. The Green Party also won forward to continuing this work,” she NHS in Peterborough and Stamford said. “The new North Northampton- and has set up her own successful means matters of administration, three seats in the Clover Hill ward in Kettering. North Northamptonshire shire unitary authority gives us all an physiotherapy clinic in Harringworth. but it means - or should do - so turnout was low at only 34.64%. historic opportunity to create a Council She previously represented the much more than that. It can and In Oundle, the three elected coun- which works for us all.” Fineshade Ward on the ENC. should be about trying to ensure cillors won comfortably with over 7000 She told us that she was invested in She said her background in health that the people of Oundle have total votes. The next largest share of the continuing to work with local groups is what will drive her priorities in her every opportunity to experience votes went to the Liberal Democrats, on planning and with those who are new role on North Northants Council. and enjoy the quality of life that with nearly 3000 total votes. fighting to retain Fletton Field as a "I want to see health and well-being continued on page 2 One of the new NNC councillors, green space in the town. The new NNC continued on page 2 2 Oundle Chronicle ISSUE 54 - Spring Local government grind you down!” they both said. The Council has faced its own continued from page 1 The problems. “I could write a book,” Do local councils they aspire to.” admitted Cllr Chapple. There are Former councillor Tony Chronicle the common political problems: not really matter? Robinson said: “The emphasis is on enough funding or power. Robert Foskett the wrong thing - administration. In particular, the council was Are you one of the many people Team It makes local government very very disappointed to have its who think that local elections do unimportant. It concentrates more Neighbourhood Plan - the blueprint not matter and if you vote it won’t on stopping things than starting for how the residents of Oundle make a difference? things. The governor on an engine want the town to expand with new In April, BBC News travelled to stops it from going too fast or too housing - rejected by the ENC. the Marfleet ward in Hull, which slow, it’s the fuel that makes it Cllr Clark said, “The town coun- had one of the lowest voter turn- go. We grow our communities by cil is effectively a parish council so outs in England in 2019 (12.7% of helping them fly.” has limited powers – and many of eligible voters). They found that Councillor Ian Clark agrees, the decisions affecting Oundle seem many people were not interested saying that the best thing about to be taken in distant offices, which in voting due to a lack of under- the council is, “the sense of we need to get better at influenc- standing of local government. The achievement when we get a project ing.” polling expert, Professor Sir John through to completion and it’s Former councillor Peter Peel Curtice, said that the perception is well received. In my time, the new THE EDITORIAL TEAM agreed: “It is not for those who “general elections matter and local skatepark and the boardwalk feel wish to dictate from far afield to elections do not”. This perception like things that have enhanced life Noa Anderson say you must have this or that. "It cannot be further from the truth. for residents in Oundle.” Matthew Atkin is for all those who live, work and The council is funded through The councillors are all volun- Archie Atkinson play here that must come first.” a ‘precept’ which households pay teers and no one denies that this is Robert Brettle However, an arguably greater as part of their council tax bill, and a challenge. “It’s remarkably tough William Caskey blight gnaws at the heart of local local councillors are the people work for a group of amateur vol- Toby Cave government: a lack of recognition who make most of the decisions on unteers!” says Cllr Clark. But they Ned Chatterton for the role they perform in a flour- council tax and how the money is keep coming back because they Meagan Iu ishing town. then spent. want to keep that special quality Paxton Leung Tony Robinson recognises this: Councils do more than just which Oundle has. Priyanka Menon “Possibly the greatest problem emptying the bins. They provide Cllr Chapple joined the council Sofya Meshechkova facing local government is making most of the local public services, thirty-five years ago. When asked Johannes Mynhardt councillors feel successful. The for example, social care, education, how he would describe what he has Digby Pratt image of Handforth was there long highways, housing, libraries, open been doing for those past years, at Gabriel Sun before we saw the social-media bit. spaces and planning. Many people first, he said he has been serving Jennifer Yang So, image is the biggest problem, have views on these local matters Oundle. But then he added: “If I Cherry Yang and you cannot just say that it's but do not realise that their voice was going to be cynical, however, I better, it has to be that way.” can be heard. might make a more flippant com- Not just that, but it appears our In Oundle, we have the Town ment along the lines of - my years STAFF EDITORS councillors are a dying breed. Of Council as well as the new North on the council have been at times the 14 seats available, only ten nom- Northamptonshire Council. OTC both maddening and disheartening Leigh Giurlando inations were received. Before any is responsible for a number of the but I have kept coming back for Caitriona O'Brien votes had been cast on 6 May, all town’s facilities, such as the car more because at other times it has the town councillors knew they had parks, the cemetery, the Recreation been truly rewarding and the pleas- an uncontested place on the coun- Ground, Snipe Meadow, the War ure at such times always outweighs cil. Cllr Chapple said: “I have been Memorial and the graveyard at St any pain.” elected to the council as there were Peter’s Church.