As I have now taken up the role of Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Humberside I have given some thought to my continuing role as an East Riding of Yorkshire Councillor for Howdenshire.
Much has been said about my
ability to balance the two roles and I am confident of being able to do so and
continue to provide a high quality service to Howdenshire residents, as I have
done for the past 5 years. The major
difference for me moving forward is that I am no longer actively involved in my
company, so I’ve effectively now given up my ‘day job’ to take on the position
of Deputy Police & Crime Commissioner.
With regard to questions about a
conflict of interest between the two roles, if there were any issues relating
to police and crime in Howdenshire where a conflict was to arise, I would
declare this and allow my fellow ward councillors to act without my
involvement. I have already removed
myself from the council’s Corporate Communities Overview and Scrutiny sub-committee
and the Licencing Committee on which I previously sat where a possible conflict
of interest may occur. I have also
resigned from the Chairmanship of the Goole & Howdenshire Community Partnership.
After consulting widely with Howdenshire
residents, Parish Councillors, family and friends almost everyone I have spoken
to are insistent I stay on as a ward councillor and continue to work on their
behalf. I will always listen to the
people I have been elected to serve, and after taking time to consider their
views, my decision is that I will continue as an ERYC Councillor but I propose
NOT to take the annual allowance of £10,711.
Many who know me will testify that
I serve on the Ouse & Humber Drainage Board, both Gilberdyke and Howden
School governing bodies, and the local Parish Council - all in a voluntary
capacity without payment. Others know I
lived and worked in West Africa as a volunteer development worker for less than
£95 per month.
One of the key areas of Matthew
Grove’s manifesto we will work to deliver is the significant increase in the
number of special constables. As we are asking for volunteers to serve their
communities with distinction without payment, I can think of no better way to serve
mine than leading by example and volunteering my services as a councillor.
I am looking at options of using
my allowance to further good causes in the area.
5 comments:
An admirable decision and the right one too.
Well said that man!
Having read the coverage of the ERYC meeting in the East Riding Mail I recognise the immense pressure you are being placed under Paul.
Let me remind everyone the Paul is OUR ward councillor, voted into office by us. He has a duty to his constituents, not to other councillors and unless his constituents vote for someone else at the next election, OUR ward member he should stay!
"I am looking at options of using my allowance to further good causes in the area"
£10,711 a year would go a long way in the fight against Howdenshire wind farms.......
I think the ganging up of the so called ward councillors in ERYC to get rid of you as a Ward Councillor because of your recent appointment as Deputy Crime Commissioner is a disgrace.They should be ashamed of themselves. You are an excellent councillor and your standing down will be a great loss to us all. No doubt we will get some pillock that
will not speak their mind but go along with the other so called Councillors views.
All the best
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