“It’s great being a local councillor” - Bamford councillor Stephen Anstee reflects on his first five months in role

Councillor Stephen Anstee was elected to represent the Bamford ward in the May 2021 elections, after his fellow Conservative Jane Warne stepped down from the role.

Here, he reflects on his first five months in position.

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Local government has long been the Cinderella of politics: just look at the low turnout for local government elections, sometimes not even 25%.  However, the effect that we have on people’s lives and communities in our local areas often leaves a greater legacy than anything that the Palace of Westminster does.

It was May when I was finally elected as a local councillor in Bamford Ward; the previous elections had been postponed due to the pandemic.

I remain honoured and grateful to be given the chance to represent the people at the town hall and I joined my other two hardworking councillors, Angela Smith and Patricia Sullivan, in doing so.

In the months that have followed, I have taken great pleasure in the small victories that have come our way. Some are easier and quicker than others to achieve. From potholes being filled or flowerbeds being given a new lease of life, to damaged railings outside front doors being replaced and rights of way being protected; these are the things that matter to people locally.

There have been many, many(!) more ’small victories’ in the five short months I’ve had the honour of being elected; too many to mention in one article, though it would be remiss of me not to mention the Christmas lights being installed outside the Oulder Hill shops this year.

We should support our high streets at every opportunity, and I think this will be a great addition to the area as we enter the festive period.

 You can’t win them all, yet with every request or project we get over the line, I get real satisfaction for using what influence I do have to make a difference. To me, politics has always been about people. Visiting them, supporting them, listening to them.

Since being elected, I have been able to meet with hundreds of residents, groups, and businesses. There is a fantastic community spirit that exists where people look out for one another, just how it should be. Quite rightly, people wish to live their lives with minimal interruption, and they expect to be supported by decent local councillors and services from Rochdale Council.

I believe there is room for improvement at the council and in opposition, it’s important we highlight this in a positive and supportive way. I have never believed in politics and opposition simply for the sake of it. Mind you, nor do I believe that you shouldn’t robustly oppose where you have differing views or things are just plain wrong! It’s all about how you engage and interact with people that wins you more friends than foes.

The officers at the council work extremely hard and councillors, of all parties, are there to serve their communities to the best of their abilities. It would be nice to have a few more Conservatives mind, as the council and residents would really benefit from an even larger opposition group.

As a local councillor, I might not be on the news each night or making complex and huge decisions that impact millions of people, but you know what? That’s fine with me.

I am happy to stick with the legacy of small things that make people’s lives in our community that little bit better and trust that I’ve started as I mean to go on.