The community of Shoscombe has suffered for a number of years from a growing apathy about its local affairs. Having also recently experienced a number of resignations from the Council, it was felt that a change was needed.

The community and the Parish Council have both suffered from the fact that the Council has, over the years, felt compelled to appoint councillors by co-option to make up numbers and that there had not been a contested election where members from the community had been chosen from a wider selection of candidates than seats.

An apathy had also built up in the community due to lack of knowledge of what the Council does and who the Councillors are. As a result, the Parish Council failed to get satisfactory responses from the community to their requests for opinions and

actions. Subsequently, little happened and frustration set in for both parties.

A proposal was therefore put forward at a Parish Council meeting that it would be to the benefit of the community of Shoscombe and to the Parish Council, if the parish had the chance to ‘elect’ a full Council. When asked for their vote, a substantial majority of the community members, present at the meeting, gave their support to the proposal.

Following that, the existing Council members were asked if they were prepared to offer their resignations in support of the proposal and to allow a full election to take place in the Parish. The Councillors recognised the merits of this suggestion and all but one offered their resignations.

Because the change was based on positive reasons, with no acrimony or ill feeling, this created the basis on which mutual interest and motivation could be built, with fourteen members of the community putting their names forward.

Candidates were encouraged to write a statement to be included in what became a twelve-page campaign leaflet. This was promoted by Shoscombe VA Church School and co-ordinated by a member of the community. Copies were distributed to all households in the parish, it was displayed on the Parish Council website and a series of posters advertising the election were displayed within the village.

The election was held last Thursday, 14th January, with the majority of candidates at the count with many supporting friends. Dr Jo Farrar OBE, the Chief Executive of B&NES Council, was the Returning Officer. She said: “It was great to see so many candidates putting themselves forward and to witness such a high turn-out, which clearly demonstrates the amount of interest in local democracy.”

B&NES Councillor, Neil Butters (Bathavon South ward), was also present to show his support for the initiative. He said: “This was a bold and imaginative step which has paid off handsomely. All involved are owed a big debt of thanks. I congratulate those who were successful and look forward to working with them for the benefit of Shoscombe.”

The turnout for the election was a staggering 62.1%. This compares with a more typical turnout of 35% for Parish Council by-elections. A villager said: “This is a great day for Shoscombe. The community has now won themselves a new Parish Council who will feel committed to residents, because they have received their vote and, in turn, the community will feel committed to support the Council, because they have had the chance to choose whom they want to represent them. Shoscombe is on a positive path to taking more interest in its local affairs to the benefit of the whole parish.”

The councillors who were elected are: Ian Cannock, Amy Craddock, Lee Crowther-

Russell, Grant Thomas, Mary Upton, Brenda Whitchurch and Jackie Withers. They

join Andrew Wilding who remained a Parish Councillor.