Maltby’s newly elected councillors

Today’s Rotherham Advertiser comments :

“A Town council dogged by a four-year battle of costly conflicts is hoping for a smoother future after last week’s election results. Maltby was won back by Labour after being outnumbered by Independent members before the local election.

The well documented problems led to last year’s mediation report  – paid for by Rotherham taxpayers – which said that unrest would continue until there was a change of personnel.

Current Chairman of Maltby Town Council  John Kirk, one of four independent councillors said “It was an interesting outcome. I have mixed feelings about how the next four years will be. I hope I’m wrong but it looks like the council was eight years ago when we had four years of inertia and led to the independents coming in 2007. It’s a difficult situation, with so many Labour, four from the same family, and I hope that the dogma does not come through.”

Labour member Carol Stringer said, “We’re hoping for more stability and to achieve more for the people of Maltby than was possible in the last four years.”  ”

Maltby Town Councillor Jenny Andrews, has narrowly taken Hellaby ward as borough councillor. She says that she has had a “magnificent response” to the campaign which was run jointly with Maltby.

Christine Beaumont, elected to RMBC and MTC said, “We knew we were going to win, it was just a question of by how much. It’s been enjoyable and now I look forward to meeting more people, trying to meet their needs and just being more fair.”

It’s a very interesting situation for Maltby, with both the borough and town council results. John Kirk, the current chair of MTC , defeated by Labour in his bid for RMBC is already talking about the dynamics of MTC with regard to Labour members. I am sure that the majority of people want to move foreward to better management and better community relations. But the “us and them” mentality seems difficult to break through, whether from councillors or the general public.

The new Maltby Town Council holds it’s first meeting and Annual Meeting on Thursday 19th May. Hopefully, the councillors will  show that they want a new start and have a clear purpose in carrying out their roles as representatives of the public.

http://www.rotherhamparishcouncils.gov.uk/Home/Maltby/maltbyHome.aspx