An Interview with Town Councillor Christine Dean

Christine Dean has been a Town Councillor since January 2000 when friends of hers told her they thought she should stand. She has been on the council ever since.

Christine worked as a secretary and a personal assistant but in the nineties she learnt she was losing her sight. Her reaction was to retrain, completing a Dip.HE so she was able to work as as a rehab worker for the visually impaired and the deaf. Now always accompanied by her guide dog she has retired from paid work, but finds herself busier than ever with voluntary work for the town as a councillor and supporting several charities. She has been involved with the Red Cross, the Balsam Centre, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and has been and continues as chair of the Festival Committee - which is currently in suspension, though she has plans to revive it. Why does she do all this? Her answer is because she cares for the town and wishes to see the right things happening here and wants to improve things to the best of her ability.

Christine emphasises that the role of a town councillor is not - as far as she is concerned - party political. It is much more she says concerned with dog's mess, litter and reporting anti-social behaviour, in other words in getting involved in the sort of activities which certainly bring one no kudos for being a councillor. She emphasises that councillors are there to work for the community, not to follow some personal agenda like becoming mayor or using it as a stepping stone in a political career.

Christine is well aware that as an individual councillor one has no power. All decisions are taken by the council as a whole (a body corporate) and unless one is able to persuade others to vote with you in adopting a policy, you cannot initiate change. What you can do is get on to one of the council's committees. She is the council representative on Wincanton Business Together and there is involved in helping plan the next Christmas Extravaganza with Sarah Gibson.

How much time does it all take? Quite a lot. Three meetings a month. One full council and then others such as Finance and General Purposes and Open Spaces. Allowances and payment? None. Town councillors are unpaid volunteers. District and County Councillors can claim expenses.

Christine says she did not choose to come to Wincanton, but has found it to be a wonderful place and would hate ever to leave it. People do not realise how much there is going on here.

Christine points out that councillors together with the council officers, Town Clerk Sam Skirton and Deputy Muriel Cairns, are the first port of call when people have problems, but often issues cannot be dealt with by the Town Council and need to be referred by them on to the appropriate level for the Town Council has very limited powers. For example on issues like planning, its role is only advisory. More decisions are taken by the District and the County Council and she is well aware that few people know what powers are in the hands of which council. If we were part of a unitary authority district and county functions would be merged, but that option failed a few years ago as a result of a referendum which overwhelmingly rejected the whole of Somerset becoming a unitary authority.

She is aware of the Localism Bill which has now passed its second reading. This will it seems increase the powers and responsibilities of local government, but exactly how this is likely to impact on the running of the Town Council is as yet unclear. What certainly is the case is that if the Town Council were to get more power and authority, it needs to be a properly elected body responsible to local people. At present it is sad that running an election for the 5,000 people of Wincanton will cost the Town Council £2,500 and the District Council election will cost £3,000. Perhaps this is the necessary cost of democracy.

We discussed the council and the fact that some members have been on it for some time (30 years) and have never faced an election by the voters. "Do not worry," she said, "I will know when my sell-by date arrives."

Here's a handy page on the Town Council website that explains what power they have.

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