Become a councillor video transcript

This transcript is for the video for why someone should become a councillor.

[Title card and voice over] What is the role of a county councillor?

Video shows Antony Hook, a member of the Liberal Democrats Group sat behind a desk in his work suit talking to the camera.

Antony Hook: "So the role of county councillors is to represent people and give the community a voice."

Video shows Avtar Sandhu, a member of the Conservatives Group has replaced Antony behind the same desk, wearing a suit talking to the camera.

Avtar Sandhu: "The role actually involves a lot. People do think that all we do is attend meetings. But it's not just that. It's about connecting the communities."

Video shows Jackie Meade, a member of the Labour Group. Jackie has replaced Avtar in his position and is wearing a red and black tartan jacket.

Jackie Meade: "Everyone does things differently. I'm very, very hands on in my area. I'm on committees, residents associations, helping the community garden, I volunteer in the schools to teach them how to grow vegetables. Anything that I can go in and talk to people and really understand the struggles that they're having so that we can actually then try and do something about it."

The video goes back to Avtar.

Avtar: "Because we, as county councillor’s, we get a small budget that we can spend on local community groups and projects. And so I, through my members grant, have assisted multiple organisations from the bingo club, that's the 60 plus bingo club to highway projects, like installing a zebra crossing for a school.

Back to Antony, the first councillor in the video.

Antony: "We don't run the council operationally day to day. There's a big team of professional staff who are delivering services on the ground. But our job as county councillor’s is to set the overall direction for where we should go. What can be better, what's most important to prioritise. So the way we influence is by, by speaking up."

The video introduces another councillor to the audience, Jenni Hawkins a member of the Green and Independents Group.

Jenni Hawkins: "I've gained confidence to speak up about things that are important to me. I feel like being a councillor has, has kind of it's given me permission to speak about things. And even though I'm not a very confident public speaker, I have become more confident through being a councillor. I can stand up and I can speak on an issue and try to have an influence.

I did actually put a motion forward for Kent County Council to ask the government to ban disposable vapes, which the council voted in favour of. So I had an influence there. So that was good."

[Card and voice over]  What experience do I need?

Jenni: "I don't think you need any particular experience to become a councillor. You just have to be passionate about something and care about people in the community."

Antony: "So I think for everyone, whatever your work background is, there will be a lot of what the county council does that will be new to you. And it can be extremely interesting to learn about these new areas."

Avtar: "I had no experience before. When I became a county councillor in 2009, I was appointed as the Deputy Cabinet member for Custom and Communities, which involved everything and I mean everything, and with that, you learned so much. It was a question of just being put into the deep end, and I think that was one of the most fascinating jobs I've ever had."

Jackie: "We all come from very, very different backgrounds. I was a child carer, and my mum had a brain haemorrhage when I was 12, so I had to look after the house and so my speciality, shall we say, is vulnerable adults, and trying to make sure they're looked after. But I didn't have any children. So if you're a single parent, mum or, you know, you're in a family, you have experience that I can't talk about. So we need your voice here."

Antony: "It's really important on the council that we have a diversity of people, people with different backgrounds, different ideas, different experiences, to bring, and everyone has a life experience, whether they've had this job or that job, whether they've been a carer for children or elderly people, whether they've done voluntary work, whether they're of a younger generation or an older generation. Something we need much more of is a really rich, diverse mix of people."

Jenni: "My advice to anyone wanting to stand as a councillor is to just do it, because if you’re concerned about something, you shouldn’t wait for someone else someone you think might be better to do it. You should just go for it."

Avtar: "If you want to make a difference to the community that you live in, you need to get involved. And honestly, the rest of it comes naturally with experience."

Jackie "If you're passionate about your community, stand to be their voice."

[End card and voice over]  Be a councillor, find out more at kent.gov.uk/elections.