This week at a meeting of the General Purposes Committee an item I am pleased to see on our agenda is the proposed adoption of a Councillor Health and Wellbeing Policy for Bedford Borough Council.
A new survey published in October by the Local Government Association (LGA) has found that over a fifth of councillors have received a death threat or a threat of violence (22 per cent) due to their role, whilst 23 per cent of councillors have suffered abuse serious enough to report to the police.
Councillors who responded to the survey highlighted that high levels of abuse, threats and misinformation online put them off using social media or engaging with debate online.
As I have said before, being a Councillor can be very rewarding.
It is satisfying to bring about improvements in our wards, and to be involved with decision-making that will affect the wider Borough population. Making a positive difference is what motivates people to get involved and put themselves forward.
However, although it can be a very rewarding role it can also often be extremely demanding and stressful. Councillors have to balance their own family life and employment whilst also being available to support and advise residents of the Borough on various issues.
Group Members lean on one another for support, and as Leader and Deputy Group Leader, Councillor Sue Oliver and I regularly meet each group member to check how they are and how we can best support them.
We have been doing this for the last decade, and over that time we have been aware of a noticeable increase in the stress experienced by Councillors. We have felt it ourselves.
In addition to surgeries in our wards, door-knocking and delivering leaflets, Councillors attend Group Meetings and sit on Committees and at Full Council. All councillors have mentioned the increase in individual casework as the cost-of-living crisis has deepened and are concerned for the wellbeing of the many people who approach them for help.
One of the most unpleasant aspects of being a Councillor is putting yourself unwittingly in the firing line of the keyboard warriors on social media.
People are more than happy to criticise and point out problems, and to blame Councillors for things which are beyond their control, and the Council as a whole for what they perceive to be failings.
The level of vitriol and nastiness in recent years has deeply upset some councillors and can cause them to reconsider their position – meaning other residents risk losing the advocacy of people who really care about their communities and are trying to do what they can for them.
So, as we go into another New Year I would make a plea to people to stop and think about what they are writing, and to consider that Councillors are only human too, and are people who have been willing to get involved to try to make Bedford Borough a more pleasant place to work and live.
This is a monthly guest column provided by
Cllr Carl Meader, leader of Bedford Borough Labour Group.
It is published unedited and does not reflect the
views of the Bedford Independent.
