This is an opportunity for me to outline my motivations and to give an idea of what I what I get up to at the Town Hall!
So here goes!.............
Having lived in Crawley on and off since a very early age and taking early retirement in 2007, I decided, with my wife’s encouragement, to take on some voluntary work in the town. This was the start of a journey which has ended up with me being in local politics as a Crawley Borough Councillor and two years ago taking on the role of Cabinet Member with responsibilities for the Environment.
I guess that I had always wanted to get involved in local politics and wanted to put something back but, like many people was too busy bringing up up a family and all that involves.
My responsibilities are wide-ranging. One minute I am dealing with a Maidenbower ward issue and the next it could be a waste and recycling matter, grass cutting or environmental services and improvements. I also sit on several external committees covering matters such as Gatwick Airport and Port Health, Town Centre North and Licencing at a County-wide Inter-Waste Authority. .I am currently involved in, amongst other projects, in introducing a new Waste and Recycling contract, restoring the Ifield MiIIpond, providing a new cemetery and improving on-going amenity services. There are constant late night meetings, debates and reading of documents as well as delivering political leaflets and canvassing in any spare time that I have.
At the ward level there are a range of issues that I deal with, for example, my fellow ward councillors and I are currently involved in assisting local residents in setting up a community group which will be involved with the new Maidenbower Pavilion.
I have a keen interest in all matters environmental and enjoy being at the centre of things. I feel that I can bring the skills developed in my business life to the benefit of my local community in my role as a ward councillor and Cabinet Member. It certainly keeps me very busy which makes my wife very happy!! I still find time for supporting Crawley Town Football Club, Real Ale, spending time with twin grandsons and collecting elephants (not the real ones!).
I am proud of what we as Conservatives have achieved in Crawley, and have listed a few examples below. We work well as a team delivering services, and with our constituents:
1. Increased number of litter pickers, doubling the frequency of street cleansing
2. Lowest Council Tax increase in all of Sussex six years in a row
3. £7 million efficiency savings
4. Applying the maximum permissible litter fines
5. Introducing the State of the Borough Debate
6. Accelerated neighbourhood centre improvement programme by two years
7. Improved the jet washing of town centre and neighbourhood parades
8. Commitment to desilt Ifield Mill Pond
9. Winners of South East in Bloom and Britain in Bloom and the Champion of Champions award
10. Green waste collection service
11. Glass recycling in red top bins
12. Increased delivery and funding of Residential Environmental Improvement Schemes
There are some difficult times ahead with the economy but I believe that we are well placed to deal with these challenges and I look forward to playing my full part.
Councillor Ken Trussell, Cabinet Member for Environmental Services
11th November 2012