MY first reactions on hearing that Salisbury City Council was hosting an event to encourage people to stand for election were, I’m ashamed to admit, a wry smile and a world-weary shake of the head.

Why, I thought, would anyone really want to devote precious time and effort to a body that has so few powers despite its ceremonial finery and grand-sounding name?

Why don’t the members just accept that they’re merely a parish council in disguise and refuse to go along with the pretence that local democracy is alive and well?

Why don’t they publicly proclaim that Jane Scott and her Chosen Few dictate everything that goes on here bar a bit of window-dressing?

And that on the big issues, even Conservative Wiltshire councillors outside that inner circle have precious little clout.

Then I thought “Ooh no, better not say that, it sounds a bit cynical, and possibly even childish.”

So for what it’s worth, upon mature reflection since I should know better at the ripe old age of 59, this is what I’ll say instead: I hope that there are many public-spirited, independent-minded, possibly even bolshy individuals out there who will put themselves forward.

And that the voters of Salisbury will actively seek out those candidates with no party allegiance who are simply out to get the best deal every time for our city.

I hope that after the elections these new councillors will seek out every opportunity legally available to them to test and reflect public opinion and provide the proactive, campaigning voice that Salisbury needs, and that Wiltshire, for all the brave efforts of its area board chairman Richard Clewer, can never be.

They’ll need leaders who combine passionate commitment with hardheaded practicality.

Is there anybody out there?

I had to smile when I saw last week’s Journal headlines. On Page 5 Wiltshire Council was proclaiming its budget to be “on track”. On Page 7 we were told: “Schools to pay for recycling”. Was there by any chance a connection?

* Apologies for a slip of the brain in last week’s blog about The Spire, when I referred to both Bishop Jocelin and Dean Jocelin. It should, of course, have been Dean Jocelin. Told you the book was confusing.

ANNIE RIDDLE

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