I understood the big picture.
As a first-term councillor I have found it fascinating and a huge learning curve.
Councillors are expected to attend a number of workshops on a whole range of issues.
These are very informative and provide an opportunity to have an influence on policy before it is presented to council. Council officers put a huge amount of work into preparing for these workshops and I believe they enjoy the feedback, the debate and the questions.
One of my disappointments has been the councillors who do not attend or arrive at the council meeting uninformed or haven't read the background information.
What makes an effective councillor and what are the skills they need:
You need to consider these questions:
• Do they have the time and the energy to serve the community?
• Have they the ability to communicate in an effective manner?
• Are they prepared to question, debate, and consider issues in a positive manner and to offer solutions?
• Have they developed the art of listening and will not arrive from a pre-determined position?
• Can they see the big picture and are their decisions based on the needs of the wider community and not just the area or the interest group they represent? Those who push their own agenda are often single-minded.
• Do they possess the human factor and can understand people, their needs, their culture and their background?
• Is council their number one priority?
• Are they available to residents and can they respond to concerns in an effective and appropriate manner?
• Can they handle pressure and are prepared to make the difficult decisions and can they successfully communicate the reasons why?
• Are they transparent and prepared to be collegial and a team player? Those who are not team players are often very quick to criticise and seldom offer a solution.
• Do they bring an added value that will enhance council?
• Are they bringing a positive perspective because negativity is very draining, unproductive and very demanding on time and energy?
• Above all are they a people person whom the public has the confidence to approach?
Finally after you have considered all of the above it is the skills of the leader, the conductor, the maestro, the spokesperson or the skipper who is the most important. It is that person who is the glue that binds it all together and makes it gel.
The questions to consider are along these lines:
In good times have they got a vision and the desire to lead the council forward and if so do you understand what it is? If all they are doing is criticising the previous regime then they are struggling to create their own.
In difficult times have they got the ability, expertise, respect and credibility to lead the community through it? At the end of the day you should be judged not by the problem itself but how you respond and deal with it.
Honesty + Integrity + Accountability = Leadership.
The most important thing is that every eligible vote is counted. It is your democratic right and you should always remember those with fixed agendas will certainly being having their say. You must vote and have your say.
- Malcolm Dixon is a Hastings District councillor and is standing for re-election in next month's local government election.
- Views expressed here are the writer's opinion and not the newspaper's. Email: editor@hbtoday.co.nz
