Conservative

Anthony MURRAY
Conservative
Oaklands
8 Weetwood Road
Wooler
NE71 6AE
Business/Fax 01668 281003
Mobile 07855 591836
Email: ahm@berwick-upon-tweed.gov.uk

My politics

I have always stood for election as a Conservative but once elected I forget about my politics and concentrate on representing all my electorate and working towards the greater good of the Borough which can only be done if all councillors put their party politics on the back burner.

Why I am involved in local politics:

My family have always been community minded and I suppose it was the example of my father's public service which encouraged me to get involved. I have been involved in local politics for forty years and it is now part of my way of life.
There is nothing satisfies me more than to be able to help an individual or a group who have a worthy or needy cause and as a local politician I believe I am in a better position to give them assistance.

I believe that constructive debate is the best way to achieve results and I enjoy being a part of that debate.

Local issues important to me:

Any local issue is important to me but as a rural councillor I have certain priorities.
Education in the right environment is very important and no rural child or their parents should be penalised because they live in a remote or rural community.
Job creation locally is very important. If our rural communities are to survive there must be adequate employment for all ages and sectors of the community.
There has got to be adequate affordable housing within the community which matches the average income that is available. Subsidisation on housing will have to take place if necessary.
Adequate public transport is desirable but is difficult to justify. Rural car owners should be given worthwhile incentives to share transport.

Improvements which I wish to bring about in this Council and the services it provides:

I would like the Council to be in a position to complete its annual targets rather than find them being carried forward into the following year. I will do all I can to give backing to the council when it faces often unreasonable opposition to changes it is trying to make within the Borough.
I believe in many instances our council building are outdated and are not the sort of place which encourage good work performance.It may be hoping for a lot but I would like to see an annual improvement plan which would be carried out and not forgotten about because of other priorities.
Whatever the traders in Berwick think I believe it is the duty of the council to help towards out of town shopping so that residents in the Borough can enjoy the same facilities as the rest of the community without being penalised by having to travel many expensive miles.
I will do all I can to help the council to achieve the desires which I have set out in the previous section.

What I would like to achieve as a Councillor:

I hope that I will be able to work as a councillor for a number of years to come and if I can achieve the support of my electorate until I decide to retire I will be more than satisfied. I hope I will be remembered as a person who would try to move a mountain if I believed it should be moved but if I was unable to move it not to be afraid to try to move the next one. I hope my reputation as a councillor is that irrespective of class, politics or religion any person can ask for my help and will be given it if I believe their cause is a worthy one.

Which committees I serve on, and why:

Planning. A difficult committee. You cannot please everyone. I believe it is necessary to take part and try to ensure that in planning terms the borough and its people can move forward constructively without losing sight of what has stood us in good stead in the past.

CS&R This committee is responsible for the long term overview of the Borough and I believe membership helps me to influence to a degree the asperations I have for the future good of us all.

Standards. I was rather press ganged onto this committee but now as a member I realise it has a necessary role to play if we are going to work together for the greater good of the community rather than turn into self-interested individuals using our position in the community for our own personal gain or gratification.

Licencing. My most difficult committee, you need so many facts at your fingertips. A very necessary committee if we as a council are to ensure that the electorate get a fair crack of the whip and that fair play takes place in the entertainment which is enjoyed within the Borough.

Outside interests/hobbies:

With a business to run I have little time for other interests. What spare time I have I like to spend it with my family and Tricia and I are never happier than when we are doing things with our four grandchildren.