Here is what some of our former Parish Councillors had to say about their experience of being a Parish Councillor

‘My main reason for joining the Parish Council was to offer an environmental perspective to discussions and decision making. My background in ecology and conservation had provided me with the skills to advise the Council on these matters and during my time as a Councillor, the Council adopted several Environmental initiatives that continue today. It gave me great satisfaction to see the Council consider the ‘green agenda’ when it came to deciding on the best course of action.’

‘The key encouragement for me, to become a Parish Councillor was the ability to make improvements in the village, for my community. Volunteering was a great first step, but as a parish councillor, with the agreement and support of your fellow Parish Councillors, you could take on (and lead) more substantial projects, that had bigger impact and practical improvements, for others in your local community.Team-work was the most satisfying part of being a PC: listening to, and understanding what your colleagues were trying to achieve in their particular area of interest: giving them support and help as best you could, built a feeling of mutual trust and the idea that a lot of ambitious improvements to your community could be achieved with limited resources.

Once you’ve developed trust within the team and shown that you’re prepared to listen and give sensible, useful feedback and support, you would often find that you would get positive feedback and crucial support in return.

My particular area of interest was improving practical facilities around the village such as footpaths, bus shelters, notice boards, skate park and other children’s facilities such as their own youth shelter.

Other areas of satisfaction as a Parish Council involved getting to know more about Millbrook, its parishioners and local organisations such as schools, county council staff and others such as the police.’

‘I applied to become a parish councillor as I wanted to give some time to a village I love living in. I also wanted to be part of the village moving forward, to be part of its future decisions and thereby the development of the community that is Millbrook Village. I examined my own thoughts and expectations as I learned of those of others on many issues. A thoroughly rewarding experience.’