Virginia Branney selected to stand in Strickland & Fell

Local Labour Party members have chosen Virginia (Ginny) to stand for Labour in the Westmorland and Furness Council ward of Kendal Strickland & Fell, and in the Kendal Town Council Fell ward.

In this post, Virginia sets out her thoughts on what makes a good councillor and why she is standing.

An effective local councillor

For me, being a good councillor involves many things. Firstly, openness and willingness to really listen to residents. Secondly, empathy with people whatever their background, and understanding what life’s like for those who are struggling in these tough times. Thirdly, the ability to not only speak up for residents but to negotiate effectively and work with other councillors and council officers to get things done. We also need councillors who are forward thinkers as well as day-to-day fixers.

I believe that I have the qualities, skills and experience to be an effective councillor.

An experienced representative

I’ve been active in the Labour Party since the mid-1980s and have had a long association with local government through my work and public service.

For over 20 years, I have held senior roles in public life as an arbitrator and judicial office holder. In my career as a trade union officer, I represented people from all walks of life and led campaigns for equal pay and against privatisation. Latterly, as an employment relations consultant, I have worked with people in different industries and across the public sector at times of major change in local government, the NHS, the police, in schools and higher education.

I’m also a qualified workplace and community mediator. My voluntary work has been mainly with community mediation services initially in London, and from 2004 with Cumbria Resolve, until it became a casualty of funding cuts.

In 2020/21, I was pleased to be a member of the Oversight Panel of the Kendal Climate Change Citizens’ Jury, representing the Labour Party. During my time on the Panel, I had a 100% attendance record and worked constructively with the other stakeholders. I am now on the Recommendations Panel, convened by Kendal Town Council to promote and support the implementation of the Jury’s proposals.

On a personal level, I’m appalled at pollution levels in our lakes and rivers and have signed up to support the Clean River Kent Campaign.

An accountable local councillor

In my paid and voluntary roles, accountability has always been important to me. Residents are entitled to have councillors who respond quickly to queries, show up for council meetings and report back regularly – not the ‘once elected, rarely seen again’ variety. And once elected, councillors are there to serve all their constituents.

If elected as a Strickland & Fell ward councillor, I will:

• hold ward surgeries
• keep in touch with residents on social media
• issue regular printed newsletters to households
• work with the Hallgarth Residents’ Association and Fellside Forum
• keep in contact with community and voluntary groups to support their work

I would be proud to be elected to Kendal Town Council to represent Fell ward, where I have lived for 18 years. Although the Town Council has fewer functions than Westmorland & Furness Council, it deals with grassroots matters that are important to local communities, and residents are entitled to expect their town councillors to be responsive and pro-active on their behalf.

A campaigning councillor

I am under no illusions about the challenges facing our two councils. If elected, I would bring commitment to Labour values, pragmatism and innovative thinking to finding ways to protect and improve services that local people and businesses rely on.

For Westmorland & Furness, I would want a Labour-led council to be a campaigning council, pushing for new powers from central government to address issues such as the shortage of affordable housing in South Lakes and inadequate public transport (see Labour’s Manifesto for more information).