From the doorstep to the council chamber: life as a new councillor

When I decided to stand for election, I knew becoming a councillor would be a big commitment.

What I probably didn't appreciate was just how much of my time would be taken up by emails, meetings, phone calls, residents' concerns and trying to navigate my way through the workings of a large local authority.

I was elected in May 2026 to represent Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton. Before that, I had spent weeks knocking on doors, speaking to residents and listening to what people wanted to see changed in their communities.

We knocked on thousands of doors during the campaign. By polling day, I had a pretty good idea of what people were concerned about.

But campaigning and actually being a councillor are two very different things.

Once the election was over, there was no more knocking on a door and saying, "If you elect me, I'll try to sort it."

People had actually elected me and now they expected me to get on with it.

That brings a completely different responsibility.

One of the biggest things I've learnt is that being a councillor isn't simply about turning up to council meetings.

A lot of the work happens away from the council chamber.

It's walking around the ward, talking to residents, seeing problems for yourself, meeting community groups, contacting council officers, chasing up emails and trying to understand why something that seems relatively straightforward can sometimes take months to move forward.

I've already had residents raise issues with me ranging from highways and speeding to parking, community facilities and local services.

I've also spent time visiting different parts of the ward and meeting people who are already doing a huge amount for their communities.

I've visited Upton, Ackworth, Badsworth, Nostell and Thorpe Audlin, speaking to residents, parish councillors, sports clubs and community groups.

Those conversations are probably one of my favourite parts of the job.

You get a much better understanding of an area when you're standing there with the people who live in it rather than simply reading about it in a report.

The frustrating side is that getting something raised doesn't necessarily mean getting it resolved.

I've had several issues where I've put forward requests to the council's Highways department only to receive a rejection or an explanation as to why something can't be done.

I understand that councils have budgets, policies, legal requirements and competing priorities.

But from a resident's point of view, that doesn't always make the answer any less frustrating.

If somebody contacts me because they're worried about speeding outside their home, or because they believe a particular road layout is dangerous, I'm not going to simply accept the first "no" and walk away.

I'll ask questions.

I'll ask why.

And if I don't agree with the answer, I'll keep pushing.

That doesn't mean every request will ultimately be successful. I think it would be dishonest to suggest otherwise.

But I do think residents deserve a councillor who is prepared to keep making the case for them.

One issue that has particularly highlighted the reality of the job for me has been the situation around the car park at Upton Primary School.

It was an issue that residents raised during the campaign and one I've continued to pursue since being elected.

There have been discussions, investigations and site work, but I've been keen to make sure residents understand exactly where things stand.

I don't want to tell people something has been agreed or funded when it hasn't.

If something is still being considered, I'll say it's being considered.

If there's no confirmed funding or timetable, I'll say that too.

For me, being a councillor isn't about making something sound better than it actually is. It's about being honest with people, even when the answer isn't the one they want to hear.

One of the things I've also wanted to do since becoming a councillor is make a practical contribution to the communities I represent.

In September, I took on a challenge that was certainly outside my comfort zone, a charity abseil from Wakefield Cathedral.

The aim was to raise money for four local organisations that are doing fantastic work in our communities.

After the fundraising was completed, the final total reached £3,135.

That money is being shared equally between Low Ackworth Community Centre, Ackworth Jaguars Juniors, Upton United Juniors and Upton ARLFC, with each organisation receiving £783.75.

For me, it was important that the money went to local causes.

These aren't distant organisations or national charities. They are groups that people in our own communities know, use and support.

Whether it's providing facilities, giving children and young people the opportunity to play football, or supporting local sport and community activity, these organisations play an important role in bringing people together.

The abseil itself was certainly a memorable experience.

Standing at the top of Wakefield Cathedral knowing you have to step over the edge is one thing, actually doing it is another.

But seeing the support from residents, friends, family and people across the local community made it worthwhile.

It also reinforced something I've learnt during my first few months as a councillor: community is about much more than the council.

There are countless volunteers, clubs, charities and community organisations doing important work every single week.

As a councillor, I want to support those people wherever I can.

For all the frustrations, there have also been plenty of positives.

I've met some fantastic people since being elected.

I've visited local football clubs and community organisations and seen first-hand the work volunteers are doing.

People often don't realise just how much happens at a local level because of volunteers who give up their evenings and weekends to make things better for other people.

I've also enjoyed getting out into the ward and seeing places I know from a completely different perspective.

Being elected has given me the opportunity to meet people I probably wouldn't otherwise have crossed paths with.

And that's something I don't take for granted.

Probably how much of the job involves learning.

I'm a first-time councillor.

I'm not going to pretend I walked into the council chamber knowing exactly how everything worked.

There are procedures, committees, council departments, officers, reports and processes that you have to learn.

Sometimes you have to ask what might seem like a basic question.

But I'd rather ask the question and understand something properly than pretend I know the answer when I don't.

I also think residents appreciate honesty.

They don't expect their councillor to have a magic wand.

What they do expect is for someone to listen to them, take their concerns seriously and actually try.

That is probably the biggest thing I've learnt about myself since being elected.

I'm not very good at sitting back when I believe something isn't right.

I know that can sometimes mean asking difficult questions or challenging decisions.

It can mean disagreeing with people.

But I didn't stand for election because I wanted a quiet life.

I stood because I wanted to represent my community.

That doesn't mean I expect to win every argument or get every request agreed.

It means that when a resident comes to me with a problem, I want them to know that I've genuinely tried to do something about it.

At the end of the day, I'm still relatively new to this.

I've only been a councillor for a few months, and I've got plenty more to learn.

But I've also learnt that local politics is much more personal than people might realise.

The decisions made at Wakefield Council aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet or paragraphs in a report.

They affect people's homes, their roads, their children's schools, their communities and their everyday lives.

That's why I take the role seriously.

I may not be able to fix everything.

I may not always get the answer I want.

And I certainly won't get everything right.

But one thing I can promise the people of Ackworth, North Elmsall and Upton is that I won't stop trying.

Because ultimately, that's what I believe being a councillor should be about, being there, listening to people and doing everything you reasonably can to represent them.