Here’s the candidate profile for Tom Kelt, who is standing in the May 2023 elections. All candidates were asked ten core questions; then, there were specific questions depending on whether candidates were existing councillors or not.
All answers appear unedited, apart from maybe tweaks to formatting, as sent through by the candidates.
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- Candidate Name: Tom Kelt
- Party: Stone Independents
- Election: Stone Town Council
- Ward: Stonefield & Christchurch
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Core Candidate Questions
1. Do you live in Stone and within the ward(s) you’re standing in? If not, what is your motivation for standing in Stone and not your own ward?
YES
2. Are you involved in any Stone-based charities, schools, groups, sports clubs, etc.? If so, in what capacity?
I volunteer as an IT Buddy at the library. I developed a client database for the Stone Community Hub. I sit on the Police Liaison group. I am part of the Stafford and District Access group looking into making the borough more accessible and I manage their website. I sit on the Stafford Borough Environment panel. I am a trustee for the Stone Common Plot. I administer a local residents’ group and the corresponding neighbourhood watch and help out at the church. I sing in the Stone Cantiamo chamber choir and play ukulele in the Ukunauts group.
3. If elected, what will you, as a councillor, bring to the council?
Work ethic and commitment to Stone and its residents.
4. How do you plan to engage with and represent the interests of all members of the Stone community, including those from diverse backgrounds or with differing opinions?
Through my many contacts and through a belief in fairness and inclusivity.
5. What do you think are the three most important issues facing the Stone community, and how do you plan to address them?
Recovery from the pandemic and the current financial pressures. The pressure of development on the local environment. The changing demographic towards the elderly and differently abled and the provision of accessible services and facilities for them.
6. How do you propose to ensure that the local economy continues to thrive and support all local businesses?
Through working with local businesses and residents to make Stone business friendly and to look at ways of increasing visits to the centre to shop and enjoy the town and to make the town attractive to its residents.
7. How do you plan to work with other members of the council to achieve your goals?
Through attendance of committees, sub-committees and working groups and attending as many council meetings as I can.
8. How would you balance the needs of different groups and priorities when making budget decisions?
By finding out what the costs and benefits, financial or otherwise, of different items and options and, if I don’t have the appropriate knowledge by talking to people who do.
9. What is your position on local environmental issues, such as climate change, pollution, and waste management?
I am a firm believer in the reality of the climate crisis and am vice chair of the environment sub committee. I wrote an article on the need for action for the Gazette. I drafted the environmental policy for the council which has been built on and ratified. I am a member of the Stafford Borough Panel on environmental matters.
10. How will you ensure that your role as a councillor receives the required time and effort to carry it out effectively?
This is the most difficult thing to achieve. Fortunately, I am retired but even so there are many tasks competing for time. I can only say I will do my best.
Candidate-Specific Questions:
1. What five words would people who know you use to describe you?
Optimistic, reliable, approachable, committed, realistic.
2. As an already elected council member, what three things you are most proud of from your most recent term in office?
Town centre occupancy, town profile, raised environmental awareness.
3. Can you give an example of something that in hindsight you’d wish you’d tackled differently in the most recent term? What lessons did you learn from the experience?
As a member and chair of the planning committee, more investigation of applications and deeper understanding of implications is desirable to give meaningful advice to the borough council, who are ultimately responsible for passing applications, on the impact on residents.
4. How can candidates be classed as “independent” when they are all united as a group under a single political banner? How is this different from voting in line with a national political party?
The group comprises voters from various political persuasions at national level. However, we believe that local issues should not be subject to national party directives and, as such, the members can vote based on what they believe is in the best interests of the town and residents. As a group, we are able to discuss together free from external pressures to better understand the issues.
5. What’s your pledge to the people of Stone if you’re elected?
To do my best on behalf of the town and residents of Stone.
