Here’s the candidate profile for Jim Davies, 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: Jim Davies
- Party: Stone Independents
- Election: Stone Town Council
- Ward: St. Michael’s
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Core Candidate Questions
- 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?
My wife and I lived in Copeland Drive for 10 years before moving up the hill to Hilderstone. The vast majority of my activities and commitments are in Stone and I have developed a great affection for the Town and its people and want to help see the best for them.
- Are you involved in any Stone-based charities, schools, groups, sports clubs, etc.? If so, in what capacity?
Royal Air Forces Association, Stone & District Branch – President and Chairman
No 2352 (Stone) Squadron RAF Air Cadets – President
Stone Scout and Guide Band – Chairman
Cumberland House Practice Patients’ Group – Member
Stone Choral Society – active member for 25 years
The church of St Saviour, Aston-by-Stone – active member for 30 years
3. If elected, what will you, as a councillor, bring to the council?
Knowledge gained from 8 years’ service on the Town Council coupled with broad experience in business management, local government and the RAF, plus years of involvement in Town matters.
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?
Continuing my involvement with the Town organisations with which I’m associated and with my many informal ad hoc conversations with a cross-section of townspeople.
5. What do you think are the three most important issues facing the Stone community, and how do you plan to address them?
Doctors and dentists – keep pressure on the decision makers at Borough, County and the NHS
Keeping the High St vibrant – promoting the Town, in particular in aspects where the Town Council has influence or authority (for example: markets, working with the Traders’ Group, developing the Heritage Centre and supporting the new theatre.)
Anti-social behaviour including thoughtless parking – working closely with the Police and other enforcement agencies.
6. How do you propose to ensure that the local economy continues to thrive and support all local businesses?
It is not within the gift of the Town Council to ensure that this happens. However, much of my answer is in my response to bullet 2 of question 5. However, it is not just the High St that is important; we must not overlook the other valuable businesses in the Town Centre and in Walton.
7. How do you plan to work with other members of the council to achieve your goals?
I should hope that my past contribution to the work of the relevant sub-committees and working groups has been valuable and I should like to continue to play a part in what has been a very effective team
8. How would you balance the needs of different groups and priorities when making budget decisions?
For these matters there has to be an open, informed and objective discussion and debate in the Town Council to prioritise and achieve compromise between competing demands. Decisions and the rationale behind them must be clearly explained to the people of Stone, especially the Council Tax-payers whose money it is.
9. What is your position on local environmental issues, such as climate change, pollution, and waste management?
The Town Council must continue to take seriously its role and obligations regarding environmental issues and to set an example. The Town Council must be proactive in monitoring the quality of the environmental services provided by external providers and to be prompt in reporting quality failures and in progressing remedial action.
10. How will you ensure that your role as a councillor receives the required time and effort to carry it out effectively?
I have decades of experience in achieving effective personal time management.
Candidate-Specific Questions:
- What five words would people who know you use to describe you?
Tolerant, conscientious, reliable, pragmatic and determined.
- As an already elected council member, what three things you are most proud of from your most recent term in office?
Consolidating my initiatives regarding the introduction of Mayor’s Cadets, the ongoing success of the Stone Area Parish Liaison Group and championing the Crown Wharf projects (taphouse, theatre and heritage centre)
- 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?
I was astonished to learn that in Stafford Borough parish and town councils have no automatic right to be heard at meetings of the Borough Planning Committee but have to compete for one single place in competition with any other interested parties.
Most other local planning authorities in England grant their parish and town councils an automatic right. Despite strong support from our sister parishes and the Stone Independents to change this policy, the borough councillors representing the two major national parties combined to defeat this very reasonable and democratic improvement. The lesson I learnt is to work to achieve a majority on the Borough Council of elected members who are not die-hard party loyalists
- 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?
Members of Stone Independents are not subject to a party ‘whip’ nor party disciplinary procedures. We work together to agree a defined position on every issue and, by and large, we are successful in doing so. If any individual member wishes to dissent from a particular agreed position they are at complete liberty to do so but would be expected to inform their colleagues before any debate or vote.
- What’s your pledge to the people of Stone if you’re elected?
To continue to work for the good of all the people of Stone: the old, the young, the infirm, those with mobility problems, families, business owners and employees etc
