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My First Week...

First week as a Teignbridge District Councillor for the Ashburton and Buckfastleigh Ward. A big thank you to all those who took the time and trouble to turn out and vote not just for me, but for Stuart Barker and Charlie Dennis.

The first week has been a sharp learning curve for all the new Councillors. The best way to describe the week is to liken it to school, where all the new kids wander around in a complete daze, while the returners do whatever. 

We have been photographed, signed our declarations of office, meet the Officers who in this analogy could be likened to Prefects attempting to keep some order among all the free thinking Councillors and shepherding them from meeting to meeting, room to room, and impart all the knowledge they need to know for next week.

They have been extremely patient with us, and must have been asked 20 odd times, where is the toilet, where do I get a cup of coffee, and where is the Council Chamber.

Sitting in the Council Chamber was an experience in itself. I have often been in the public gallery or invited to speak and then returned to the side of the Chamber, but not had a chance to sit as a Councillor.

 A chance to use the electronic voting  and the microphone system. Rather like the military we have been issued with various manuals - ‘Councillors for the use of.. don’t open it yet Vogel. wait for it wait for it.. right turn to page 10.’

On a more serious note the training and information we have received has been excellent and my thanks to all Officers and fellow Councillors for making it so enjoyable.

Councillors' Meet With Jeremy

As TDC Councillors we represent our Wards, as well as the whole District of Teignbridge. 

To this end the Council Leader Elect Cllr. Jeremy Christophers made the offer to all Ward Councillors of meeting with him, on a one to one basis, to discuss what their individual priorities are or will be, for their Ward over the next four years.

Annual Town Council Meeting

Attended together with Ward colleagues the Annual Town Council Meeting of Buckfastleigh Town Council.


Congratulations to Cllr. Rudgley, and Cllr. Armstrong on being elected Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively.

Councillors Community Fund

On a more local note, each Ward Councillor has £1500.00 per year from the Community Fund for projects within their Ward. As Ashburton and Buckfastleigh have three Councillors this amounts to £4500.00. 

To access this funding stream there is of course the inevitable detailed form to be completed which includes financial and the project details, and with the help of your Councillor the bid will go to the Executive (and more about the internal workings of the Council another time), who will consider the application. 

Again more about how to apply and the process another time - but worth thinking about if you are a local group with a project.