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Party description: Labour Party candidate
This article is about Ash Madden’s candidacy for Rye and Eastern Rother in the East Sussex County Council elections. Please click here for the sister article about his candidacy for Eastern Rother in the Rother District Council by-election. Because some residents are eligible to vote in both elections and some in only one, there is duplication in the articles but also key pledges specific to the role.
It’s Time for Change
A strong voice for you at County Council
Uniquely among the candidates here, I am standing for both County and District elections. Voters tell me they’d like to see more joined up thinking from the Councils providing our services. They’re often uncertain which council provides which service and would just like to see someone willing to take responsibility. People who know me will tell you that I listen, I take the time to understand, I care, and I get things done.
The task ahead in Rye & Eastern Rother
I’ve been listening to local people about their concerns and the issues they face every day. This is what you have told me you would like to see addressed:
- Potholes, the condition of our roads and road safety
- Planning decisions and enforcement
- Provision of affordable housing for local people
- Parking for residents and for shoppers
- Provision of public services, such as libraries and social care
- Paths, footpaths and cycleways
- Pollution, including noise pollution
- Speeding and anti-social behaviour
- Public transport (or the lack thereof)
- Poverty and the ongoing need for Food Banks.
Many of these issues span both District and County Councils. A Councillor representing the interests of local people on both councils would be so much more effective. Better still would be a Councillor willing and able to take action and backed by a Party in a position to influence Council policy.
The work of a Councillor
Council work is often about working efficiently and effectively on a tight budget, rather than about party politics. That’s where my work experience comes in. Over a 35-year business career, I’ve worked in organisations large and small. I’ve been involved in business start-ups and know what it’s like to work on a tight budget. I also know what it’s like to work in large, complex organisations with lots of moving parts.
My particular career specialisation is creating, developing and managing business partnerships. That involves working with many people from a broad range of backgrounds, disciplines and beliefs, while also achieving specific financial objectives under close scrutiny. As your Labour councillor, I can help make the council not just more effective and efficient but fairer and more equal too.
Our councils work at their best when people from different perspectives collaborate and work together. Being effective requires organisation, strong analytical skills, persuasion, discipline and a large helping of tenacity. Those are the same skills I have developed in business. My management experience will help residents receive the services they expect but within budget.
I work effectively with people from all walks of life to get stuff done. I do this in a conscientious, compassionate and straightforward manner. If elected, I would be part of the Labour group on East Sussex County Council who were responsible, among other achievements, for getting the county to declare a climate emergency in 2019.
Our pledges
On East Sussex County Council, the Labour Party will:
Protect and enhance our public services
Improve your roads and pavements and make them safer
Safeguard your emergency services
Demand improved grant settlements from government to support local services
Oppose selective education in East Sussex.
About Ash
I was brought up in a family (one parent Conservative and one Labour) where disparate political opinions were discussed openly, and a working consensus was agreed. The reason I mention this is because getting things done on our County and District Councils requires working together collaboratively with people from other parties and with differing views.
I have a long connection with the area and currently volunteer at Rye Food Bank where last year I helped provide more than 50 tonnes of food to people in need all around the area. You may have also seen me tootling around delivering growing kits and veg boxes for the Hands of Hope charity where I am a Trustee. The electric van I use (owned by Hands of Hope) is charged with electricity from renewable sources.
I was the first candidate in this election to sign the Climate Action Pledge (https://seclimatealliance.uk/abcdpledge/). I’m fully committed to each of the pledges and, while I think it’s great that East Sussex Country Council has declared a climate emergency, they could do a great deal more if pushed by an effective opposition party. The council’s target of 2050 is nowhere near soon enough to achieve carbon neutrality.
Personally, I moved my pension savings into ethical funds as soon as I was able. Obviously, the ESCC pension fund is considerably larger than mine and, if elected, I’ll get to work on understanding what can be done to help the council divest from fossil fuel investments sooner.
With my experience of optimising business partnerships, I will press for carbon neutrality to extend to Council suppliers and contractors too. This would be a win-win for all concerned.
It will be a challenge to deliver the public services needed to support our recovery from the pandemic. Many children and adults are disadvantaged and vulnerable. Staff responsible for helping them are overworked and underpaid. Our public services must be protected for the sake of us all.
I want to hear from you
In the current circumstances, I fully understand people having reservations about engaging with candidates (of any party) on the doorstep. To that end, I’ve been telephoning local people to gather their opinions on the issues that matter most to them. So, if you see an unfamiliar number come up on your phone, it might well be me!
I’d love to hear your opinions, concerns and questions. Please email me at ash.madden@hastingsandryelabour.org.uk or call me on 07717 709772. It’s great to hear from people and I love discussing what I could do to help if elected.
Published and promoted by Judy Rogers on behalf of Ash Madden both of Hastings & Rye Constituency Labour Party both at 84 Bohemia Road, St Leonards on Sea, TN37 6RN.
Image Credits: Rob Brown https://www.robbrownphoto.com , Sosi Kaskanian https://www.hohcharity.co.uk , Sean Jordan https://www.Instagram.com/sean_j8 , EJJ Madden & Sean Jordan https://www.Instagram.com/sean_j8 .
Local elections may not have the drama or receive the attention of general elections, but that doesn’t mean they’re any less important. Here are a few reasons why voting today is so important:
– It’s your money. Local government spending accounts for about 27% of all national spending. Decisions about how your money is spent will be determined today.
– For your local community. Local councillors should be the backbones of our communities affecting all of our lives on a daily basis, and directly helping those most in need.
– It all matters. Even though we live in a safe seat, where the councillors may seem like a given, it’s still important for you to make your opinion known. Surprise results are much more common in local elections, and the overall share of votes has implications for national politics even if your candidate doesn’t win.
There’s truly no other way that you can make such a big difference just by walking down the road and into your nearest polling station.
To have a say in the future direction of your district, your county and your country. To choose who will be speaking up and fighting on your behalf, or even if you just fancy getting out of the house for a bit!
Make sure your voice is heard today.
Happy voting!
Ash