Sally Ann B. Marks nee Martin  Croydon High School 1961 - 1973

County Councillor - Not a Profession – but Worth Doing…

I am a County Councillor for Surrey – I was elected in June 2001 to serve a Caterham Valley Division in the Eastern part of the County.  This consists of about 8,000 people and covers some very different parts of Surrey.  There are 76 County Councillors in Surrey and we meet both at County Hall (which is in Kingston) and more locally in the Borough of Tandridge.  My particular areas of interest are indicated by the Select Committees on which I sit;  Adults and Community Care (I am Vice-Chairman) and Children and Young People.  We have an overview and scrutiny role to perform and this might be to consider a Social Services Inspection; School Transport; Education Issues etc.  I am also a member of the Local Committee which endeavours to bring a local flavour to the decision making process.  I sit on the Adoption Panel for Surrey; the Local Transportation and Highways Committee and am Chair designate of the Tandridge Care Planning Group.  Of  course, I am also very  involved  politically – but that is another story….

Life is very busy with lots of committee meetings; visits out into the community and even further afield.  Today, for instance I ‘shadowed’ a Domiciliary Care Worker on her morning round of visits to frail elderly people in my area then, in the afternoon, I travelled across the County to sit in the ‘Executive’ Meeting of the Portfolio Holders at County Hall (This is the Cabinet), then tonight I am visiting a Parish Council to listen to their concerns and also to tell them of various local issues. Today, also, I have taken four phone calls from constituents ranging from complaints about potholes, to a request for more help for a very disabled young person.

As far as ‘Job Progression’ is concerned I have already had a promotion to Vice-Chairman of a Select Committee and would hope, one day perhaps, to be invited to join the Executive as a Portfolio Holder.  There are opportunities for national or regional representation on various committees if one should want to look for these.

I have to be accessible to the constituents of my division and willing to take up issues on their behalf – to be honest that is the part I enjoy the most.

I have been elected for a four-year term which I now realise is essential as there is so much to learn.    I am a Director of a Travel Business (in my spare time) and am concerned that being an effective County Councillor means that any other career or job may have to be put on the back burner.  I am lucky in that I am able to take time out from the Business  but realise that this is a real bar to many who wish to serve the community in this way.  In Surrey the Councillors are now in receipt of a financial allowance which although is not commensurate with the amount of work put in by most of us does at least allow some of us the luxury of being able to take this job!

If you like people, are dogged, want to serve the community and have boundless energy then I recommend you consider standing as a Councillor – whether at Parish, District/Borough or County Level. I am particularly keen to encourage younger people to stand for election and would be more than happy to answer any queries or indeed meet those who are interested.  Do please contact me via the Minerva Network Development Office should you wish to learn more.