Ten Questions - Cllr Tony Simmons I moved to Brandon 10 years ago on retirement from a banking career of 35 years and 7 years as a senior partner in a home improvement and repair business. I have served on the town council for 7 years and Forest Heath District council for nearly 6 years. Q1. If anyone in the community would like to become a Town Councillor what advice would you give them? Do not become a councillor if you are likely to be phased by adverse comments (even sometimes verbal abuse). It is not possible to please all of the residents all of the time. Ideally you need to be patient, persistent and able to look ahead to future needs. Q2. What new methods of communication with the community do you think Brandon Town Council should be using? Our web page could do with uplifting but we should use all methods of communication including social networks. The main problem with this is internet trolls could spread confusing inaccurate and misleading comments to residents. Q3. We all have gadgets in our lives, which gadget could you not live without? Never thought I would say this but the mobile phone has proven to be the most useful to me followed by a sat nav. Q4. Which historical figure do you admire and why? Without doubt, Horatio Nelson. He was courageous and not afraid of making decisions but most of all his ability to plan ahead successfully. Q5. Brandon has become a Town of different nationalities, language and cultures, how would you look to bring the community together for the benefit of the town and its residents? By organising social events for all the town’s residents to enjoy together but I feel our residents already get along pretty well with each other. Q6. The last book you read? Having spent most of my life reading study books for my qualifications and now having to read various council reports, any leisure reading I do is of a swashbuckling nature. Q7. Which other committees or organisations in Brandon are you a member of? As a District Councillor: Overview & Scrutiny Chairman; Planning Committee; Licensing Committee; Local Development Committee; Health & Wellbeing Forum; Health Scrutiny (SCC); Flood Scrutiny ViceChairman; Health & Safety Working Group; Joint Staff Consultative Working Group; Domestic Abuse Forum; Temporary Accommodation Working Group; Temporary Accommodation Working Group; CAB Representative; Museums Representative; Cabinet Meetings as Chairman of Overview & Scrutiny; Full Council Meetings. As a Town Councillor: Allotments Representative; Media Committee Chairman; Events Working Group; Emergency Planning Working Group; New Cemetery Working Group; SALC Representative; Full Council Meetings. Q8. If you could improve 3 things in Brandon what would they be? Parking improvements (introduction of pocket car parks); traffic reduction; new health facilities. Q9. If you had to choose one memory to keep what would it be? Meeting our Town Clerk. Q10. Why do you enjoy being a Town Councillor? I get genuine pleasure if I am able to improve things for our residents. I enjoy being involved with projects and am always pressing for more investment for future generations. My aim is to make all three levels of local government more ambitious for Brandon.
11