Wanted: councillors

THE Frome valley's councils need a key ingredient this year - the councillors who will make the decisions.

In this year's local elections on May 4, all 61 seats on South Gloucestershire Council and a total of 492 town and parish council seats across the district are up for grabs.

The elections come around every four years and are a chance for adult residents of an area - whether a member of a political party or independent - to win a place representing their community and helping decide how public money is spent.

Anyone who would like to be a parish or South Gloucestershire councillor can get nomination papers now - they can be submitted between March 27 and 4pm on April 4.

To be nominated as a candidate, you need the signatures of two residents on the current electoral register for the ward you want to stand in.

Unlike in parliamentary elections, you do not need to pay a deposit to stand as a candidate.

There are 15 seats to fill on Frampton Cotterell Parish Council - five each in its Central, East and West wards.

The newly-renamed Westerleigh & Coalpit Heath Parish Council has nine councillors to elect, seven for its Coalpit Heath ward and two for Westerleigh.

Winterbourne Parish Council has 16 seats to fill - 12 for Winterbourne and four for Frenchay.

Iron Acton has nine councillors to elect in two wards - five for Iron Acton and four for East ward.

Other parish councils in the area do not have separate wards: Rangeworthy has five councillors, Wickwar has nine and Cromhall has seven, as does Tytherington & Itchington.

There are fewer seats but more power and responsibility for members of South Gloucestershire Council, where three seats are up for grabs in Frampton Cotterell, which includes Coalpit Heath, Iron Acton, Rangeworthy and Tytherington, along with two in Winterbourne, which includes Hambrook and Moorend.

South Gloucestershire Council is encouraging anyone who wants to make a "real difference" to consider standing for election.

A spokesperson said: "People from all backgrounds and experiences who can reflect the communities they serve are needed.

"You do not have to be a member of a political party to stand for election - you can also be an independent councillor.

"Being a councillor is a varied and highly fulfilling role where you help make decisions on the issues that matter to local communities."

The council is holding briefing sessions for prospective candidates at Kingswood Council Chamber on March 6 and 9.

For more information about becoming a candidate, visit beta.southglos.gov.uk/ stand-for-election, call 01454 863030, email electoral.services@southglos.gov.uk or write to Electoral Registration, PO Box 1953, Badminton Road, Bristol, BS37 0DB.

Striking teachers picket Winterbourne Academy

MORE than a thousand teachers in South Gloucestershire left their classrooms for the picket line as part of a national strike over pay and education funding.

Members of the National Education Union walked out on February 1, with many schools closing to all but vulnerable pupils or those in care.

Picket lines were set up outside many primary, secondary and special schools, including Winterbourne Academy.

Many teachers then went to a regional rally in Bristol city centre, which was joined by other public sector workers and supporters. Organisers estimate it was attended by up to 6,000 people.

The strike left thousands of parents having to make arrangements to look after children given an unexpected day off school.

NEU South Gloucestershire representative Lee Everson, who is a teacher at Winterbourne Academy, said: "We understand parents are in a difficult position, because it's particularly inconvenient to provide childcare, but many can see this is not just about teacher pay, it's about providing enough resources for their children's education.

"People who went out on the picket lines were surprised by the level of public support."

He said many teachers were "at the end of their tether", with pay not keeping up with the cost of living and "scarily high" rents facing younger teachers in the area.

Lee said the latest pay offer of 5% was not funded by the government, which meant it would have to come from school budgets already under pressure due to rising costs.

He said: "Expectations have never been higher, with the pressure of Ofsted reports, exams and league tables, but there's no resourcing to justify the pressure. People are being asked to do more with less."

Lee said teachers hoped negotiations can be reopened.

The Department for Education said offers of 8.9% for new teachers and 5% for experienced staff were made on the recommendation of an independent pay review body and are "the highest pay awards in 30 years" for teachers.

The government says it has answered union calls for increased funding, claiming that "by 2024-2025 schools will be funded in real terms at their highest level in history".

A DFE spokesperson said Education Secretary Gillian Keegan and unions had recently discussed issues including workload reduction, recruitment and retention, adding: "The Education Secretary instructed officials to hold further detailed talks with unions and committed to more talks ahead of planned strike action."

Further teachers' strikes are planned on March 2, 15 and 16.

Staff at the University of the West of England, including administrators, cleaners, library, security and catering workers, walked out over three days in February over a 3% pay offer from the Universities and Colleges Employers Association.