David Henwood Independent: Cowley
Working cross-party where possible, in our common interest
Being an independent means I am not whipped by party whips. Being the former Labour whip and chair of labour group, who found the practice of whipping colleagues to form a collective decision disturbing and at times a negative centralist experience.
I invite colleagues to public meetings, and surgeries. More recently local MP’s have asked to join my virtual surgeries on line.
Examples of working together for a common interest include:
Withdrawing my own motion at full-council with ten minutes to spare to facilitate a labour motion on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons at Oxford City Council’s last full council. The motion was passed.
I have seconded Green and Liberal Democrat motions at full council, and voted in the best interest of democracy and of course in the interest of Cowley ward.
During the general election, I reframed from the negative politics, and focused on constructive view points and building blocks to solutions.
I am truly unique position as an independent to represent the common interest, to achieve this an atmosphere of free discussion, a willingness to compromise, and a determination to ‘serve’ the community and not the party, are personal driving factors in my decisions.
Regular contact with your electors, e.g. through surgeries and/or public meetings, newsletters etc
Surgeries
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic I held the following surgeries on a monthly basis
Surgeries during the pandemic have been moved online and are conducted online, and are accessible on the first Saturday of the month from 12:00 to 12:30
Public Meetings
During the 12 months prior to the pandemic I have held 5 public meetings
These include 3 on parking in Cowley and 1 on a historical tree, and 1 on a planning application for student flats.
Typically, I will leaflet the local residents via a mail chimp mailing in the area to notify them of the meeting details, and for those without technology access I deliver a feed- back card. Giving local residents a voice is critical in developing a balanced view. I have attached a copy of a feedback card for your further reference.
Finding ways to engage with all the diverse elements and interests in your wardI achieve this by the following:
Translating materials into different languages, knocking on doors and attending group/ club meetings, social media and more recently by reintroducing Cowley News (quarterly newspaper), first edition due to be launched in June.
As my surgeries in the Cowley Centre have become popular, more and more members of the public from different ethic minorities and walks of life have access to their local councillor.
Confidential individual casework
Consulting with people in your ward about how to spend your personal budget
Please visit my website, full details of how I have spent both my ward budget and CILbudget are listed for the past three years. I also list on mailchimp newsletters and paper leaflets details of my ward spend and the remaining balance. I actively encourage local groups to apply for this. It’s not mine, it’s theirs!
https://oxfordindependent.co.uk/councillor-budget-expenditure/
NewslettersI produce a newsletter 4 times a year
In addition to this I produce individual leaflets for individual roads on a topic relevant to that road or district.
Working to implement the will of the Oxford Citizens’ Assembly on Climate ChangeAbsolutely agree with this. In the run up to the introduction of the ‘citizens assembly’ I organised different schools to make a public address at full council
Attending schools that made a public address included:
Cheney School
St Gregory The Great
I also organised the first ‘student summit on climate change’, with attendance from the following schools
Cheney School
St Gregory The Great (secondary and primary) The Oxford Academy
Oxford Spires
Outcomes from the discussions were sent to the portfolio holder, and published in the | Oxford Mail
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/17778374.st-gregs-pupils-call-climate-change-action-sum- mit/
Climate change is the single most important issue any and all politicians have to ad- dress. How we address this issue will define our ability to lead, cooperate and represent our communities. It is also important to examine how a candidate delivers the smaller issues on climate change to judge his/her ability to deliver on the national stage. It would be interesting to compare candidates on how they deliver on this personal level in their communities, which might give a better insight into the personal motives of the candidate. Just a thought.
Working cross-party where possible, in our common interest
Being an independent means I am not whipped by party whips. Being the former Labour whip and chair of labour group, who found the practice of whipping colleagues to form a collective decision disturbing and at times a negative centralist experience.
I invite colleagues to public meetings, and surgeries. More recently local MP’s have asked to join my virtual surgeries on line.
Examples of working together for a common interest include:
Withdrawing my own motion at full-council with ten minutes to spare to facilitate a labour motion on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons at Oxford City Council’s last full council. The motion was passed.
I have seconded Green and Liberal Democrat motions at full council, and voted in the best interest of democracy and of course in the interest of Cowley ward.
During the general election, I reframed from the negative politics, and focused on constructive view points and building blocks to solutions.
I am truly unique position as an independent to represent the common interest, to achieve this an atmosphere of free discussion, a willingness to compromise, and a determination to ‘serve’ the community and not the party, are personal driving factors in my decisions.
Regular contact with your electors, e.g. through surgeries and/or public meetings, newsletters etc
Surgeries
Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic I held the following surgeries on a monthly basis
- First Saturday of the month from 11~13:00 table at the Cowley Centre (Templars Square)
- Last Saturday of the month from 12 ~13:00 Florence Park Community Centre
Surgeries during the pandemic have been moved online and are conducted online, and are accessible on the first Saturday of the month from 12:00 to 12:30
- Access via my website www.oxfordindependent.co.uk (On the day a pop-up screen will prompt users to push a green button on the day)
Public Meetings
During the 12 months prior to the pandemic I have held 5 public meetings
These include 3 on parking in Cowley and 1 on a historical tree, and 1 on a planning application for student flats.
Typically, I will leaflet the local residents via a mail chimp mailing in the area to notify them of the meeting details, and for those without technology access I deliver a feed- back card. Giving local residents a voice is critical in developing a balanced view. I have attached a copy of a feedback card for your further reference.
Finding ways to engage with all the diverse elements and interests in your wardI achieve this by the following:
Translating materials into different languages, knocking on doors and attending group/ club meetings, social media and more recently by reintroducing Cowley News (quarterly newspaper), first edition due to be launched in June.
As my surgeries in the Cowley Centre have become popular, more and more members of the public from different ethic minorities and walks of life have access to their local councillor.
Confidential individual casework
Consulting with people in your ward about how to spend your personal budget
Please visit my website, full details of how I have spent both my ward budget and CILbudget are listed for the past three years. I also list on mailchimp newsletters and paper leaflets details of my ward spend and the remaining balance. I actively encourage local groups to apply for this. It’s not mine, it’s theirs!
https://oxfordindependent.co.uk/councillor-budget-expenditure/
NewslettersI produce a newsletter 4 times a year
In addition to this I produce individual leaflets for individual roads on a topic relevant to that road or district.
Working to implement the will of the Oxford Citizens’ Assembly on Climate ChangeAbsolutely agree with this. In the run up to the introduction of the ‘citizens assembly’ I organised different schools to make a public address at full council
Attending schools that made a public address included:
Cheney School
St Gregory The Great
I also organised the first ‘student summit on climate change’, with attendance from the following schools
Cheney School
St Gregory The Great (secondary and primary) The Oxford Academy
Oxford Spires
Outcomes from the discussions were sent to the portfolio holder, and published in the | Oxford Mail
https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/17778374.st-gregs-pupils-call-climate-change-action-sum- mit/
Climate change is the single most important issue any and all politicians have to ad- dress. How we address this issue will define our ability to lead, cooperate and represent our communities. It is also important to examine how a candidate delivers the smaller issues on climate change to judge his/her ability to deliver on the national stage. It would be interesting to compare candidates on how they deliver on this personal level in their communities, which might give a better insight into the personal motives of the candidate. Just a thought.
