Cromarty Firth councillor Richard Cross: ‘We live in a blame culture’
Newly-elected Cromarty Firth ward councillor Richard Cross believes he can make an impact as an independent, working with others.
When I announced to my family and friends that I was running for council again many said I would be on a “hiding to nothing” and I would find it impossible to achieve change.
It is interesting that this is the perception. I am sure that many election candidates put themselves forward with altruistic motives, determined to champion change for the better.
As an independent councillor, I am not linked to any party and I value that independence. Nevertheless, I will be joining a group of independent councillors, as this is the only way I can be involved in committees. I would achieve nothing if forced to sit on the sidelines.
My campaign focused on giving the ward a voice. There is a clear perception that residents in the ward have not been heard, many examples are quoted and cynical explanations offered. One very basic principle in local government is that it must be clear, open and fair. Furthermore a democracy is the government of the people, for the people, by the people, and yet 75 per cent of the electorate did not vote in this by-election.
The issues I see as being important to the people in Ward 6 reflect the diversity within it. We have the Port of Cromarty Firth, a major driver of the economy, and on the outer edges we are impacted by the energy corridor running from Dounreay to Beauly and beyond, with the impact of anticipated renewable energy projects becoming increasingly obvious. The “Green Freeport” comes with a focus on economic growth, and at times it seems that wealth is the only thing that matters. I am not so sure.
We live in a blame culture. Blame leads to excuse and little progress is made. I have learned through failure and success that in order to make progress we must first accept responsibility for our own actions. We must also listen in order to understand, rather than listening in order to reply.
Education is the foundation of the future. A good education supports rational thinking, which leads to good, well informed decision-making, mindful of consequences. I want to promote high quality schooling for all and more and better out of school provision for youth. Young people need guidance to learn from their mistakes, not criticism to alienate them.
We have Local Development Plans, created democratically at considerable cost. These plans inform the decision-making processes for infrastructure, best use of resources or identifying where resources are limited. The council policy is said to be “plan led”, a good principle worth following.
There is massive potential development ahead in terms of renewable energy opportunity. I hear the concerns of the electorate that such development must be sympathetic to the needs of the current and future residents, that economic growth must work for the communities and not simply the few at our expense. All construction work is temporary, and often creates more jobs during construction, but leaves fewer jobs behind.
I don’t doubt the size of the task, and fully expect robust debate. Any success I might achieve will inevitably be limited, but the legacy I really want to leave is a recognition that when good people work together in unity, great things can happen. It might need to be demonstrated on a small scale, seeds sewn for others to nurture. It is said “A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step”
