Ross-shire baby becomes a regular on Highland Council meetings' circuit
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HE is the youngest regular attendee at Highland Council meetings and, surprisingly often, among the most attentive.
Little Jayden may only be four months old, but the son of Cromarty Firth member Tamala Collier tends to be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed during even the most complex of council business.
Where other eyes can droop during debates, Jayden has an uncanny knack of being wide awake, giving only the odd chuckle or chirrup, although he can occasionally demand a spot of feeding and winding at inopportune moments.
Those hiccups aside, the happy, healthy baby boy, like his mum, seems to have taken to a life in public service with remarkable ease.
Back in September, we revealed that Cllr Collier (36) had decided against maternity leave and would continue to serve her ward constituents with Jayden beside her.
Virtual technology has helped her participate in ordinary council meetings, while she will venture to full meetings with baby in arms.
“Jayden has been a really good boy so far!” Cllr Collier said. “He comes with me wherever I go. It was a really big adjustment for me, but my colleagues and the chief executive have been really helpful.
“I’ve managed to attend all of the meetings online which was a huge helping hand, working from home. Sometimes it is very challenging. It pushes your patience, but it has been a good experience.
“Sometimes during meetings, the baby wakes up and needs feeding. I may not be able to keep the cameras always switched on. I worry that someone is judging me, but I’m always listening and engaged. I always inform the chairperson or the officers as to why my camera is switched off and they are very well aware of the situation.
“I was planning to attend the full December council meeting in person , but the wintry weather made me think twice. In January and February, I will be in the chambers with Jayden.
“I always make sure I contribute and my colleagues and fellow councillors are very understanding.
“Sometimes you will get people who judge you, but that is up to them. I’ve not neglected any of my job or duties. At the same time, I have managed to be a mum as well as a full-time working councillor.”
Married to James (41), who works at Invergordon Museum, Mrs Collier also juggles her job with the care of daughters Denuli (11) and Alysha (4).
None of that stops her from getting out and about in the community, whether by attending community council meetings in person or helping at the local food bank.
“Myself and Jayden have been to almost all of the community council meetings, with the exception of Ardross which is late and night and I would have to travel,” she explained. “Jayden has been so good and quiet, rarely crying. I think he might grow up with a great understanding of council business!”
The food larder at Invergordon, which Cllr Collier helped open along with The Royal British Legion, is one of the areas of her work she is proudest of, while a priority for 2023 is to help coordinate an improvement in youth services.
“We have a community group for the Invergordon area who help run the food larder, which was available to people during the Covid period, but then stopped,” she said.
“We have lots of deprived families here. Especially with the cost of living crisis, it is not just the unemployed or vulnerable families that are in need, but ordinary working class people as well.
“The food larder offers everybody in the community a supporting hand and Jayden comes along with me on Monday and Thursday.”
All of this public duty seems to have had a positive effect on Jayden, who is at ease in busy surroundings.
“He is very good with people and quite happy to see them,” Cllr Collier said. “In years to come, I think that can help shape him positively as well.
“But the most important thing was my ability to properly serve our area as councillor, no matter that I am a working mum. I feel I have been able to play my part in making the right choices for the community. We might not be able to do everything, but I’m proud as the mum of a very young baby that I’ve still been able to do my job.
“I also hope I have given others the confidence to do the same as me by setting a positive precedent.”
Cllr Collier, inevitably, has had moments where the baby’s needs force her to switch off her microphone and camera during meetings, but prides herself in remaining attentive and engaged, while always contributing to debates.
“In November, during one council meeting, my daughters were ill and sent home early from school,” she recalled. “I had three children at home and had to speak on a constituency matter.
“I could hear the two girls talking loudly and then, of course, my little boy also woke up and decided it was time to have a wee giggle, I had to apologise and explain.
“I’ve had those tricky moments, but that’s the wonder of being a parent, I think.”
