 | Melton Councillors |
 |
Asfordby Ward
Cllr Mal Sheldon
Representing: Asfordby, Asfordby Hill, Welby
Contact Details:
Tel: 01664 813260
Email: malsheldon@melton.gov.uk
Bottesford Ward
Cllr Pru Chandler
Representing: Bottesford, Muston
Contact Details:
Tel: 01949 842355
Fax: 01949 842622
Email: pchandler@melton.gov.uk
Bottesford Ward
Cllr David Wright
Representing: Bottesford, Muston
Contact Details:
Tel: 01949 842610
Email: dwright@melton.gov.uk
Croxton Kerrial Ward 
Cllr Gerald Botterill
Representing: Knipton, Belvoir, Harston, Branston, Croxton Kerrial, Eastwell, Goadby Marwood,
Eaton, Stonesby, Saltby
Contact Details:
Tel: 01476 870394
Fax 01476 879337
Melton Dorian Ward 
Cllr Pat Cumbers
Representing: Melton Dorian
Contact Details:
Tel: 01664 858648
Fax: 01664 858649
Email pat.cumbers@melton.gov.uk
Melton Dorian Ward 
Cllr Ron Marks
Representing: Melton Dorian
Contact Details:
Tel: 01664 464890&
Email: ronmarks@melton.gov.uk
Melton Dorian Ward 
Cllr Margaret Moore
Representing: Melton Dorian
Contact Details:
Telephone Number: 01664 564747
Email: mmoore@melton.gov.uk
Frisby On The Wreake Ward Cllr Nigel Angrave
Representing: Frisby on the Wreake, Kirby Bellars, Grimston, Saxelbye, Hoby, Ragdale, Brooksby,
Rotherby
Contact Details:
Tel: 01664 434542
Fax: 0116 2694701
Email: info@angraves.com
Long Clawson And Stathern Ward
Cllr J.B. (Byron) Rhodes
Representing: Barkestone le Vale, Long Clawson, Hose, Harby, Plungar, Redmile, Stathern
Contact Details:
Tel: 01949 860029
Email: brhodes@leics.gov.uk
Melton Newport Ward
Cllr Colin Chapman
Representing: Melton Newport
Contact Details:
Tel: 01664 568915
Email: cchapman@melton.gov.uk
Melton Newport Ward
Cllr Pam Posnett
Representing: Melton Newport
Contact Details:
Tel: 01664 823188
Mobile: 07970 238546
Email: pposnett@melton.gov.uk
Old Dalby Ward
Cllr Diane Elizabeth Orson
Representing: Ab Kettleby, Holwell, Nether Broughton, Old Dalby, Six Hills, Wartnaby, Queensway
Contact Details:
Tel: 01664 822272
Mobile 07767 871425
EMail: dorson@melton.gov.uk
Somerby Ward
Cllr Mark Barnes
Representing: Knossingtn, Cold Overton, Burrough on the Hill, Somerby, Pickwell, Leesthorpe,
Thorpe Satchville, Twyford
Contact Details:
Tel: 01664 454898
Email: mbarnes@melton.gov.uk
Melton Sysonby Ward 
Cllr Joe Orson
Representing: Melton Sysonby
Contact Details:
Tel: 01664 822272
Mobile: 07973 267244
Email: jorson@melton.gov.uk
Melton Sysonby Ward
Cllr John Illingworth
Representing: Melton Sysonby
Contact Details:
Tel: 01664 636645
Email: jillingworth@melton.gov.uk
Cllr John Wyatt 
Representing: Melton Sysonby
Contact Details
5 Dovedale Close
Melton Mowbray
LE13 0HG
Telephone: 01664 857882
Email: jwyatt@melton.gov.uk
Melton Warwick Ward
Cllr Alison Freer
Representing: Melton Warwick
Contact Details:
Tel: 01664 851682
Email: afreer@melton.gov.uk
Melton Warwick Ward
Cllr Norman Slater
Representing: Melton Warwick
Contact Details:
Tel: 01664 482274
Mobile: 07984 204901
Email: nslater@melton.gov.uk
Wymondham Ward
Cllr Malise Graham
Representing: Buckminster, Edmondthorpe, Freeby, Garthorpe, Sewstern, Stapleford, Sproxton, Wymondam
Contact Details:
Tel: 01476 860266
Fax: 01476 860523
Email: mgraham@melton.gov.uk
An Introduction From The Leader Malise Graham
Whilst I have been leader, The Conservative group has never had a whip though I do ask Conservative Councillors to support the budget when it is finally decided.
I have been leader of The Conservative Group on Melton Borough Council since 1994 and during most of that time the Conservatives have had the majority on the Council. There was a short spell with the Liberals in control and they fell out with each other and then Labour had control in 1999 and that ended with a council vote of no confidence in their then Leader.
Over the 13 years that I have lead the group the Council has had four Chief Executives the parliamentary party has had five leaders and we are now embarking on the fourth Prime Minister. Each post holder has sent out a different message and steered Local Government in a different direction. I have, as leader, tried to stick to three simple principles: Look after the finances, If you are going to do something do it as well as you can and look after the more vulnerable members of our community. They may sound like ‘Motherhood and apple pie’ but they are quite tricky to combine.
With Finance we have the amount of money that the Government gives us in grant and the amount that is raised through the Council tax and the latter is limited by capping. I try and ensure that we have a balanced budget i.e. we do not spend more than we raise. As our statutory functions are increased by this Government annually and funding does not follow. To balance the books cuts have to be made to existing services, resulting in hard and unpopular decisions.
I have always found dealing with the media difficult and their short-term headlines are not designed to portray why long term decisions are taken.
Do what we have to do well sounds so obvious but is difficult to achieve. For example the introduction of the alternative week refuse collection had massive opposition from the media and our political opponents but I feel now that as a Borough with one of the highest recycling percentages we made the correct decision once again for long term not short term gain.
At the moment we want to invest in our swimming pool and by reorganising it make it less of a drain on our finances we are facing opposition but I hope that we will be able to proceed.
We are also looking at how we can improve one of Melton’s greatest assets the Livestock market.
We have invested a lot of time and effort in working with the more vulnerable members of our community. We have changed the way we relate to them and to our other customers by strengthening our customer service team so that calls can be dealt with at first point of contact. I feel that this approach to issues is a far better way of running an organisation than the traditional silo approach where no one has any idea what is happening outside their own world. It is not a change that can be introduced overnight but we are getting there and those in need can now be targeted directly and liaison with other agencies can take place.
Local Government is frustrating and unlike running your own business, which I did for 26 years, you cannot always do what you want. Dealing with public money you have to prove why something might work and therefore large amounts are spent on consultants, which annoys me. Capital sums are given to unelected quangoes like EMDA to be distributed in accordance with their bureaucratic wishes. On the revenue budget you can never plan because the Government will not tell you how much it is going to give you until late in the budgeting process. If they say that they will give you a grant you can not count on it because they can change the rules at the last moment and tell you in retrospect.
Melton is in desperate need of a by-pass the Borough Council can only play a small part in the overall scheme but I went with a delegation to hand over a petition to No.10 and our officers are doing all they can to keep up the pressure on those who make the decisions
Having said all that, being a Borough Councillor is a fascinating form of public service, you really can make a difference to people’s lives. You will be criticised for making wrong decisions by those who wanted a different outcome and there are reams of regulations to trip you up and try to ensure that you are politically correct. As long as you have principles and are prepared to stand up for them actually making decisions is not that hard. Being Leader of the Council is like being a team captain – you are only as good as the other players. In Melton’s case we have a fantastic team of Councillors and Officers and although we not agree on everything I believe that all want what is best for their community.
 
| 
