Together We Can: Make a Difference Build Resilience Grow
FAQs
Frequently asked questions, and correcting the record on some misconceptions about Forest Row Forward.
Are you trying to take over the council?
You’ll be happy to hear we’re not. Had we not stood (or if only the existing councillors in our number had stood) there would have been no elections for the Forest Row Parish Council, as everybody who ran would have got in unopposed. To us, that seems an awful lot less democratic than ensuring an election occurs.
Whilst the number of candidates running may have been a surprise for those who assumed they’d be getting in uncontested, everything we’ve done this election has been available to all candidates. Handing out leaflets, having “meet and greet” events at the community centre, using social media, etc – all are within the strict and precise regulations surrounding elections. Indeed, we’ve noticed in the Forest Row ward that three of the four other candidates running have also joined up to send out leaflets together, and other candidates and their supporters have been using social media, organising events, etc.
Ultimately it will be you and everybody else who votes who decides who is elected to the council. We hope you’ll vote for our candidates, but no matter who sits on the next council, the community will have had the right to choose.
Is Forest Row Forward a party?
No, though we can understand the confusion! Forest Row Forward is not in any way a party; we don’t have a manifesto, we don’t have specific policies, and we don’t try to present a monolithic, united front. We’re a group of individuals with diverse backgrounds, experiences, political stances, and creeds, brought together by a set of shared values including openness, democracy, and transparency. Even if all fifteen of us get in, there’s plenty we won’t agree on, which is good – we think debate and discussion are vital aspects of the due process of governance – but primarily we want to listen to the community, and help give weight to the voices of the people.
Could having three Alexs cause confusion?
Whilst we do have three Alexs, two of whom are called Alex Waters, we’ve done everything we can to limit confusion. All three are running in different wards, so there will only be one Alex on your ballot paper, and you can find out which Alex is running in your ward, and more about them, on our bios page here.
Do you have the life/council experience to run the council?
Amongst our fifteen candidates we have a very wide variety of experiences and skills! Importantly, we have three candidates who were already on the council before the election (Tony Lewin, Alex Waters, Jason Eichner) and one ex-councillor (Kate Taylor-Smith). Between them, they have a combined total of 16 years of experience on the Forest Row Parish Council.
Outside of council, we have people with years of experience in finance, planning, architecture, education, and more. You can find out about each candidate’s experience on our bios page.
Won’t a completely new council cause chaos?
Whilst we’re not sure we agree with this claim to begin with, even if all fifteen candidates associated with Forest Row Forward are elected, there will still be continuity. Three existing councillors, and of course the council staff (the bedrock and beating heart of the council) would remain and provide a good deal of continuity.
Do you have an unfair advantage thanks to your budget and size?
Electoral spending is strictly monitored and controlled, and we’re very far below the maximum amount. After the election there is also a requirement to disclose electoral spending, and we think you’ll be surprised at how much of what we achieved was done through hard work, not through any massive budgets.
By joining up as a group we are able to support each other, by giving advice, sharing strengths, etc, just as some other candidates have chosen to do. Teamwork and group management are critical skills for a council to have, so we see it as a positive that people are choosing to give us their time and talents (of which there is such a profusion in the village), and that we all work together so well. Fostering a sense of community and working together is something we’re hugely proud of.
Are you going to illegally change the Standing Orders or council processes?
Some standing orders are legal requirements, and others are chosen/set by the council. We’re not interested in throwing them all away, but we are interested in changing some of the standing orders that can be legally changed, to better allow the community their say. For instance, we are interested in changing or removing the standing order restricting public questions and comments to the first 15 minutes of a council meeting, and enabling live broadcasts of meetings online, so that the public can make their voices heard when it is relevant during a meeting as well.
We’re not going to do anything illegal or undemocratic, though. It’s perfectly likely there will be a mix of candidates elected to the council, some from Forest Row Forward and some not, and the council as a whole will make those decisions, all with the expert advice of the council staff as well.
I’ve heard you want to build over our AoNB/Wildflower patches, is this true?
We’re very perplexed by this one! To set the record straight, this is entirely false – whilst we’re a very varied group, one unifying element is a profound respect for the natural world surrounding us, and we have no plans or intentions to damage the AoNB or any wildflower patches.
