Say Hello to Chiswick's Only Labour Councillor
Chiswick Riverside councillor Amy Croft reports back
Cllr Amy Croft
July 8, 2023
As it is the first time I have written something for ChiswickW4.com , I thought I had better start but introducing myself and telling those that don’t know me a little bit about myself. I am Amy Croft, a Labour ward councillor for Chiswick Riverside. I also work as an Academic Director for Quality and Engagement at a University in London.
Casework
My first year as a Councillor has been an interesting one. Apart from the large amount of training you receive on all aspects of the role, the fastest way to learn about the full spread of services offered by the Council is through taking on residents’ casework. Residents regularly contact me about varied issues relating to traffic, planning, noise nuisance, housing and waste collection (albeit the later not so frequently). Residents will also contact me about obtaining help and funding for Community based projects, and ideas for community improvements, or to ask for help in other areas, not directly controlled by the Council, but where I can link the resident with support.
My motivation to become a Councillor was to demonstrate the values that I believe in by engaging with and helping residents, and ensuring the Council provides a good service and quality of life to all it serves. This is why I find casework so rewarding. The more I have learnt, the easier it is for me to help residents, by answering queries and signposting them to support services; however, it is a great feeling when you can influence a change in process by feeding in residents views to Council decisions or you help individual residents with issues that are negatively affecting their lives. I feel privileged that I get to do this through casework, and look forward to continuing this in my second year. Chiswick certainly benefits from having Labour representation on the Council.
Council Duties
I am the Chair of the Borough’s Licensing and General Purposes Committee, meaning that I hear many of the opposed licensing applications across the Borough; I have recently been appointed to the Planning Committee and I sit on the Council’s Digital Strategy Board, one of the aims of which is to increase accessibility of digital services and promote digital literacy across the Borough. I am looking to set up some digital literacy workshops in Chiswick in the near future, if you know of any residents that would benefit from these then please get in touch.
Extra-curricular
Outside of the Council itself, I am a Trustee of Chiswick House and Gardens Trust. A truly beautiful setting where you can currently enjoy an evening of open-air cinema in the grounds at the Luna Cinema. I am also a Trustee of the Chiswick Pier Trust, who are in preparation for the annual Party on the Pier event, which this year takes place on Sunday 23 July. Come along and enjoy a fun filled afternoon, there are free boat trips, canoe taster sessions, live music, food and drink and much more. You may even catch me and Councillor Giles serving behind the bar!
I’m also honoured to have been appointed as a judge to the inaugural Wild Chiswick photo competition, I’ll be one of the judges of the Amazing Amphibians and Reptiles category, so get your entries in before the closing date of 13 August.
If you would like to get in touch, you can reach me via email on amy.croft@hounslow.gov.uk or phone, message or WhatsApp on 07977 396014. You can also come although to my surgery on the first Saturday of every month from 9:30am until 11am at the St Michael’s Centre, Elmwood Road. Chiswick W4 3DZ.
Like Reading Articles Like This? Help Us Produce More This site remains committed to providing local community news and public interest journalism. Articles such as the one above are integral to what we do. We aim to feature as much as possible on local societies, charities based in the area, fundraising efforts by residents, community-based initiatives and even helping people find missing pets. We've always done that and won't be changing, in fact we'd like to do more. However, the readership that these stories generates is often below that needed to cover the cost of producing them. Our financial resources are limited and the local media environment is intensely competitive so there is a constraint on what we can do. We are therefore asking our readers to consider offering financial support to these efforts. Any money given will help support community and public interest news and the expansion of our coverage in this area. A suggested monthly payment is £8 but we would be grateful for any amount for instance if you think this site offers the equivalent value of a subscription to a daily printed newspaper you may wish to consider £20 per month. If neither of these amounts is suitable for you then contact info@neighbournet.com and we can set up an alternative. All payments are made through a secure web site. One-off donations are also appreciated. Choose The Amount You Wish To Contribute. If you do support us in this way we'd be interested to hear what kind of articles you would like to see more of on the site – send your suggestions to the editor. For businesses we offer the chance to be a corporate sponsor of community content on the site. For £30 plus VAT per month you will be the designated sponsor of at least one article a month with your logo appearing if supplied. If there is a specific community group or initiative you'd like to support we can make sure your sponsorship is featured on related content for a one off payment of £50 plus VAT. All payments are made through a secure web site. |