Eastleigh Central Ward candidates video hustings

[2s] Who are you and why are My name's Alex Cully and I've lived in Eastley since 2016. I'm a small business owner and the purpose of that business is to help

[36s] other businesses practice good governance and sound risk management.

[39s] And that's one of the main reasons why I am standing in this election.

[42s] Did you know that last year, Eastleigh Borough Council was reported to have accumulated debt in excess of 530 million?

[49s] Needless to say, if this debt gets out of control, this could threaten cuts to public services, and also large council tax rises for you and your family.

[63s] I think the main reason behind this is that the council is predominantly made up of members from one party, the Liberal Democrats,

[72s] and that what we really need are additional voices who can hold this council to account for its spending decisions and other decisions that affect us all.

[84s] My name is Jack Stapleton and I'm standing in the local elections in Eastley Central ward so that the residents of Eastly Central can have a chance to

[93s] vote for someone who will listen to their voices and put their concerns first, who cares about the community and will always prioritise the planet,

[100s] basically so they can vote Green.

[103s] Hi there, I am Josh Constable, your Labour and Cooperative candidate at this year's Borough Council elections.

[108s] I live in Central Eastley and work for the NHS in town.

[112s] I'm also one of your town councillors on Eastleigh town council.

[116s] i've spent the last seven years campaigning in Eastlea because i want to make it the vibrant community town it once was and can be again.I'm standing because

[125s] I have a plan to Make Eastlee Better.

[136s] How would you make a difference locally?

[139s] So I would put my legal and business knowledge to work on your behalf to try and achieve free ends.

[145s] The first is to offer more effective and informed scrutiny of the council's affairs.

[151s] A second is monitor the effectiveness of certain welcome measures that are introduced, for example, in relation to dog fouling.

[160s] And third, to find ways of sprucing up the town centre, getting some of those disused units back up and running again.

[168s] The first thing that I'd want to do to make a change locally is give local residents more of a say in decisions that are being made that affect their local

[178s] area and that effect their lives.

[179s] I think where the council has been under the control of one party for a long time, they've maybe started to take that power for granted and stop listening

[191s] to local resident's concerns as much.

[193s] Whereas I, as a fresh face on the council, would be available and accessible to residents' concerns and would, yeah, be listening to that feedback and

[202s] acting on it wherever possible.

[205s] As your Borough Councillor, I will have the power to scrutinise decisions, push forward positive action plans and make sure it's residents whose concerns

[212s] and interests are being championed at every stage.

[215s] I'm the only candidate at these hustings with a record of delivery and a recording of showing up all year round.

[221s] i've spent the last seven years doing it, i spent last two years on the town council doing and as a Borough Council I'll make it your concerns,

[229s] and your future that are front and centre of all decision making on Borough council.

[234s] One last call, anything you'd like to say?

[238s] Finally, I'd just like states that I'm a backer of the New Culture Forum's 10 pledges, as outlined in their latest work,

[245s] State of Emergency.

[247s] They really are producing some excellent stuff, and I would really recommend that you check out their website.

[253s] It, they really, are offering different perspectives to the way that politics is being done in this country at the moment.

[259s] And thanks very much for your time, And I look forward to meeting some of you, hopefully.

[263s] Cheers.

[265s] I would like to say thank you to everyone for taking part.

[269s] And to everybody watching, especially those who haven't necessarily considered voting Green before, I'd really love for you consider putting a cross next

[278s] to your local Green candidate's name on May 2nd.

[281s] We might not have the resources or the funding of the bigger parties, but that just means that we're going to fight harder for and we are not going take

[288s] that support for granted.

[289s] So, yeah, thanks everyone.

[292s] I urge everyone watching this to go away and look up our local manifesto.

[296s] After four years now, Labour is still the only party to have put pen to paper in detail what we will do differently for our town and detailed a long-term

[304s] vision for the Borough of Eastleigh should we gain power.

[308s] I will oppose all wasteful spending on the Eastley Borough Council and ensure transparency and openness in ongoing projects with a vital focus on value

[318s] for money in community delivery.

[321s] You can read more about my plans in detail, but what I would like to end on is saying that the results in East East Central Island are knife-edge.

[327s] Recounts are now a common occurrence at these local elections because I am so close to beating the Liberal Democrats.

[333s] Sadly, two-thirds of people, that's 5,000 people don't vote in these elections, so every vote will count.

[340s] Your vote could be the deciding one.

[342s] I hope I can count on your support, and if you have any questions, don' hesitate to get in touch.

[347s] Thank you.

[347s] Bye-bye.