Ansuya Sodha wins fourth election in a row
20 June 2010

Pinning down Ansuya Sodha for an interview is a difficult task. She has recently won her fourth local council election in a row in the West Hendon Ward at the London Borough of Barnet - a borough in which 12 wards out of 21 are Conservative controlled- and is busy running local surgeries and handling the difficult issues that have arisen as a result of cuts in funding. A Labour Councillor, Ansuya was first elected in 1998 after a retiring as a lecturer at Hendon College. Born in Mombasa, Kenya in 1943, Ansuya has that innate love of people and local issues thought necessary for a successful career in local politics. Inspired by Andrew Dismore, the then Labour MP for Barnet, she campaigned for him in 1996 before being elected as a local councillor herself in 1998.

Ansuya constantly strives to improve diversity in local politics. She feels that Asians should become local councillors in order "to determine how their money is spent, for everything from meals-on-wheels for social services to Indian musical training in schools". Asked about what it takes to become a successful local councillor, Ansuya has no problems highlighting the core skills: "you need to be passionate about which party's policies best suit your own ethos. You need to join a political party, get to know your branch in all the wards. Then you need to organise and support other ward councillors, learning how 'it's done' before preparing a CV". She adds, "Of course, then you need to research your wards and start the process of ensuring you get selected for a seat".

Skills need to be a good local councillor

On the personal skills an individual needs to be a good councillor, Ansuya is clear, "You need great people skills and social skills. You must like people and have empathy for their lives. And of course, organisational skills, resilience and energy are all vital too". Ansuya took part in the first national BME Women Councillor Shadowing Scheme organised by the Government Equalities Office (GEO) and Operation Black Vote (OBV). She served as a virtual mentor to Leana Prasher among the sixty BME women from across the country who took part in this ground-breaking, cross-party initiative which tackles the under-representation of BME women in local councils. Ansuya is keen to mentor a young Asian to take over her seat and actively networks with local groups and associations to discover likely candidates.

"Local groups have been extremely supportive and I think it important to have links and a relationship with local community organisations, schools, social care, wardens and associations", explains Ansuya, "although much of the time I will be dealing with local issues like potholes and parking fines, there are issues about faith schools, sheltered housing and healthcare where there is overlap between local and national politics".

Daily & Weekly workload of a local councillor

Her time is divided dealing with case work - for everything from noisy neighbours to rat infestations - virtually every morning. This is then followed by evening local council committee meetings that can last from between 2 hours to 4 hours. As a local Councillor she is a member of the London Borough of Barnet Annual Council, the Appeals Committee, Corporate Joint Consultation (Health, Safety & Welfare), Children's Services Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee, Policy and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Ansuya is also a substitute on Budget and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Corporate Joint Negotiation and Consultation Committee, General Functions Committee, Hendon Area Environment Sub-Committee and Pension Fund Committee. Any remaining time is devoted to Shadow Cabinet Meetings or the Labour Party Group meetings. Ansuya makes a point to attend AGMs (Annual General Meetings) for local community groups as well as holding local surgeries and being present at area forums and council meetings.

Remuneration for local councillors

This represents a great deal of time for a basic salary that starts at just £11,000. "Well, obviously you don't do it for the money!" Ansuya laughs "you really have to like working with local people and doing what you enjoy". The additional remuneration for committee positions mean that local councillors can earn between £11,000 and £45,000, with the average being around £28,000 per annum. There are childcare allowances and extra benefits like free car-parking permits which Ansuya's Labour group have eschewed.

Her West Hendon ward will see a massive regeneration scheme approved for the Brent Cross development 2010-2014 project, one which will have immediate impact and see benefits for people's lives. But this project isn't without controversy and Ansuya is fighting to ensure that local people's concerns are not subordinated in favour of commercial concerns and that open spaces, traffic flow and housing are included in the ambitious aims of the £4.5 billion scheme.

"Being a councillor is all about leadership and serving every member of the community", explains Ansuya "Of course, you need training to help you develop these skills and most Councils do offer specialist courses. You also need to learn a lot about housing, social services and team working which will gradually help you build up confidence". A healthy network of contacts help her get "the job done" - links she has developed over the years by literally "pounding the pavements" and knocking on doors. "There is no substitute for the experience of talking to people on their doorstep, making phone calls asking for their support or leafleting and discussing issues in local shopping malls and schools" she adds. Being a Governor of a local school provides a valuable link to concerns about education and Ansuya serves the Mapledown School as one its governors.

Local politics versus National politics

"You do need to have a firm grasp of local politics" Ansuya says. In the London Borough of Barnet, the Conservatives gained three seats from the Liberal Democrats, but lost one to the Labour party such that the Conservatives now hold 39 seats to Labour's 21 seats with Liberal Democrats holding a mere 3 seats in the borough. "When you are in the Shadow Cabinet, you obviously have to work that much harder to ensure that local people from your ward are being represented and not likely to suffer from changes in policy so the experience and confidence from winning three previous elections is a big help!"

Ansuya Sodha is actively looking to be a personal mentor to anyone interested in being a local Councillor in Barnet and is keen to hear from Asians and women in particular. She can be contacted via the London Borough of Barnet Councillors Directory - click here.