Bohemia Village Voice

Andrew Cartwright

THE ‘VOICE’ INTERVIEWS ANDREW CARTWRIGHT, LABOUR CANDIDATE FOR GENSING WARD

Voice: What is your background?
Andrew: I came from the north of England to Hastings in 1988 to work for Barclays Commercial Services as a systems security administrator.
Voice: What is your political experience?
Andrew: I joined Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth in the mid 1980s. I joined the Labour Party when I came to Hastings. I first campaigned in 2001, was elected 2002 as borough councillor, lost my seat in 2006, and regained it in the by-election of 2007, always for Gensing.
Voice: What are the local issues?
Andrew: l To bring empty shops back into use, firstly by supporting local service organisations like lawyers and accountants, secondly by starting a project to encourage local artists to use empty shops as studios.  l Community safety.  l Cleanliness, especially dog fouling.  l Parking.  l Condition of some roads and pavements.
Voice: In the light of the new ‘Duty to Involve’ legislation, how do you plan to enable local people to take more control of their locality?
Andrew: A Scrutiny Review Team which I’m leading on the Council has finished a report concerned with how the Council can improve the way it consults with residents and traders. The legal basis for this representation is ‘Duty to Involve’. If re-elected I’ll do all I can to make the recommendations of this report enacted in reality. The report acknowledges that local residents and traders have a lot of knowledge of the town and its needs. Consultation should begin by the Council approaching residents to share the problem. At the moment, the Council keeps the problem to itself, creates complex solutions, then puts these solutions to the residents. It would make more sense if, in the first place, the Council shared its views with residents. For example, waste collection – the Council should ask residents and traders how they think it could be improved and only then work up a solution to the problem.
Voice: What else do you plan to do if elected?
Andrew: Ensure the Council does all it can to tackle climate change and protect our environment. I led a report (Scrutiny Review) last year which updated the climate change action plan. However, the Council has failed to report back on what it’s doing to put that plan into action. The Government can make broad policies but it’s up to the Council to implement locally those policies. We’re a coastal town and not in a position to want sea levels to rise. We need money spent on sea defences. l History – both the built environment and green spaces give people a sense of identity, so caring for them is also caring for people and their sense of belonging in the town.
Voice: What distinguishes you from the other candidates?
Andrew: The Labour party is focused on strengthening the community. Our focus is not the needs of the Council, the Law, or the Government – it’s about building a strong community. I’m interested in equalities and against prejudice. Everybody has the right to their own opinion. I wish to work with as many people from different backgrounds and views as possible. I think my greatest achievement is winning the trust of people who are not natural Labour supporters but have an interest in what’s happening. I’m not a party man. The biggest issue in politics today is trust.