Interview with Chairman of Mumbles Community Council by Councillor Jane Griffiths
Mumbles Community Council celebrated its 25th Anniversary last year and Councillor
Brian Arthur has just been elected as its 17th Chair at the Annual General Meeting on 14th May. The Council covers the four wards of Oystermouth, Newton, West Cross and Mayals.
On meeting Councillor Brian Arthur this week and congratulating him on his election as Chair I took the opportunity to ask him some questions about his time and role on the Council and his hopes for the future.
His role working for British Telecom as an engineer had meant he travelled the country working in many local communities. People spoke to him about their community and some of the issues they faced and what they saw as resolutions to those issues. Councillor Arthur was struck by the similarities in his own community and armed with that knowledge he stood for and was successfully elected to Mumbles Community Council in 1993 motivated by the thoughts that he could help make his community a better place for residents by listening to what they had to say and being able to act on it.
During his time as a member of the Council he has been involved in many projects firstly on the Development Committee who planted bulbs within the community to enhance the environment. He was also closely involved in the partnership with Swansea City Council and the Community Council with the upgrade of Bracelet Bay. This involved a children’s play area, replacement of the fences and seating that made the area a far more attractive and pleasant place to visit and spend time. He was also part of a sub committee that placed litterbins and seats on the promenade on Mumbles front.
In 1998 Councillor Arthur joined the Planning Committee as Vice Chair and became Chair of that committee in 2003. He along with his colleagues on the committee are responsible for visiting all sites in Mumbles where planning permission is sought from City and County of Swansea. The findings are reported back to full council and the recommendations are sent to the City Council. Councillor Arthur sees this as a great benefit to the community as it allows him to speak to residents and understand any concerns as well as advising them of options they can take. The daily communication with residents he sees as imperative to know the feeling of the community and enabling the Council to work with them to improve the community.
Councillor Arthur will work during his time as Chair to involve the young people in the community that he firmly believes are the future of the Mumbles Community Council area and their ideas need to be listened to and acted upon with their involvement. He also wants to continue and expand the practical projects that enhance the area for all residents, businesses and visitors.
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