A message for residents of Heald Green ward from Heald Green Ratepayers’ Association and the Heald Green Independent Ratepayer Councillors.
We are aware that there have recently been several news items involving the misconduct from members of national political parties. In recent months we have also had a number of Heald Green residents contact us to raise concerns about racism, antisemitism and Islamophobia following national events. We understand that some residents are very worried about the changing tone in politics and public life, particularly the willingness for some in politics to embrace an openly hostile tone towards minority groups.
We do not involve ourselves in national or international political issues and we try not to be involved with the conduct of political parties, we aim to campaign positively. Our focus, as it has always been, is upon our ward and the borough of Stockport only.
However, we want to be clear to the residents of Heald Green ward that we are here to represent all of the residents in our ward. We also want to assure residents that Heald Green Ratepayers Association is an inclusive organisation open to all residents who live in our ward. Indeed, our group has had members from most of the major religions, as well as those who are not religious at all. Our membership includes people whose families are from distant locations as well as those born and bred locally. It’s the difference we together make to our community and where live now that matters most, not where we are from.
Our councillors, as do all other councillors, have a duty to conduct themselves in accordance with the Nolan Principles and Public Life: Committee on Standards in Public Life. They also have a responsibility to uphold standards of equality and inclusion for all council services.
As a community organisation we have a duty to include all from our community, and we know from our conversations on the door step this is what the majority of residents expect from us. We aspire to maintain traditional British values of tolerance, decency and respect.