Steve Darling: Check now to ensure you have right type of ID for May election

Since the Independent and Liberal Democrat partnership that runs the council came into power in May 2019, we have been keen to drive a culture change in Torbay by working with communities, businesses, faith groups and other key partners.

Much was achieved to support people during the pandemic with our voluntary and community sector partners. We have been building on this to further empower our communities to make the changes they desire.

At the heart of this has been consulting with people at an earlier stage and making the provision of feedback easier such as through our annual community conferences and meetings for specific community groups affected by localised issues.

I have always tried to speak to people on the doorstep but I have been increasing this as we head towards another local election.

Unsurprisingly, some of the big concerns are anti-social behaviour, particularly in the Castle Circus area of Torquay, improving our local economy with higher-paid jobs, the housing crisis and the struggle to meet rising costs.

It’s heartening to hear that these are all topics that we have been laying foundations to tackle during my time as council leader with the partnership administration and we want to continue to address them over the next few years.

The fact that Torbay has been listed for the first time ever as most improved council of the year with the Local Government Chronicle is testimony to where we have come from.

We still have a long way to go but I am particularly proud of the fact that we have made a massive improvement in children’s services and are now supporting other councils who are troubled.

Being able to invest by having a greater financial grip on children’s services, we are now in a position to get better outcomes not only for youngsters in need but also free up money to invest in our public spaces such as the new decorative lighting across Brixham, Paignton and Torquay, the maintenance of our community centres and support for our two community swimming pools, in Torbay in Brixham and Torquay, by offering them £12,000 each at a time when they are facing extortionate utility bills.

Changing to a private sector provider, Tor2, was a model that resulted in Torbay and its residents being a hostage client with the private sector milking the local taxpayer for profits. SWISCo, a company wholly owned by Torbay Council, has been warmly welcomed by community groups and we have been able to invest in new equipment both to tackle climate change and make our streets cleaner.

The government, in its wisdom, has decided to push through changes which will cost millions of pounds and ultimately make it harder for people to vote as, unlike in mainland Europe, the UK doesn’t have mandatory national ID cards.

The May 4 election will be the first requiring voter ID and I am concerned that this will suppress the opportunity to vote for both young people and some older people who may not have a form of photographic ID.

I want everyone to be able to exercise their right to vote if they want to, so please check now if you have the right type of ID. If you don’t then you can apply for a free voter ID document called a Voter Authority Certificate. You’ll also need to be registered to vote.

Alternatively, you can apply for a postal vote which is the simplest way around this challenge. Please don’t miss out. Your vote will make a difference.

You can find out more about Torbay’s local elections on the council webpages www.torbay.gov.uk/elections

It has been my privilege to serve Torbay communities as a councillor for almost 28 years this May, despite my disability. I have always tried to use my position to drive forward positive change with people in the local area while looking at the bigger picture and holding people to account.