Six months after being elected as a Plymouth City Councillor to represent the St Budeaux Ward, Pat Patel admits it has been a bigger challenge than he anticipated.
Time management is the key, according to Pat who has worked tirelessly for the Barne Barton community, having moved to the estate 35 years ago.
“I don’t think people fully realise just how much time is in involved – and I certainly didn’t,” he said.
Pat, who is a member of the Conservative Group on the city council, is kept extremely busy attending regular meetings of a number of committees, which includes Licensing and the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry joint committee, as well as full council meetings.
He is also a governor of Marine Academy Plymouth and also represents his community’s interests on the Devonport Local Liaison Committee, North Yard Community Trust and Incinerator Liaison Committee – to name but three.
“I have probably taken on more responsibilities than most councillors, which is quite daunting – but I am used to challenges and am really enjoying the work,” said Pat.
“I didn’t fully appreciate just how big the council is and the huge range of activities and services involved in running a city as big as Plymouth.”
The council is one of the city’s biggest employers with over 2,500 staff handling everything from education and planning, to transport, parks and pot holes.
Many people were surprised when Pat first stood as a Conservative in the local council elections back in 2017. He had been a member of the Labour Party for many years and had put his name forward on several occasions to represent St Budeaux – but he was never selected.
“At the time it was a safe Labour Ward and invariably outsiders were brought in to stand. In the end I decided to join the Conservatives – but I would like to think that this is not all about party politics as councillors from all sides invariably agree on most issues.”
He ran Labour close at three elections and eventually romped to victory in May this year with a majority of more than 500 votes over the Labour candidate.
He is determined to represent all the communities in St Budeaux in the same way he has worked so hard for Barne Barton for more than three decades. In that time he has overseen the development of Tamar View Community Complex as well as the Resource Centre, the Co-op store and also the Cabin Nursery.
Pat has a remarkable gift for looking at the impossible and doing it any way. He is passionate about ensuring community projects and services are sustainable – which has been at the heart of his work in Barne Barton.
“It has always been one of the most deprived areas of the city and we have clearly seen that simply building new homes doesn’t solve these problems. We have to look at wider issues such as education, employment, health and wellbeing.”
His aims for the immediate future are to see the realisation of improvement plans for St Budeaux Square, the acquisition of some of the playing field space at Bull Point – currently owned by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation – and the provision of improved community infrastructure for King’s Tamerton.
“King’s Tamerton is a community which is lacking so many facilities,” said Pat.
“I want to try and identify a site in that area that could accommodate a neihbourhood store or supermarket.
“I believe my main role is to help the community to influence decisions that are made by the council – as well as responding to the needs of local residents across a whole range of issues. Half the battle is knowing who on the council can do what for you.
“The council officers and their staff are doing their best in very difficult times,” he added.
