Backround - over the last week, I have heard multiple names mentioned as potential candidates for the next mayor, and indeed I have been approached. The email below is to all councillors - copied to you, the public, so you can be in the picture and make any inputs you wish to me or them prior to the vote tomorrow evening.

If all the energy that has been spend on competing for votes and favours over the last week was consistently put into the Town we could be doing so much more in our work. You do have, mind you, an excellent and committed team of councillors and I'm sure that whoever gets the role will do a grand job to the best of his or her ability.

To: the 5 Melksham Town Councillors elected as "Conservative", also copied (and reply encouraged) to all other councillors. Nothing in here is private - please feel free to share wider. Picture - a street in Melksham. Hard to find just ONE picture to represent our wonderful town.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Management summary - I would be delighted to be mayor next year - reasons given below. I am not prepared to stand to be a part of playing for position in the current election for the role

Earlier this week, one of your (Conservative) number approached me asking I would consider being Mayor of Melksham for next year, promising me their vote. I promised an answer in a few days. Here it is, and in answer to all councillors no matter what platform they were elected on.

The mayor's role is a key one in the town. It is not something to be taken on lightly. It is to be taken on primarily for the good of the town, its residents and businesses, during the mayoral year or two and way into the future too. It should be a decision we can all feel comfortable with, even if our first "group" choice would have been one of our own.

A great deal of excellent work has been done across the town in the past year by the new council, staff and volunteers. But there remains a great deal to do, as you would expect with 13 out of 15 of us "learning in". The task is not to be undertaken lightly, not to be undertaken alongside other roles which lead to time constraints, and not to be undertaken without a stable and supportive family / home and friends network.

YES - if nominated, I am prepared to stand for the role of Mayor for the sole purpose of actually being elected and taking on the position to lead a positive support from everyone - staff and volunteers, including councillors who are a very special class of volunteer.

Being a Town Councillor should not be about blowing your own trumpet - so there are things you may not know about me. Unusually this email IS somewhere I should outline my experience and achievements so you know what you are voting for.

Planning - running a business - looking after customers - developing and maintaining quality - staff relations - community campaigning - setting agendas and chairing meetings - getting the best of people.

* I have lived in the Melksham area since 1999, when my wife and I bought a derelict listed building which we restored - or rather project managed the restoration by those with the skills needed.

* Our IT training business transferred in to that building, and we then expanded into our current property on Spa Road where we also had major works done, and provided accommodation for visitors to the town from all over the British Isles and the rest of Europe.

* Full utilisation or resources was achieved through opening also as a hotel to fill rooms at quieter times. And we became (and remained) No. 1 on Trip Advisor for the area right through until we retired and closed the business on plan.

* From my early days in Melksham, I was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, holding the role of president for a number of years during a very difficult period for all Chambers. A lot I could talk about there, including key behind the scenes work and pivotal meetings relating to the Campus - without those meetings I calls, I am pretty sure we would not have the new facility in the town at all.

* When Melksham's rail service was cut back to just 2 trains each way per day (as a step, probably, towards closure), I picked up and lead the campaign to have the relevant authorities work out and provide what was appropriate. At first glance, that could have been closure but we now have 8 trains each way per day calling. As the Transport Minister said on Radio 4, "we can't provide a train just for Mr Ellis"; he was right - I was at the station yesterday and in the quiet middle-day, there were around 20 people getting off or on each train. I spoke with many of them who make full use of it though this is very much an ongoing project out of scope for this email (please ask me!)

* My transport hat has expanded to include buses - very much work in progress - but we have set up the community representation to the local transport authority across the county, and have a number of successes in that strategy with community support - thank you, for example, to the current mayor who loaned us his meeting space for a meeting that confirmed the community view on Bath to Devizes services, informed the Unitary Council and Operator into support of what we now have on that route.

* Also on expansion of public and sustainable transport, I was invited to join the board at TravelWatch SouthWest - the co-ordinating body for user groups, and have chairs meetings with passionate members on some massive issues.

I stood for Council as an independent and I hope there's no question that I am my own person. I have an openness, equality and environmental slant and you can read much more at http://grahamellis.uk/perm.html - no hiding plans or views where they may be necessary but unpopular.

I do not have higher political ambition.

I have a very supportive partner; our children are no longer Children and independent

I believe in partnership rather than presidential role, and would welcome and nurture a [deputy/vice] both to take a significant part of the load in those areas I am less strong, and with a view to that person being developed as one of our future leaders.

I have a clear(ish) diary for the rest of 2022; vacation plans are back into next year at present. I am retired so don't have scheduling issues with a day job.

I am approchable and will guide and help if I can. Has always been the case - "when you become a councillor you'll find things different" I was advises - "people will stop you in the street and ask questions". Not really the case; I have been stopped in the street for a decade on public tranpsort matters ... happy with it, used to it, enjoy it, used to getting results!

We do have a family of guests from Ukraine living with us - and in the early days of this, they will be some "pull" on my time. And it is very early days at the moment - they arrived in Melksham less than 12 hours ago. We will be learning about Job Centres, setting up Bank Accounts, Biometrics, Social issues of a new county and much more - though we have some prior experience with Lisa being an immigrant, and also my daughter-in-law.

For the next year, the issue that need to be addressed include ... * Campus Opening; * Bloom; * Car Parking; * Staffing; * Mayor's awards * Assembly Hall; * Parks, gardens and Cafe; * Safety and security; * Cafe in the park ... and they need to be addresses in a way that takes then forward for the future. Sticking plasters are sometimes needed, but a third best.

Beyond the year and not in that short term list ... * Environment and Climate; * Bypass; * Planning; * Priority for People; * Neighbourhood Plan; * Local Plan; * Public transport; * Ongoing stable staffing system; * Budget prudence for future years; * Visioning

These lists subject to review including additions - this message put together in answer to the request to me to consider standing.

I would love to be your mayor next year. I have the time to do it. I have experience to apply. With your support, I could do an excellent job. My heart is purely for the town and, should I be mayor, you have my 110% committent to that.

Graham Ellis - graham@wellho.net
01225 708225 or 0797 4 925 928
48, Spa Road, Melksham, SN12 7NY
* Well House Consultants
* Webmaster at Coffee Shop forum
* Melksham Town Councillor for South Ward
* Vice Chair Melksham Transport User Group