A former Calverley & Farsley councillor who lost her seat at last Thursday’s Leeds City Council elections has spoken of the ‘honour and privilege’ of serving the community.
Conservative Amanda Carter received 3,182 votes on Thursday, but lost her seat to Labour’s Craig Timmins, who received 3,514 votes.
Mrs Carter had two periods as Calverley & Farsley councillor, from 1999-2007 and 2015-2024.
Posting on social media, she wished her successor Craig Timmins ‘the very best’ and added: “Thank you to everybody who has supported and put their faith in me over the last few years, it has been a great honour and privilege to serve the residents of this ward.
“Being a councillor is about getting bins emptied, filling potholes, making roads safer, and fighting to get the best deal for your constituents – this is important and a top priority as your representative. In fact, the very last thing I did as an elected member last Thursday, was to ask the drainage department to clear all the gullies in Calverley & Farsley.
“There is also an important strategic element attached to being an elected member. One of my roles was Shadow Cabinet Member for Community Safety and I will miss helping vulnerable women and children escape domestic violence to a safe place with support, sometimes fleeing for their life leaving all their possession behind.
“Sadly, in this country, two women a week are killed through domestic violence. I have exposed child abuse, which forced the council into changing their policy to better protect children. That’s the kind of thing opposition councillors do and it’s important that whichever colour party is in control, there is a strong opposition to hold the ruling party to account, by scrutinising and questioning policies.
“I wish Craig well in his new role and thank you all for giving me the opportunity to represent you for so many years. I would also like to thank everyone for their kind wishes.”
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What a nice lady. Such a contrast to the new Green councillor in Gipton and Harehills.