Ready for the challenges ahead

Sir, I am delighted and honoured to have been elected as a council representative for Ardrossan and Arran.

I would like to thank everyone who has supported and voted for me - I am ready for the challenges ahead. Now that the excitement of winning is passing, it is time to reflect on what the job ahead actually is. The first challenge is to complete the next few weeks of intense training to learn what it means to be a councillor and how the council works, and starting to get to know my councillor colleagues and council staff.

So what do I want to achieve? Well, my aim is get out to speak to people, get their views, feed them back to the council, influence decisions to get the best for Arran, and then let everybody know what has happened. My first specific task will be to see what can be done about the toilets on Arran - a hot topic for Arran. As an election candidate I identified a number of specific Arran issues, including housing and the environment, and these are still very important issues for Arran. However, I am aware that there are other pressing priorities, such as education, health, transport, and social care. What I need to find out now is what are the specific issues for Arran, and what is needed to improve services.

I am aware that this will take time, and a short, medium and long-term strategy is needed and I will be working with my Conservative colleagues on our approach to all these issues. I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead, and I will never forget why I am a councillor and who all this is for you! If you see me around please feel free to speak with me and tell me your thoughts. Yours, Councillor Timothy Billings, Conservative.