SUSAN BATHGATE

Susan decided to stand to offer people something different. She feels that the options people have from the political parties are limited and those selected often put national politics first.

Susan does not believe that party politics is relevant to local authority decision making. Much more attention is needed to make council business transparent, accessible and inclusive of residents.

The current council has a habit of presenting plans as done deals, with little or no consultation or consideration of other options. Some of these can only be described as grandiose, she says, like the lighting up of the city at a cost of £12 million.