"Promises are easy to make, but l wonder whether he will actually achieve anything". That was a comment l overheard after my speech at the Mayor Making recently. Perhaps I shouldn't have been eavesdropping or perhaps l was meant to hear. Anyway it was a fair, if rather unoriginal, statement. In the past there have been so many hopeful campaigns with good intentions that have come to nothing. So it is it not surprising that people should be cynical.

However all l can say that if you don't try, you don't succeed and I have every intention of trying to put into practice what l said in my speech. I believe the time is right to take some action. Without trying to sound like Gordon ( you know who) it is a question of confidence. We should be talking up the town, with all its natural attractions, rather than being negative.

I decided to enter local politics about five years ago when a neighbour, responding to some complaint I was making about the Council, said: 'it's easy to moan, but you can't really blame anyone but yourself. As electors we get the representatives we deserve. If you think you can do better then stand for election.'

Having just retired, and with time to spare, I decided to do just that. Much to my amazement I was elected to the Town Council and this year became Mayor. So I am now trying to fulfil my ambition to help the town which l have grown to like so much over the past 20 years since moving to Ross. I hope that doesn't sound too pious or big-headed. Bad luck if it does because I am going ahead with what l promised in my speech to try and tackle at least some of the problems facing the town.

A vital component is public support. There are plenty of people in Ross volunteering for all kinds of tasks and doing a very good job for individual organisations. However many of them find it difficult to co-operate with others in joint projects. This makes it difficult to reach a consensus and , of course, apathy remains the big enemy. I do not expect to be killed in the rush to help. But l would like to hear constructive suggestions about what could be done to resolve Ross's problems in such key areas as shops, traffic and parking. Also the development of more sports and leisure facilities including a possible location for a cinema.. Any ideas, or comments, would be more than welcome. My e-mail address is [email protected]">[email protected] and phone number 01989 769090. l can also be reached at the Council offices in the Corn Exchange.

It is important for the citizens of Ross to adopt a more constructive approach rather than just moaning. For example you have an opportunity to start the ball rolling in positive fashion by making sure that you fill in the questionnaire currently being distributed by the Ross Town Plan Steering Group. It aims to provide a blueprint for the future of the town. The answers to the questionnaire should provide a valuable basis for any action plans.

Finally, on a topical note, let me put the record straight about the ridiculous belief in some quarters that the Town Councillors have got their noses in the trough like the politicians in the House of Commons and Lords. The fact is that the town councillors receive NO REMUNERATION AT ALL. They work on a purely voluntary basis. They are allowed to claim very limited expenses mainly to cover travelling costs, not to repair moats or start duck gardens. A look at last year's budget, available at the Town Council offices or the website, shows that in the financial year from March 2008 to April 2009 just over £200 was claimed as expenses, mainly for attending training courses outside Ross.

An exception is the special allowance to the Mayor of £2,500 during his/her year of office to cover expenses. This is a democratic measure to ensure that no one is precluded from being Mayor because of a personal lack of funds. There are a variety of costs involved in being Mayor. When visiting neighbouring towns to represent Ross or attend meetings there is the cost of petrol and parking. When going to functions, especially in aid of charities, the Mayor and Mayoress usually have to pay for their own meals, as well making donations and buying raffle. They also have to dress in a manner as befits the office of Mayor and Mayoress. A detailed record is kept of the Mayor's expenditure to ensure it only covers legitimate and reasonable expenses, which are allowable under Inland Revenue rules. Any surplus is either returned to the Council or voted as an additional contribution to help the Mayor's charity—Macmillan Cancer Support this year.

It should be mentioned that Herefordshire County Councillors do receive an allowance of £7,000 a year. Once again this is a democractic measure to help ensure they can afford the extra general expenses involved to fulfill their duties properly, including the cost of travelling, especially to Hereford. Some County Councillors also serve on their local Town Councils. However that is entirely separate. Like the rest of the Town Councillors they receive no remuneration from the Town Council.

To my knowledge there are no "brown envelopes" since the Town Councillors have limited powers. So why do we do it? Like the many other unpaid volunteers in Ross the Town Councillors like to feel they are also doing something for the Community. Certainly l hope my year as Mayor will end with me feeling that l have achieved something of future benefit to the town.