At the Full Council meeting on 13 June 2023, the Town Council considered the six applications received to be a Town Councillor following the Thame North Ward vacancy that arose in May’s elections. The standard of the applications was high and the Council voted to co-opt Paul Swan onto the Council.
Paul said:
'I am honoured to be co-opted onto Thame Town Council as a councillor for the North Ward and I thank the councillors and officers for their warm welcome. I have been resident in Thame for nine years, I am settled here with my family and my sons attend a local primary school. Thame is very much home for us and I value it as a thriving place and welcoming community. I wish to contribute as a councillor to help it be a great town to live, work and grow up in.
I work as an NHS manager in Oxfordshire and have done since moving to Thame. I previously worked in local government in Kent and was also a trade union steward there. I believe this experience will be useful on the council.
I am a Labour Party member and have stood as a Labour candidate to represent the people of Thame in past local elections, including the most recent election. I am pleased to now be able to join the council and will serve as an independent councillor for the Thame community working constructively with all councillors and officers, whilst contributing with my belief in fairness, equal opportunities, and environmental protection.
Some priorities I wish to pursue as a councillor are sustaining the Red Kite Family Centre, supporting the Community Land Trust and the Thame Green Living Plan, ensuring development is sustainable, affordable and in line with the Neighbourhood Plan and promoting health and wellbeing for all ages.
I wished to join the Town Council because I believe in public service, I want to help people and I want to play a part in the effective stewardship of our area so that Thame can be a great place now and into the future. Thank you for the opportunity to do so.'
