Meet the candidates: Phil Bateman

Last week we emailed all five candidates standing at local elections on 3rd May inviting them to ‘have their say’ in a questionnaire.

There are 3 candidates standing in Wednesfield South and 2 in Wednesfield North and we will publish any responses in the order we receive them.

Whilst WV11 does not back any political party, we are keen to see local politicians engaging with the community online as well as offline.

The first candidate to respond was Wednesfield North Labour candidate Phil Bateman, here are his responses to our questionnaire…

 WV11 local candidate questionnaire

Name: Philip Bateman

Party: The Labour Party

Ward: Wednesfield North

Occupation: Self Employed Consultant

What made you decide to stand for election?

I have been active in Wednesfield politics and community affairs for more than 40 years. I have the burning desire to help make our community a better place to live, work and take leisure time. I have a long history of delivering better facilities, both into Wednesfield and the region.

What do you believe are the key issues to be dealt with in your ward?

The key issues will be around people and their struggle with every day life. Giving help and assistance to individuals and families and highlighting the inequalities that they face on a day to day basis.

If you are elected how do you plan to keep your constituents informed of what you are doing to represent them?

I had a very good track record of representation over the years, and I am proud to say that I have run a web site www.philbateman.com for many years. In the early years of the web site, it was recognised as being ‘ground breaking’ it even reached a national ATOS final and I was invited to London as one of five finalists! Constituents will be able to follow the issues I am involved with by use of that web site, and the social media like Twitter and Facebook where I am also found communicating around issues of local, national, and international interest. I have always operated with an Advice Surgery, I intend to do so again.

How do you feel you will be able to make a difference to your constituents?

I am confident that I will be able to make a difference not only to the way that the elected member role is delivered but also in the response. I am passionate about my community. I am excited about being involved in an election again! I have so much experience that I want to share and use in the development of Wednesfield & Wolverhampton. There are many, many families that I have helped in the past, that will testify to the fact that I made a difference to them!

Anything else you would like to add?

I am a proud former Mayor of Wolverhampton. During the course of my Mayoral Year I raised almost £30,000 for charities which included the Children’s Ward at New Cross Hospital, The Everyman Cancer Charity fighting testicular cancer, and Divine Onkar a Wolverhampton based Charity that helps the rural poor in India; In 2004 I received an MBE for my services to transport across the West Midlands. I have also received a Fellowship from the Chartered Institute of Transport & Logistics.

I believe strongly in the role of Law and Oder and I am proud to have received a Chief Constable commendation for work I had undertaken with the Police in the West Midlands.

I am a former Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate.

I am the Secretary of Wednesfield North Labour Party.

I am the current Chairman of Ashmore Park Nursery School, and The Parks Children Centre. I am extremely proud of the role that I have played at Ashmore Park Nursery along with the Governors over past years. A role which has led to £1m being invested into the school which has been rebuilt and refurbished. Plus the advocacy and campaign for the addition of the Children Centre, providing quality support to young parents and their children across Wednesfield North. Also the fact that the Nursery School has received an ‘outstanding’ grade in each of the last two OFSTED inspections it has faced.

I am proud of my community which led me to bringing the Commonwealth Secretary General to Coppice High School in 2006. I intend to one day write a book about our community!

I remain committed to developing the canal network as a ‘wild life reserve’ and as a facility for Wednesfield people to enjoy. There is much, much more!