WHO on earth would want to be a councillor?

They get loads of stick from the public, spend most of their free time in long and sometimes boring public meetings and get paid peanuts for their pains.

On top of that, the press are always on their backs if anything goes wrong.

On the face of it, it seems an unenviable job. Yet councillors - irrespective of their political parties - all say that the rewards outweigh the difficulties.

In the run-up to the council elections on June 10, David Newble talked to three high-profile city councillors in Southampton to find out what makes them tick.

COUNCILLOR Jill Baston, the Liberal Democrat member for Portswood, has held the city's environment and transport Cabinet post since May last year.

She said: "There are many reasons why people put themselves forward to be elected as councillors. My reasons were straightforward. I love this city and want to use my energy to making it an even better place.

"I like the people here and want to make their lives easier. And I believe that for our future generations the environment is incredibly valuable and, again, I want to help protect and preserve that.

"It's hard work. It's not a job but a vocation, consuming you not just with the thoughts and concerns of making responsible decisions, but the regular flow of phone calls,

e-mails and letters.

"Many of these come from those people who take the trouble to support and elect me in Portswood ward.

"Each of their inquiries and problems is important to them, so they're important to me. No matter how long it takes, I try to resolve each and every issue, hopefully to the satisfaction of the individual and council.

"If anyone is considering whether to stand as a councillor, or simply considering whether having a council is a good or a bad thing, I'd ask them to consider that without the council and its elected members the city would wither, lack leadership and fail future generations. Now who would argue for that?"

COUNCILLOR Derek Burke, the Labour group's spokesman for tourism and leisure, represents the Bevois ward and also works at Southampton docks.

He said: "I have been on the council for 15 years.

"I was heavily involved in the trades union movement and still am. I was contacted by Paul Jenks, who asked me if I wanted to stand as a councillor.

"I knew him from the trades union movement and my involvement in city politics began from there. I sit as a magistrate as well, which stemmed directly from my work in the city. I entered politics in my late 40s, which is quite old to become involved.

"It was very difficult when I first got elected. You won your seat on Thursday night and was a councillor on Friday morning. These days, people are a lot better prepared.

"Some days you think what the hell am I doing this for? But there are some days when you do something for someone and you realise how worthwhile it all is.

"I remember early on helping a woman who had lost out on a payment from social services after she left work. When she got her cheque she sent me a card. These are the big things that make a difference to people's lives."

COUNCILLOR Royston Smith is deputy leader of Southampton City Council's Conservative group and represents the Harefield ward.

He said: "I, like many other councillors, decided to become involved in local politics because I felt I could do a better job than those currently representing me.

"I'd some experience campaigning for the Bitterne Park triangle, where I felt that our local councillors were more concerned with the minutiae than they were with the serious issues such as the decline of a community shopping district.

"Once I had made the decision to stand for the council, the rest, as I am sure other councillors will testify, happens almost automatically. You spend months, sometimes years, delivering leaflets, knocking on doors, campaigning on local issues, until you are lucky enough to be elected.

"The role of councillor can be very demanding but can also be equally rewarding. Some days are busier than others, but I expect to spend in excess of 40 hours a week carrying out my duties. Not all councillors spend this much time but there are many who spend even longer.

"A typical day would be a meeting in the morning or afternoon, perhaps conversations or e-mail communication with council officers and attending to constituent correspondence in the evening.

"There are those who believe that councillors are in it for themselves. To some degree, that is true. I am a councillor because I enjoy it. I have no one group that I want to represent. I wasn't inspired into public service because I have an axe to grind. I do it because I enjoy it. And to that end, I am happy representing all of my constituents, whatever their beliefs or political persuasions."

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