By Lauren Monaghan, Junior Local Democracy Reporter
A group of independent Broxtowe councillors have banded together and launched an independent group on Broxtowe Borough Council.
The Broxtowe Independent Group will see five politicians unite in their own political unit and say its offering an alternative to the traditional party system.
The group says it doesn’t currently act as an official political party but its formalisation means future local election candidates can register with the group on the ballot papers.
Cllr Richard MacRae, who’s a founding member of the group, represents Stapleford and is a former borough mayor, said: “We’re here to represent the people of Broxtowe, not national parties.”
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr MacRae said initial ideas for the group started in May 2023 but movements began around October this year.
He added: “If you’re just an independent councillor you won’t get on any committees or have the proportionality.
“Nobody is told what to do, in meetings we’re all independent, but because we’re a group we can be on committees.”
Borough councillor Steve Carr, who represents Beeston North, previously sat as a Liberal Democrat councillor until summer 2023.
That was when he, along with Cllr Barbara Carr, left the party to become independents.
He said: “You get more influence for the people you represent, if you’re sat on your own, as when I was as a Lib Dem in [the County Council], you have no influence at all in the political structure.
“When I was on my own, I was on one committee. We now have people on every committee in the borough.”
Cllr Carr says he feels the “burden has been lifted” of his previous role as a member of a traditional party.
He added: “I was doing as much party work as I was council work- now I haven’t got that.
“I’ve got far more time than ever to be out there inspecting pavements, potholes, talking to people on the doorstep about their concerns.”
Cllr Carr added that there has been “no negativity” from his residents while sitting as an independent.
The group currently has seven members, including five borough councillors.
They are councillors Richard MacRae, Donna MacRae, Steve Carr, Barbara Carr and Elizabeth Williamson.
Cllr Steve Carr and Cllr Williamson both also sit as county councillors, with fellow independent county councillor Kane Oliver registered as a member.
Cllr Stephen Richardson of Stapleford Town Council is the seventh member.
The group is currently working with the electoral commission to finalise details, with the hope for completion by mid-February.
Independent political candidates have risen in recent years, with 459 independent candidates in the 2024 general election which was more than twice as many that stood in the 2019 election.
Ashfield District Council is Nottinghamshire’s only Independent-run council with 32 out of 35 councillors sat as Ashfield Independents.
Broxtowe Borough Council now has 26 Labour councillors, 10 Conservative councillors, five from the Broxtowe Independent Group and three Liberal Democrat councillors.
