Your Reform UK Councillors' Update - June 2026
By Councillor Phil Barrett, Reform UK Councillor for Wardle, Shore and West Littleborough
It feels as though a long time has passed since the local elections on 7 May, although in reality it has been less than two months. During this short period, we have been extremely busy. Personally, I had not anticipated just how demanding the role of a new councillor would be, with a combination of training sessions—both in person and online - and real cases requiring immediate attention. I’m positive it’s been just as hectic for Lakeside’s new councillor, Victoria Howard.
I have been fortunate to have Councillor John Taylor alongside me as a mentor. With eight years of experience as a councillor and now Leader of the Opposition, his guidance has been invaluable. One of the first lessons I learned from him was the importance of being proactive—responding to residents promptly, and whenever possible, engaging with them in person.
For those who may not be aware, councillors act as a bridge between residents and the council’s various departments and officers. While we cannot make guarantees, our involvement often helps to ensure that issues are addressed more quickly by connecting residents with the right people who can take action.
Over the past two months, we three councillors have dealt with a wide range of cases, including potholes, speed bumps, adopted and unadopted roads, anti-social behaviour, overgrown hedges and trees, planning applications, littering, road signage, speeding concerns requiring traffic calming measures, and dangerous parking - among others.
This has quickly become part of my daily life, and I am pleased to say I am thoroughly enjoying the role.
If you require assistance, please feel free to contact us. We will always do our best to help wherever we can.
Councillor Victoria Howard: Littleborough Lakeside.
Councillors John Taylor and Phil Barrett for Wardle, Shore and West Littleborough.