Ahead of the local government elections on May 5, Independent Democrats Group Leader at Neath Port Talbot Council before the 2022 election period, Scott Jones, opens up on the challenges of life as a politician, his early passion for politics and how transport could be the key to transforming valleys communities.
Death threats, online abuse and disguised bomb parcels - these are just some of the things that one Neath Port Talbot councillor, Scott Jones, said he has had to put up with during time in politics.
The Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council (NPTCBC) member maintains that he has always been focussed on getting on with the job in hand. However, with another local government election on the horizon he believes more needs to be done to protect people in politics.
Scott, who was the Independent Democrats Group Leader at NPTCBC ahead of the 2022 election period has already been re-elected to the uncontested seat of Gwynfi and Croeserw.
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Highlighting the issue of abuse in politics, he said: "It is something that does go on and it goes on quite a lot. It is good to see that a lot of it is starting to surface out there now at all levels [of government].
"It is really disappointing that it does go on. I don't feel as though there is enough support there when these issues do arise with politicians because at the end of the day we are doing a job.
"A tremendous amount needs to be done there and that is not just in NPT. That is everywhere.
"I have had death threats myself. I have had parcels disguised as bombs.
"It is a very difficult job and that didn't stop me from continuing because I enjoy what I do, but [if] you are living with a family you have really got to be on the ball when you are receiving these threats.
"Neath Port Talbot Council was very good with me at the time. They were very supportive.
I appreciate that you cannot please everybody. That is the name of the game.
"And, you cannot deliver everything that everyone wants and that is [also] the name of the game, but people should be a little bit more respectful. To have abuse and verbal abuse is not acceptable.
Scott described the disguised parcel incident, which happened a number of years ago, as a "terrifying ordeal".
"I had to put up with the nonsense for a number of years," he said.
However, on balance Scott said his passion for politics and the job has always come out on top.
Early start
Having joined the Labour party at the age of just 14, Scott has made a habit of reaching political milestones at an early age.
He was one of the youngest councillors to be elected in the UK when he first took his seat on NPTCBC in 2008.
Scott was also the youngest ever councillor to have held the position of Mayor at NPTCBC since the foundation of the authority in 1996.
Where did it all start?
"It was where I grew up," said Scott, who has lived in Croeserw for most of his life and in Caerau before that.
"I have always had a background of living amongst and within communities of deprivation.
"You look at other parts of different [wards] here in NPT and they have got a lot more amenities. There was always a challenge for me of wanting to improve communities.
"I wanted to have that fairness and equality of having services like what they have got in other parts of the county borough."
Challenges
Difficult decisions also came early on in Scott's political career when he changed allegiance and became an independent councillor in 2017.
He said: "Making the decision of going from the Labour Party to become independent was very difficult. Once I had made that decision, I haven't looked back.
"I sometimes ponder whether I should have made the decision a lot sooner.
"Unfortunately, politics does play a significant part in communities when it doesn't really need to. It is about people and it is about communities."
Last year, Scott was invited to take over the role of Independent Democrats Group Leader by his predecessor, Steve Hunt, and fellow group members.
Looking back on some of his challenges as a leader and councillor, he said it was the Covid-19 pandemic that stood out.
"The pandemic was a real big challenge. I [was] seeing myself working from a bedroom probably in excess of 12 to 14 hours a day," said Scott.
"It drove me around the bend, but I was a lot busier then because people still needed services. When services were not operating, I was then focusing on other aspects like [making] sure that people had the food that they needed.
"We got through it like [other] communities have by coming together."
Valleys strategy
Looking to the future, Scott said that he sees a Valleys Strategy as key to revitalising some of these communities.
Transport, he said, is where it should all begin.
"A lot of our independent councillors are valley councillors and what is needed beyond May, and it is what we will be pushing for, is to ensure that we have got a policy or strategy focused on valleys communities.
"Not enough is being done [there].
"Any valley [community] that you have discussions with, transport always pops its head up and always becomes one of the front-line issues. Without transport, sometimes our young people can't travel back and forth to colleges.
"Without transport people struggle to get to GP and Hospital appointments. Without transport people can't get to work or they are missing the links.
"Transport in the valleys communities is the single most important issue that really needs to be addressed.
"You can have jobs out there. You can have jobs where we are situated in the Afan Valley and you can have jobs further down [on] the coast, but it is no good having [them] when [residents] can't get there.
"In the Afan Valley it is very serious. Out of the three wards that we have got, two of the wards are on a two-hourly service. Sometimes people moan that they have got an hourly service when in two of the three wards in the upper Afan Valley we have got a two-hourly service.
"We have a lot of people who don't have access to private transport here in the Valleys still. We have got a lot of people who don't drive and when they need to go further afield to access healthcare, they have got to leave hours earlier in the morning just to ensure that they get on to the right connections in order to get to their appointments.
"There have been many occasions where people have missed appointments - serious appointments - as a result."
"We need a robust Valleys Strategy that will deliver. Not making it up as we go along. We need an ambitious plan that can sustain our communities longer term. The crux of it will be transport.
"If we can overcome the issues with transport then we are on the way to sustainable regenerations projects."
When asked if it is not equally as important to focus on town centres, Scott said: "I am a big believer in town centres and I welcome the investment that has gone into the redevelopment of our town centres in Port Talbot and Neath.
"However, there needs to be equality whereby more money is focussed on valleys communities as well because some of [the residents in my ward] can't get down to these towns.
"It would be easier for some of them to go to the nearest town three miles [away] in Maesteg and go shopping [there] than it would be to support our own towns. That in the main is due to transport."
Elections
Looking ahead to May 5, the belief among many independent candidates, including Scott, is that the elections will go down to the wire.
With 32 independent candidates and 34 Plaid Cymru candidates running in this year's elections, it is a possibility that Labour, who have 49 candidates running, could have a serious challenge on their hands.
"It will be very interesting times in May because it could be the first time that we are heading for a hung council," said Scott.
"We could even be looking at a rainbow alliance across the county.
"We aren't going to win outright. I would have liked to have seen a lot more independent candidates coming up, but the figures that we have got now I think it is the highest that we have ever [had] out there.
"If the soundings, in terms of my colleagues and residents across the county borough is accurate it will be very interesting. [There] could be a change for the first time in years."
Scott offered his thoughts on the possibility of a coalition being formed should a sizable number of independent candidates get through, adding: "Knowing that we are putting a third of the candidates out, we know that we are not going to win an overall majority. However, at this very early stage, I would like and hope that the people of the county borough will support our independent candidates.
"It is too soon to be looking at or discussing around a hung council, coalition or any rainbow alliance. We would have to deal with that if or as the time comes. What I can say is if that situation does arise, then I am not going to rule in or rule out at this stage [the possibility] of any talks.
"We will be open. But, what will be absolutely clear from my perspective within the first couple of weeks after the election will be ensuring that there can be consensus on some of the priorities that I have outlined.
"Whether that could be be with Plaid or Labour - I don't want to rule out anybody at this stage, but [there would] be very interesting discussions to be had."
You can find the names of every candidate running for election in Bridgend on the NPTCBC website . Want the latest news from Neath Port Talbot County Borough straight to your inbox? Sign up for free here.
