AT THE age of 18, Joe Harris took his first steps into politics, getting elected to Cotswold District Council and Cirencester Town Council. Four years later he is Cirencester’s mayor, a county councillor and the Lib Dems group leader. Reporter Jack Pitts met him in the Fleece, Cirencester, to talk about how the Lib Dems plan to wrestle control of the council from the Conservatives.

Joe Harris grew up in Cirencester, studied at Deer Park School and, while many of his friends were going to university or getting jobs, decided to get involved with local politics.

He is now mayor of Cirencester – the youngest in the UK when he was elected - and the leader of the Lib Dem group on Cotswold District Council.

“In Cirencester you can only be mayor for two years, but I actually think it’s a good thing,” he said

“In some places you can be mayor for 10 or 20 years, when you can only be mayor for a short while it stops you getting complacent.”

He hopes that his father, who is currently his deputy, will be mayor after him.

“Getting elected to my positions are probably my greatest achievements. But in terms of being a councillor it’s just getting people’s voices heard,” Joe said.

“For example, we were very vocal about wanting parking reformed; the Conservatives wanted 24-hour parking and we led a campaign and the district council eventually all but gave in.”

“It’s the same on plastic recycling, people on the doorstep were saying ‘other councils do this, why don’t we’? And now it’s been implemented.”

The Lib Dems would like to go further still, offering recycling for tetrapak cartons and reducing parking charges.

They would also support a new car park, perhaps multi-story, somewhere in Cirencester. 

“Parking is always a big issue in Cirencester. I want to see investment in a new car park, although I’m yet know what form that would take, and a reduction of parking charges.

There are a few councillors to watch out for during the election.

Juliet Layton, candidate for South Cerney Village, and Jenny Forde, Chedworth and Churn Valley, are both “integral parts of the community”, according to Joe.

There may also be an upset in the Bourton-on-the-Water Wards where the Lib Dems are fielding strong candidates.

“We pride ourselves on not being politicians. We are normal people who just want to get the best deal for the area,” Joe said.

Housing is a huge issue for Joe.

“We have got a huge gap between earnings and house prices in the Cotswolds,” he said.

“Everyone knows we need housing but it can’t be the detriment of the area.

“Instead of dumping all the houses on the side of Cirencester, they should talk to local communities so everyone takes their fair share.”

Currently there are 29 Conservative councillors and 11 Lib Dems, but Joe believes there could be a big change.

“We absolutely feel we can take control of the district council,” he said.

“It’s a choice between a Conservative government that wants to do the bare minimum or electing, and we have a record of getting things done in Cirencester.”