Kelham Cooke discusses St Martin's Park, Stamford Welland Academy and South Kesteven District Council's response to the coronavirus outbreak

The leader of South Kesteven District Council, Coun Kelham Cooke, is determined to keep improving the lives of people in the district.

Kelham became a familiar face to Stamford residents when he took a weekend job at the town’s Waitrose store, and it was at this time, aged 20, that he became involved with Conservative Party while helping out at the 2010 General Election.

After university, Coun Cooke joined Waitrose full-time, working on the ‘community matters’ green token scheme, organising events with local charities and getting experience in communications.

He was encouraged by Rosemary Trollope-Bellew, a district councillor who lives in his home village of Barholm, near Stamford, to become one too.

Now they are the two councillors representing the Casewick ward, which includes the villages of Uffington, Langtoft, Tallington and Greatford.

“When I was first elected, I was doing my finals at university and coming back at the weekends to campaign,” said Kelham, who has always been interested in politics but didn’t study it.

After being elected to South Kesteven District Council in 2011, he spent his first term as part of the scrutiny committee - a group that gathers evidence on issues affecting people in the area and makes recommendations based on these findings.

In 2015 he gained further political experience as an election agent for Stamford and Grantham’s then MP Nick Boles, as well as organising his own campaign in the district election.

“It was the most stressful but the most enjoyable experience I have ever had,” said Kelham.

In that year he also became deputy leader of the council in 2017, working alongside leader Matthew Lee.

However, following Matthew Lee's sudden resignation in September, Kelham became acting leader, and then the elected leader later that month.

At the time he faced doubts from some fellow councillors about his young age - he’s 29.

“I did quite a lot of thinking about whether to put myself forward,”said Kelham, but it wasn’t age that held him back.

“Age is just a number” he said. “Everyone is listened to regardless of their age. It’s about what you can bring to a role.”

And, the work he does through the role is his passion. He says he “never planned to be leader of the council” but now loves the variety it brings.

As leader he spends time on conference calls with the department of local government, as well as meeting with the cabinet project board.

“In local government we work with the people. The power of local government is we are able to unlock issues,” he said.

Kelham normally spends a few days each week at the council’s offices in Grantham. However, the coronavirus lockdown has meant councillors are working from home and using technology to work together.

Council leader Kelham Cooke believes there are two main factors which affect young people in the district - housing and jobs.

He says he understands the effects of high property values and says he would like to “bring forward developments for all people” and create a “vibrant economy”.

However, not only has coronavirus affected the way the council operates, it has also interrupted plans for the St Martin’s Park development.

The 15-acre industrial site - once home to Cummins in Barnack Road, Stamford - was bought by South Kesteven District Council for housing and business development in May last year. It cost the council £7.5m.

Explaining the interruption, Kelham said: “The public consultation on St Martin’s Park was due to start on March 24, but had to be postponed because of Covid-19 and the need for social distancing.

“However, this is an important development, and we are keen to find safe ways of consulting with our residents and our stakeholders that enable us to progress with the project, while protecting everyone’s health and wellbeing.

“We are planning on using digital consultation methods, with options for material to be sent out by post for those who prefer to read things on paper rather than online.”

He added that despite the difficulties everyone is facing at the moment, it is still vitally important that “we also do all we can to keep important projects like St Martin’s Park moving forward where possible, because this is about the future of Stamford and the surrounding district”.

Kelham said that the development is “expected to recover the cost” of £7.5m the council spent on it, however, it is currently unclear when it will generate a profit.

What do you think of the St Martin’s Park proposal? E-mail your views to: smeditor@stamfordmercury.co.uk