Tony Heath (Ind, Whitnash) was elected onto the council for the second time in May. He previously served for eight years in the 1990s before stepping down.

He said: "I wasn't surprised to be elected but I was really pleased. I was more surprised by the increase in votes since the last elections."

Coun Heath, who lives in Whitnash Road, first became interested in Policing, nuisance youths and recycling are key issues for an experienced member who has returned to Warwick District Council.

Tony Heath (Ind, Whitnash) was elected onto the council for the second time in May. He previously served for eight years in the 1990s before stepping down. He said: "I wasn't surprised to be elected but I was really pleased. I was more surprised by the increase in votes since the last elections."

Coun Heath, who lives in Whitnash Road, first became interested in politics some 30 years ago when fellow councillor Bernard Kirton was campaigning to put a bus route down Mullard Drive in Whitnash. He said: "Residents campaigned as many of us had small children and we didn't think the road was wide enough for buses and eventually it was proved it wasn't."

He was asked to join the then parish council and is now a member of the town council. He is keen to point out the priorities in his ward and said: "We need to sort out policing so we have someone on duty in Whitnash when it is needed. It is not just one weekend a month when Leamington town centre takes priority.

"On Friday youths set boards around the basketball court alight and there was no one in the police office, so I suspect they were all on leave or in Leamington.

"It is down to properly managed rotas. There is no point in having three police officers in Whitnash from 9am until 4pm and nobody on at night."

Coun Heath lives with his wife Jennifer and has three children and six grandchildren. Five years ago the couple founded the town's youth club, which has 90 children aged eight to 13 on a Tuesday night in two groups.

He believes the council needs to provide activities to keep youths amused and hopes plans for a new sports centre and youth club in Whitnash, first drawn up in 1980, will be moved along as soon as possible.

The 63-year-old previously worked for Whitnash business Postmead with his son-in-law and is now semi-retired and drives his own taxi.

He said: "The three main issues in the district are youth activities, fortnightly waste collections. Even though the Conservatives said they are altering it, fortnightly collections are not the way to go forward - encouraging people to be good housekeeping by cutting waste to a minimum."

He believes the lack of party politics helps the Independent grooup to decide what is best for residents and said: "We take each case on its merit and whether or not we think it will benefit Whitnash and the district ."