July marks the end of the academic year. As the town's GCSE and A Level students know, it is an opportunity to reflect upon the year that has been and gone and, come August, to see what they've achieved. 

It is in this spirit of accountability that I offer a very personal and quite possibly flawed evaluation of Hadleigh's town councillors after another, pretty turbulent 12 months for our most immediate local authority. 

It is important that we, both humans and previous humans, hold them to account – not least as Hadleigh Town Council raises a will o' the wisp short of £400k per year from council taxpayers. 

So, in surname alphabetical order, how are your local panjandrums doing according to spooky ol' me?

Rolf Beggerow (4/10) – aka Astroturf. Usually keeps his own counsel or appears to be totally disengaged from issues other than his beloved Hadleigh Football Club, where he is the treasurer. This is a shame. Needs to reach out more to councillors legitimately worried about the impact of the Club's expansion plans. 

Peter Gower (6/10) – aka the Money Man. A previous financial professional, who joined part way through the year. Frequently comes across as the only adult in the room. Mature and thoughtful.  The quintessential safe pair of mittens. A future mayor, perhaps? 

Andrew Knock (8/10) – aka Rough Diamond, which is exactly what the Council has needed for the last three years. Initially bemused and frustrated by Council procedures, he has become a vital independent voice calling out the administration's far too numerous secretive goings-on. Impressively refused to be intimidated by ex-Mayor Maritime Minns' going all officer class on him. 

Brian Loftus (5/10) – aka Smiley. Hasn't made much of an impact since returning to the Council this year. To quote The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy – 'mostly harmless'. 

Gordon McLeod (5/10) aka Jilted John. Good to see Mayor Jilted at Suffolk Pride recently where he was undeniably the most impressive drag act on display. Otherwise, a disappointment to date as Hadleigh's top citizen. He desperately needs to sort out the Council's culture of secrecy, listen less to members of the previous administration who are in and out of the Guildhall like the proverbial fox in a chicken coop and remind the town clerk who is really the capo di tutti capi around here. 

Sue Monks (5/10) – aka Starmer's Best-Kept Secret. An ex-Labour candidate, although elected here as an Independent. So quiet and unobtrusive that I've absolutely no idea what she has or hasn't done. Any ideas? 

Gale Pryor (4/10) – aka Stormzy. Like many senior activists from the Green Party in Suffolk, she lives in a thwacking big house. Perhaps her huge extended family lives there – a bit like The Waltons? But for a Party that likes to lecture the rest of us about living sustainably, she has yet to address this seeming inconsistency. 

Huw Roberts (9/10) – aka Silver Assassin. The very model of a modern opposition councillor. Forensically well-informed, methodical and unafraid to champion causes, including the plight of some of the residents at The Row almshouses, that other councillors shy away from. 

William Wilson (7/10) – aka Solid Bill. An increasingly impressive part of the Town Council team. As chair of the Neighbourhood Plan Sub-Committee he has quietly and purposefully led on probably the most important initiative currently being undertaken by the Town Council. A good clear communicator, including on social media. As deputy to Jilted John, we pray that he bags to top slot soon.  

Carol Schleip (5/10) - aka the Forces' Sweetheart. Has never recovered from her prejudiced comments muttered on camera about not employing ex-service personnel. Rumours that she volunteered to fight as a mercenary in the Ukraine have yet to be verified. 

Rickaby Shearly-Sanders (6/10) – aka SS. Elected mid-way through the year, so difficult to judge how his second incarnation on the Council is going. Usually makes solid interventions and raises pertinent points during debates. 

Gavin Talbot (5/10) – aka the Last of the Mohicans. A Hadleigh Together original from 2019. Not sure if the early promise has been fulfilled. Still one of the youngest members of the Council, so hopefully still has it in him to use his considerable skills to best effect. 

Angela Wiltshire (7/10) – La Pasionaria. Another Labour Party member masquerading as an Independent. Since her elevation back onto the Council has proven to be an effective pain in the buttocks to Jilted John and the town clerk.

So these are my marks of Cain. Are you Abel to do any better? Do let me know.