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Call for more powers to local councils., As if we didn't have enough to worry about! |
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Nov 30 2014, 04:52 PM
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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-30266834I have to say, as far as I'm concerned, this would be the biggest downside to the devolution no vote. Whilst logically, it might seem the right answer to restore and give back powers to local councils, their antics round here suggest that they can't cope with the power they have already. We do have a model, Newbury Town Council was restored, after a period of abolition, but it's been an unmitigated disaster. Equally, WBC was created (in reality) by giving a district council far more powers than they had previously. Again, that Council has hardly covered itself in glory. In spite of the large number of councillors, at local level, we seem unable to find effective leaders at any level. I can't see that we'd correct that simply by giving the Councils even more power. Yes, there needs to be an English counter to the devolved 'governments' elsewhere, or we'll end up with a Charter Trustees model; a convenient milch cow to subsidise spending. But this proposal is surely the wrong answer.
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Know your place!
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Replies
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Dec 3 2014, 03:59 PM
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QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Dec 3 2014, 01:44 PM) All Councillors can do is organise protests or petitions and scrutinise officer effort. They have no real power other than to raise the profile of any particular issue, acting as a go-between with the officers and the public. I don't see anything wrong with that other than they don't always do it. Surely another complete waste of time, unless they are able to alter an outcome which it appears they are not able to do? Still it gives the impression that they have a purpose I suppose and keeps the little club going!
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Vexatious Candidate?
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Dec 3 2014, 05:20 PM
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QUOTE (Cognosco @ Dec 3 2014, 03:59 PM) Surely another complete waste of time, unless they are able to alter an outcome which it appears they are not able to do? Still it gives the impression that they have a purpose I suppose and keeps the little club going! I'm not sure it is exactly like that. Councillors are in effect the elected peer to speak on constituents' behalf and perhaps sell the officers decisions too. If it were a limited company, you could say the constituents are the shareholders, the councillors are non-exec directors and the council officers are the executive directors/officers. Councillors can only be as powerful as legislation and protocol will permit. They do have a value, but expectations are probably higher than they deserve to be. I blame the 'shareholders'.
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Dec 3 2014, 06:04 PM
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QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Dec 3 2014, 05:20 PM) I'm not sure it is exactly like that. Councillors are in effect the elected peer to speak on constituents' behalf and perhaps sell the officers decisions too. If it were a limited company, you could say the constituents are the shareholders, the councillors are non-exec directors and the council officers are the executive directors/officers.
Councillors can only be as powerful as legislation and protocol will permit. They do have a value, but expectations are probably higher than they deserve to be.
I blame the 'shareholders'. The few that now bother to vote! Still given very little choice as Simon states our local clique won't tolerate any one standing for the major parties who is not in the club!
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Vexatious Candidate?
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Dec 3 2014, 06:58 PM
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QUOTE (Cognosco @ Dec 3 2014, 06:04 PM) ... as Simon states our local clique won't tolerate any one standing for the major parties who is not in the club! Why should a party promote someone whose views contradict theirs? It's a basic failure of party dominated politics - but the fault is the electorate's, we vote for parties far more than we vote for individuals.
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Posts in this topic
On the edge Call for more powers to local councils. Nov 30 2014, 04:52 PM Simon Kirby The Local Government Association is the trade body... Nov 30 2014, 07:19 PM MontyPython Whilst I would like to see more powers devolved lo... Dec 1 2014, 07:25 PM blackdog QUOTE (MontyPython @ Dec 1 2014, 07:25 PM... Dec 2 2014, 01:14 AM NWNREADER QUOTE (MontyPython @ Dec 1 2014, 08:25 PM... Dec 2 2014, 10:12 PM blackdog QUOTE (NWNREADER @ Dec 2 2014, 10:12 PM) ... Dec 2 2014, 11:18 PM Lolly QUOTE (blackdog @ Dec 2 2014, 11:18 PM) T... Dec 4 2014, 10:22 AM Andy Capp QUOTE (Lolly @ Dec 4 2014, 10:22 AM) I th... Dec 4 2014, 12:50 PM Lolly QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Dec 4 2014, 12:50 PM) ... Dec 4 2014, 09:53 PM On the edge QUOTE (Lolly @ Dec 4 2014, 09:53 PM) Mayb... Dec 4 2014, 10:08 PM blackdog QUOTE (Lolly @ Dec 4 2014, 10:22 AM) I th... Dec 4 2014, 10:49 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (blackdog @ Dec 4 2014, 10:49 PM) W... Dec 4 2014, 11:00 PM Cognosco The main criteria is to make any local Councils ac... Dec 1 2014, 07:48 PM On the edge Not totally convinced that it was all the fault of... Dec 2 2014, 08:03 AM MontyPython QUOTE (On the edge @ Dec 2 2014, 08:03 AM... Dec 2 2014, 04:26 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (On the edge @ Dec 2 2014, 08:03 AM... Dec 2 2014, 05:58 PM blackdog QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Dec 2 2014, 05:58 PM... Dec 2 2014, 11:14 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (blackdog @ Dec 2 2014, 11:14 PM) W... Dec 3 2014, 05:05 PM NWNREADER QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Dec 3 2014, 06:05 PM... Dec 3 2014, 09:23 PM MontyPython QUOTE (NWNREADER @ Dec 3 2014, 09:23 PM) ... Dec 3 2014, 10:06 PM Lolly QUOTE (MontyPython @ Dec 3 2014, 10:06 PM... Dec 4 2014, 10:49 AM Simon Kirby QUOTE (blackdog @ Dec 3 2014, 06:58 PM) W... Dec 3 2014, 07:15 PM On the edge I'm with Simon K on this. The party constitut... Dec 3 2014, 10:27 PM Andy Capp The 'shareholders' keep voting for the sam... Dec 3 2014, 10:40 PM On the edge Let's eliminate this pointless charade then. I... Dec 3 2014, 10:45 PM Andy Capp QUOTE (On the edge @ Dec 3 2014, 10:45 PM... Dec 3 2014, 11:16 PM Andy Capp That idea works well in China, Russia, etc... Dec 5 2014, 12:36 PM On the edge QUOTE (Andy Capp @ Dec 5 2014, 12:36 PM) ... Dec 5 2014, 03:33 PM Cognosco QUOTE (On the edge @ Dec 5 2014, 03:33 PM... Dec 5 2014, 04:16 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Cognosco @ Dec 5 2014, 04:16 PM) S... Dec 5 2014, 07:17 PM Cognosco QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Dec 5 2014, 07:17 PM... Dec 5 2014, 07:55 PM Simon Kirby QUOTE (Cognosco @ Dec 5 2014, 07:55 PM) P... Dec 5 2014, 09:36 PM Lolly QUOTE (Simon Kirby @ Dec 5 2014, 07:17 PM... Dec 5 2014, 08:03 PM x2lls There has to be a public interest in regard to thi... Dec 5 2014, 09:43 PM
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