The Mayor will not get involved in discussions with the electorate that is not what politicians do is it?

They leave lowly minions to deal with the plebs. They pay the wages and the minions try to shield them from the great unwashed. So just carry on with what you are doing "just another day at the office"?

That isn't what I'm saying you are being dishonest about. You asked 'so what'. I replied that you were being dishonest.

If I may explain. You posted:


I replied with...




Well, in my view you like nothing more than to disrupt or upset threads with your sometimes flawed arguments against those you were referring to in the quote above.

This is nothing to do with who or what you are, that doesn't interest me. The only thing that interests me is whether you are sincere with what you post.

Got ya! You said you work at Tesco, the Mayor doesn't....

Disrupt threads? LOL, you mean dare to actually say something that does not toe the forum line.

****, cover blown.

Your posting is taking a nose dive in to desperate user23 territory here. This is nothing to do with 'daring', I'm just pointing out discrepancies in your posts.

Sorry - I'll not bother any more.

END OF ACT 1

There will now be a short intermission



ACT 2 NOW BEGINS!!

It seems to me that getting involved in local politics necessarily needs some sort of vehicle, if only to prompt or make things happen. This could be via the usual political parties, but they seem wholly disinterested . So some new mechanism is probably needed, particularly if a broad spectrum of political views are to be catered for. On Line forums have their place, but it strikes me that to secure a reasonable level of debate and a means of determining consensus, heavier administration and the loss of anonymity to members at least would be minimum requirements. It would also be nice if a regular face to face meetings, even if attended on a casual basis. These could be in Coffee Shops, or Pubs. A bit like the US pre revolutionary committees of correspondence - and look what they managed!

Would anyone turn up?

I think the main thing that puts people off local politics is that there are political parties involved. That sounds like a contradiction in terms, but even at this local level, it all seems to be about the Tories slagging off the Lib Dems and vice versa. I too have been to planning meetings and watched cllrs vote on party political lines, ingoring totally the views presented by the parish councillors that they represent.

There are probably plenty of people who want to "get things done", but they don't want to belong to a political party, or they don't identify with the major parties, or they are just so disillusioned with politics generally that they couldn't bear to put their name to one of the established parties. If there was a proper network for independent candidates, you would probably see many more well qualified and interesting people getting involved.

Yes, and what a massive waste of time, effort and emotion, when as we have had graphically demonstrated in another thread, the CEO takes the decisions anyway!
There is absolutely no point in voting for people who don't even get near.

Dear Forum Members,

You would all be very welcome at any of the public District and Town Council meetings in the area, and when it comes to improving public engagement I personally would be only too pleased to hear your thoughts on how we may improve.

Becoming involved in local politics need not be along Party lines, but often those interested in becoming involved see the Party mechanism as a useful tool to progress their own agenda's. As for discussion always being partisan this is not the case, although sadly when discussing matters as the on-street parking and cuts to essential services this happens at times. The Planning & Highways meetings are predominantly Party political neutral.

There are a number of Working Groups that include members of the public, such as the Victoria Park Working Group that was involved in the development of the highly successful 'Skate Park'.

You will be also pleased to know that a growing number of young people are becoming involved and that the Newbury Youth Council is progressing rather well as a result and anyone under 21yrs interested can join. In fact the next meeting is at 1900hrs on 7th November at Newbury Town Hall. The Newbury Youth Council is not allowed as a result of its constitution (written by the young people themselves) to be overtly part political and anyone involved with the Youth Council is reminded of this. Councillors from both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats assist the the young people, and an officer provides the much needed administrative and secretarial role.

As previously stated I am more than happy to discuss on or off line ways in which Newbury Town Council specifically can improve its public engagement and dialogue with the Towns residents and businesses.

Yours

Ruwan Uduwerage-Perera
Councillor for Victoria Ward

So you can only go to this Youth Council if you're under 21?

Shame as I'm 22.

Is it blud?

Sadly I have just checked the constitution and yes the upper age limit is 2.

You could get involved in the actual Newbury Town Council though?

Judging by motormad's effort at septic humour, age 2 sums up mm.
ce

Thanks for your support and encouragement Ruwan.

How nice of Ruwan to allow us along to one of his meetings.