A REPORT in the Economist Magazine of May 2002 stated 'People don't vote in Britain's local-government elections, because there's no point. Until the government gives up some fiscal power, its constitutional reforms will remain empty.' The report was captioned with a cartoon of Tony Blair holding a pack of local councillors on a tight leash.
Is it any different today? The coalition government and their dastardly cuts are blamed for all our social and economic ills regardless of where the infection originated. And yet, only a few hundred of the potential (60,000) residents on the Forest of Dean electoral list bothered to respond to the consultation over how their local council is to be run.
Britain is one of the most centralised democracies in the world despite being the oldest. It is also one of the most secretive. The road to even greater central control of local government started in the Local Government Act 2000 and reinforced by the 2007 legislation now requires councils to choose between a 'Strong Leader and Cabinet' or an elected 'Mayor and Cabinet,' both for a four year term. That would make the average ward-councillor powerless to have any say in the way the council is run.?Even Cabinet Members would be at the mercy of the leader or mayor who will call the shots.
Apathy rules! Over five decades of relative affluence and centralised control have bred a culture of Nannie-knows-best dependency. Public bodies and voluntary organisations carried out tasks against funding allocations rather than against evaluation of the real need, available means, and least cost delivery. Much time and effort were expended chasing funds for dream-projects rather than doing something useful with what you can muster locally.
Any meaningful discussion on David Cameron's drive towards greater local involvement aka the 'Big Society' is lost in the din of funding shortfalls for particular groups or voluntary organisations. Discussion should now focus on 'Small Government' and how to make it work efficiently whilst freeing the people to run their own affairs.
To give credit to Secretary of State Eric Pickles, he has tried hard to undo the previous government's centralising agenda.
Regional governments and unelected quangos have been pruned down, and councils do not have to work anymore to achieve a bewildering arrays of targets. They have been asked to open up their books to public scrutiny, communities are promised powers over health, schools, planning, housing, waste collection, and other services. Councils have been asked to cut cost and look at more efficient ways of delivering services.
Looking at events in Egypt and other parts of the world, democracy is precious and you only realise its worth when you don't have it or are about to lose it.
Nothing should be taken for granted and people need to assert their will even more forcefully. They need to be passionate about local issues – planning, waste collection, schools and social and leisure services, more importantly how they can contribute to the effort.
The new council to be elected in May will have the option to revert back to the committee system which will involve more councillors in the council's decision process.
Ask your candidates what they are going to do about giving power back to the local people.
– Cllr Venk Shenoi (Churcham and Huntley).