IT'S pleasing to see the new Lib Dem administration wants to develop further Labour's policy of devolving power to local communities, by replacing Area Panels with Community Assemblies.
However, why are they being so timid? There seems to be very little new money being made available and the powers these new assemblies will have seem vague and woolly. I have to ask if this new administration wants to be really radical why it is not
proposing to take on board the 2007 Local Government Act.
While increasing local community involvement is important, it is also essential to change and improve the city council itself. Local government needs bringing into the 21st century. The 2007 Local Government Act allows Councils to work in a much more strategic way than at present and in my view offers reform of a political system which is creaking at the seams. Tinkering with Area Panels will not achieve the major changes needed.
Let's also not forget that with power comes accountability, these proposals by the Lib Dems do not state how these local assemblies will be accountable and to whom, they certainly won't be directly accountable to the people who they are purported to be representing.
Therefore let's look at four-yearly election cycles, to allow political parties to put a full manifesto before the electorate and to give them the chance to fully implement a programme before asking for the judgement of the electorate at the next election.
In my opinion without a full community governance review I fear this administration's worthy attempt to devolve power will raise false expectations of power being given to local people and, worst, they could damage those very communities by allowing self interest groups to dominate the agenda.
Steven Wilson (former Labour Councillor for South Green)May I correct the story '£50,000 jackpot for communities' (July 18). The word 'jackpot' suggests that communities are being given extra cash. I am afraid that this is not quite the case. The new Lib Dem Council has offered to each Area Panel the opportunity to move around up to £50,000 of cash already being spent in the area.
A local community might want extra dog bins, or another street sweeper – but they will have to cut something else in order to pay for it.
Coun Jan Wilson, Labour Group LeaderREAD MOREMain news indexYour letters.
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