In this, an election year, let’s consider what sort of qualities we want the people to have around our council tables.
Let’s ensure there are good people standing, that they have the support of others, have strong community networks and values and will add to the quality of debates around the Council table.
I well remember earlier groups identifying where there were skill gaps and going out and shoulder tapping potential candidates. I was approached 4 times before I accepted the challenge of standing the first time I stood. I hadn’t even considered becoming a City Councillor.
The Tuesday Club is glad to be hosting an event this coming Wednesday for people to find out more about what is involved in standing for Local Government
Local government is under attack from government
Unfortunately, there seems to be little difference between how National or Labour MP’s approach local councils.
Now the government is looking at a Code of Conduct on Local Government for goodness sake Local govt clashes set stage for new national code of conduct – Newsroom. How about them looking to become better behaved themselves first.
When Central Government politicians start paying rates on their unrated properties in our cities and towns and stop charging taxes on rates (GST) and stop passing on costs to councils with little if any revenue to meet these costs, only then should we treat them seriously.
We need a new consensus about how we move forward – central government and local government working together on a new consensus, we can not just keep kicking the can down the road to future generations.
The Future of Local Government review
– this could be a great starting point
In the meantime, as we lead up to this year’s local government elections maybe it is time for us as voters to also reflect on what are the essential issues for us to turn our minds toward and think about. As I considered the mayhem being imposed on the world by madmen like Trump I read this article in the Guardian this week by George Monbiot considering the role of localism as a way of healing politics from the ground up. Here are some of his thoughts:
The role of localism as a way of healing politics from the ground up…
So, though there is no substitute for effective government, we must seek to create our own backup systems.
Start with this principle: don’t face your fears alone. Make friends, meet your neighbours, set up support networks, help those who are struggling. Since the dawn of humankind, those with robust social networks have been more resilient than those without.
Discuss what we confront, explore the means by which we might respond. Through neighbourhood networks, start building a deliberative, participatory democracy, to resolve at least some of the issues that can be fixed at the local level. If you can, secure local resources for the community (in England this will be made easier with the forthcoming community right to buy, like Scotland’s).
From democratised neighbourhoods, we might seek to develop a new politics, along the lines proposed by Murray Bookchin, in which decisions are passed upwards, not downwards, with the aim of creating a political system not only more democratic than those we currently suffer, but which also permits more diversity, redundancy and modularity.
Yes, we also – and urgently – need national and global action, brokered by governments. But it’s beginning to look as if no one has our backs. Prepare for the worst.
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