Forum Topic

NO place for Party Politics in Council Government

We need to toss appalling Labour with their diktats out on their ears at the next Local Elections, and I doubt the Conservatives and/or LibDems would be vastly different.The solution, the ONLY solution, is for all the Residents Associations in the Borough to organise and field candidates at the next Local Elections so that OUR interests are protected and furthered. The planning for this needs to start now.Epsom & Ewell Council has been very efficiently & effectively governed by its Residents Associations for over EIGHTY years, there is NO place in Local Government for Party Politics.SEE: :     https://www.epsom-ewell.gov.uk/                               and                           https://epsomewellra.org.uk/"The Residents Associations of Epsom and Ewell is a local political party in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. They have held majority control of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council since its formation in 1937."

Rosco White ● 2635d5 Comments

Another alternative would be to introduce proportional representation in local government, using the 'Open List' system or STV. As it stands. Ealing is a one-party state, never a good thing in my view. The same criticism could be levelled at Tory dominated areas.I'd also suggest dramatically cutting the central government grant to local authorities (thereby enabling the government to cut either direct or indirect taxes) and make them raise the money from council tax. Higher council taxes would force residents to take a much more active concern about how their taxes were being used.

Frank Dacey ● 2634d

You'll never "infiltrate" Ealing Labour Julian, never.Unless you manage to recruit committed agents from certain identifiable ethnic groups.I am consistently amazed how the vast majority of Ealing/Acton's residents are blissfully unaware of how LBE is actually controlled.

Rosco White ● 2635d

Hi RoscoResidents' associations here do talk to each other, and sometimes operate collectively - for example saveealingscentre.com and recently 'Ealing Matters'. The issue in the borough of Ealing, compared to Epsom and Ewell, is the small percentage of residents who actually belong to an RA. Believe me (after discussing with council leaders in E&E) the RAs there work VERY hard to engage with people and get them involved. I'm 100% in agreement Rosco that this non-party-political model is the best solution. But making it happen here is a different matter. Perhaps better to 'infiltrate' the Labour Party. In a single party state you have to join the party... CheersJulian

Julian Smith ● 2635d

It's not all about planning of course. There are numerous issues that people are seriously urinated off with by this atrocious and arrogant Labour administration, and the resulting Council "attitude."I believe it would be relatively simple to implement, think snowball effect. Every RA in the Borough is an already existing hub for blanket canvassing, a machine just waiting to be commissioned.I have mentioned the Epsom & Ewell setup numerous times and no-one seems interested, I doubt very much the various Residents Associations have even bothered corresponding and exploring the idea, let alone meet and discuss it.It's the only way out if you want decent and responsible Local Government devoid of party politics and agendas.

Rosco White ● 2635d

Need something to protect the locals interests, is it that simple theirs started in 1937 and less planning there anyway would have thought.

Janice Evans ● 2635d