Peter Kent-Baguley

Critical debate fails to rise to the occasion

It was a decidedly lack-lustre debate at Full Council this afternoon on the Governance Commission's 14 recommendations which Council was being asked to approve. Even the three Coalition leaders, Labour, Tory and Lib Dem, felt the need to temper their support through purportedly heartfelt reservations about some of the recommendations. The BNP and the City Independents were openly critical of a number of the recommendations. Single member wards, all-out four-yearly elections and fewer councillors are three decidedly disliked recommendations. In contrast, those were three key suggestions included in my submisison to the Commission earlier this year. The present three-members per ward with annual elections by thirds not only confuses a great many residents the results produce little or no change, whatever the feeling expressed via the ballot box.  

I have argued strongly that if we are to tackle the widespread disengagement from the local political process of the vast majority of the City's electorate it is imperative that we create a system which is clear and direct.

The disengagement is increasingly changing into disenchantment with the system. Neither are signs of a healthy democratic process. The calibre of debate did little to reassure onlookers that the Council is fit to meet the enormous challenges faced by the City. I have received some very critical, negative feedback from people in the public gallery. If we really mean business we must start demonstrating that we can indeed deliver.