A very kind letter from Michael Stevenson in the Herald this week, complimenting me on my work on Castle Morpeth Borough Council – even if it did read a bit like an obituary.
However, I won’t be fading away into obscurity immediately.
Castle Morpeth Borough Council is not actually abolished until March 31st next year, so I remain a Borough councillor for another nine months or so.
In fact, as ‘Executive Member for Improvement’ (assuming the voting at Annual Council on Monday (19th) goes to plan), I’ll be taking a lead role in winding up the Borough Council (no change there, some might say).
We have a brief overlap period, and if we are to make a smooth transition, then tying up all the loose ends neatly at the Borough will be (nearly) as important as making sure the unitary is ready to take over. And that includes continuity in service delivery, making sure partner organisations (GMDT, Business Forum, ENRgI etc) are OK, supporting staff transfers etc, and making sure the Council's assets go where they should go. The local government restructure in 1974 was fairly sloppy - especially that Morpeth Town Council wasn't created in that process. I'd say that a significant proportion of the local government problems over the past 35 years have been down to poor decisions made in 1974.
I'm hoping we'll do things better this time - and I'll be doing my best - but I'm not optimistic
So - thanks - but please save your plaudits till the job is completed.
Showing posts with label local government. Show all posts
Showing posts with label local government. Show all posts
Friday, 16 May 2008
Friday, 18 May 2007
Political Shapings
Well - Cllr Milburn 'Dougie' Douglas is our new mayor - and - if the votes go as expected on Monday night (21st), we'll have a Con-Lab coalition running the council (with support from the Independents and myself) with the LibDems in opposition.
It's a shame the all-party alliance has folded - but aggressive political campaigning during the election made it near inevitable. In some ways, returning to a conventional administration-opposition arrangement may lead to more debate in public - which will be a good thing if it casts more light than heat.
However with the possibility of Unitary Authorities looming over us - we'll most likely to have a full year's election campaign - and that won't do anyone any good when what we may need a well-managed transition.
It's a shame the all-party alliance has folded - but aggressive political campaigning during the election made it near inevitable. In some ways, returning to a conventional administration-opposition arrangement may lead to more debate in public - which will be a good thing if it casts more light than heat.
However with the possibility of Unitary Authorities looming over us - we'll most likely to have a full year's election campaign - and that won't do anyone any good when what we may need a well-managed transition.
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
Interactive Leaflet 9 - Unitary Authority?
We may be getting a change in local government in the next couple of years with the abolition of both District and County Councils and their replacement by either one or two ‘unitary authorities’.
There's a consultation of 'key stakeholders' going on at the moment - that doesn't include the general public or any community organisations - deadline 22nd June - with the Government announcing what we're going to get in July.
Of course - its outrageous
- its outrageous that the government is imposing this change without any sort of referendum, but then we did give them the 'wrong answer' on regional government, so we can't be trusted
- its outrageous that the County Council pre-empted any discussion by declaring they'd be bidding for a single unitary authority within hours of the Government announcement, and brought their Cabinet up to speed a few weeks later - and then fudged the full council decision
- its outrageous that the District Councils 'played the game' by counter-bidding with a two unitary model, again without any real consultation (though as a loyal member of CMBC Executive Board, I'm of course fully behind the two unitary bid)
- its outrageous that Government 'bottled it' and did not choose a single option for consultation, thereby blighting any chance of co-operative working between County and Districts for another six months
But outrage won't get us far... Some parties are suggesting a private referendum - but this would take £120,000 of tax payers money with no guarantee that the Government will pay it heed.
So - we must try to get the best out of what is on offer...
As we see it, this change is all about
As a party, we feel that local accountability is most important and we’ll be looking to maximise this in all options under consideration.
And, whatever the outcome, the Town Council will become far more significant under unitary government so the results of this election are really important.
There's a consultation of 'key stakeholders' going on at the moment - that doesn't include the general public or any community organisations - deadline 22nd June - with the Government announcing what we're going to get in July.
Of course - its outrageous
- its outrageous that the government is imposing this change without any sort of referendum, but then we did give them the 'wrong answer' on regional government, so we can't be trusted
- its outrageous that the County Council pre-empted any discussion by declaring they'd be bidding for a single unitary authority within hours of the Government announcement, and brought their Cabinet up to speed a few weeks later - and then fudged the full council decision
- its outrageous that the District Councils 'played the game' by counter-bidding with a two unitary model, again without any real consultation (though as a loyal member of CMBC Executive Board, I'm of course fully behind the two unitary bid)
- its outrageous that Government 'bottled it' and did not choose a single option for consultation, thereby blighting any chance of co-operative working between County and Districts for another six months
But outrage won't get us far... Some parties are suggesting a private referendum - but this would take £120,000 of tax payers money with no guarantee that the Government will pay it heed.
So - we must try to get the best out of what is on offer...
As we see it, this change is all about
- more cost-effective centralised services
- meeting the different needs of urban and rural Northumberland
- and local accountability.
As a party, we feel that local accountability is most important and we’ll be looking to maximise this in all options under consideration.
And, whatever the outcome, the Town Council will become far more significant under unitary government so the results of this election are really important.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)