Page 46 - link magazine

Viewpoint

Why not be democratic about creating a democracy?

Old Town resident Colin Doubleday gives his personal views about the local
authority proposals to create parish councils across the entire borough. He is a
member of Better Swindon and Pipers Area Residents Association.
In a bizarre twist to democracy, They can vote for themselves, so
Swindon Borough Council consulted they are, in effect, self-appointed.
on creating new parishes – the A quarter of councillors are
people overwhelmingly said ‘no’ - so appointed, so not elected and a third
the council is to proceed anyway. of councillors have been in post for
Cllr Renard offered some reasons more than ten years.
which were - well almost exactly - The £4m+ to be raised over and
what he said before the consultation above our current council tax is to
and yet he offered no understanding be handed to a group with very little
of those who said ‘no’. democratic control.
This does not feel like the Why is Cllr Renard so certain that Colin Doubleday believes the borough council is not listening to the people
democracy we all expect. It is ‘local democracy provides more
strange when the ruling party choice over what monies are spent Many areas need new lighting, I ask, is this what a city or town
wanted to see May elections as a and where’? Not that the group of potholes reappear with every with self-respect would do? Are
mandate, yet they lost seats and volunteers will get to spend much. rainfall, weeds grow in gutters. there options? I suggest so.
overall votes, very likely on this issue. Because the very act of setting up Let’s predict what may be the next How about we hold a poll in the
Well Cllr Renard can I also repeat, parish councils with a meeting place, activities that the borough may areas with no parish, the options
this is the wrong solution at the and IT, and an office, costs tens of wish to pass to parishes in 2019 are:
wrong time and for the wrong thousands. And then there’s the costs or 2020? 1 - Keep it as is and put the
reasons. So this is the wrong of running them with a parish clerk This may be the right time for council tax up £75.
solution. It just won’t create the and a communication budget. How the borough, but not for the 2 - Keep the money centrally,
democracy you believe. much of that money will be left? residents. but offer grants to local
Looking at existing parish councils, Each parish clerk will cost over I think we can guess the reasons. associations and groups to do
Highworth Parish Council and £50,000 each and that’s before the borough does not want to be works under council control.
Wroughton Parish Council work well. National Insurance and pension the bad guys. 3 - Create one or more parish
Then consider the other existing contributions. Yet more will be spent They don’t want to fail us, or councils covering their area.
parishes in borough. if we create two or three or six charge us lots more because a I wonder if we have such a poll
These are parishes where two councils. parish council can do that just as whether the council will listen to
thirds of councillors were elected It is the wrong time – basically well and the borough does not get the people then. Is that not a little
unopposed. old Swindon is creaking a little. the blame. more like democracy?

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