RBWM is proposing a change of Ward Boundaries and a 25% reduction in the number of councillors to seek improved efficiency but, will this make democracy worse? Take the Poll below.
changes to the wards and councillor numbers will be effective from the May 2019 local elections
At it’s Council Meeting on 27 June 2017, RBWM proposed to change the ward boundaries and also reduce the number of ward councillors in an attempt to benchmark with outher councils and to seek the improved efficiency of Councillors. The proposal has yet to decide which wards will change, disappear or be amalgamated but, it seems that the number of councillors will be reduced and changes to the wards and councillor numbers will be effective from the May 2019 local elections.
Click here to read the proposals and report in full
This is a Stage 1 report which will be submitted to Local Government Boundary Commission for England and, the next stage will see boundaries re-cast to achieve the fewer number of councillors each with an Average elector to councillor ratio of 2900:1.
more than 50% of Conservative Councillors receiving extra allowances for leadership of between £6,000 and £24,000
More is more?
Interestingly, the effect of the reduced number of Councillors could see more than 50% of Conservative Councillors receiving extra allowances for leadership of between £6,000 and £24,000 – somewhat top heavy, don’t you think?
this will serve to reduce democracy
Less is less?
Many councillors spoke about the effect of workload on Councillors, which is not necessarily dependent upon the number of people.
I am particularly concerned that this will serve to reduce democracy. Let me explain why.
will dissuade ordinary folk and residents from ethnic and other minority groups from standing
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Here’s what Independent Councillor Wisdom Da Costa said
The Boundary review will happen but I’d like to point out that reducing the number of councillors by 14 (25%) will serve to make democracy worse. Let me explain.
The stuff that the Council is responsible for doesn’t change rather just the way we do; now through external companies with their own legal personalities and corporate objectives.
This means that information flow will be slowed down and, in some cases, not available as we have no direct influence over company employees.
Also, the company employees have different objectives and reporting lines which will mean that scrutinising councillors will have to also understand how corporates work. Extra filters and disturbances to negotiate.
And the Councillors who are directors will have an extra conflict of interest as their primary responsibility is to the Company and not the Borough and certainly not their residents.
- Our workload, will increase and possibly become untenable, especially for a minority opposition, because
- it will be more demanding to appreciate the complexities, objectives culture and interplay of various external JV’s and share service organisations and
- the workload on combined panels will be greater (because there is a broader scope and range of services).
- Consequence of this is that
- scrutiny will either not happen or,
- the skill sets and time needed by Councillors will dissuade ordinary folk and residents from ethnic and other minority groups from standing.
Summary
- Reducing the number of Councillors by 25% will diminish democracy rather than improve it.
- Consider a smaller decrease in number of Councillors
- Cllr Lynne Jones did not agree the paper
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Boundary changes – to follow
I will report back as soon as I know more about the proposed boundary changes to show you how you might be affected and, if Democracy is likely to be further eroded in the RBWM
What are your thoughts?
Would this dissuade you from standing as a Councillor?
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Accountably yours,
Wisdom
Independent Councillor, Wisdom Da Costa, Clewer North
Caveat
This post is part of Cllr Wisdom Da Costa’s regular series of Blogs to inform and empower local residents; as he promised in his election leaflet
The views expressed in this article are not necessarily the views of the West Windsor Residents Association (WWRA).