A new dawn for Democracy?
“It will have in place a wholly new style including innovative community engagement arrangements…, new and enhanced governance, strengthened leadership and new ways of working and engaging with local people.” Thus saith the Government about the new Durham County.
It hasn’t quite got the force of Old Testament prophecy has it? It smacks more of the “Mills and Boon” of political fiction.
The New County Council meets for the first time on Friday, and we’ll get the first indication as to whether the Labour Party will follow its usual pattern of hugging all power and position to itself, or whether it will embrace the “new style” promised. Will it give the chairmanship or vice chairmanship of any committees to the opposition? Will it seek to change any of its restrictive rules?
So far I’ve been horrified to find that if a scrutiny committee wants to “call-in” a decision for review it can only do it with the agreement of a chair or vice-chair of the comittee. How much chance of a “call-in” is there, then, if all those posts are held by Labour councillors.
Apparently, too, if a councillor wants to attend a training course they have to get the approval of the council leader. So what chance will I and my colleagues have if we want training that will make us a more effective opposition?
And will this “new-style” council scrap its policy of having all its meetings at 10.00 a.m? This clearly discriminates against any younger, working councillors in favour of those who are retired or on benefit.
Friday will be the first time we can read the new political barometer, and the first decisions will tell us whether the outlook is “Stormy” or “Fair”. I know what I’m looking for. I’m just hoping we don’t get what I expect.
Read this blog on Friday for the latest political weather forecast.
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