Planning Nightmare
Discussion
With massive irony, I've just been asked to sit on the Parish Council in my village.
Parish Councillors are an even bigger bunch of self-important clowns and incompetents than Borough and County Councillors, so normally I wouldn't be the slightest bit interested.
...But in this case I know for a fact that there is no democratic process in place - they're just a little self-elected junta, despite that fact that they take it upon themselves to act as 'statutory consultees' on Planning applications, among other functions - so I'm half inclined to accept, just to rattle a few cages.
I know exactly what has happened: in our village they're all ex-Doctors or other retired professionals with too much time on their hands. A vacancy has come up, and the guy who runs the parish magazine (which we advertise in, out of community spirit) has obviously said "Oh, Equus at number 42 is an Architect - he must be a nice respectable professional chap (
), why don't we ask him?". I am certain that none of them knows the first thing about me, beyond exchanging pleasantries when I'm out walking the dogs.
Local Government 'democracy' is a farce at all levels.
Covid has got in the way a bit, but be assured that I haven't finished with Huntingdonshire yet. Leaflet drop come the next election is a good idea, though, if it's not resolved by then.
Parish Councillors are an even bigger bunch of self-important clowns and incompetents than Borough and County Councillors, so normally I wouldn't be the slightest bit interested.
...But in this case I know for a fact that there is no democratic process in place - they're just a little self-elected junta, despite that fact that they take it upon themselves to act as 'statutory consultees' on Planning applications, among other functions - so I'm half inclined to accept, just to rattle a few cages.
I know exactly what has happened: in our village they're all ex-Doctors or other retired professionals with too much time on their hands. A vacancy has come up, and the guy who runs the parish magazine (which we advertise in, out of community spirit) has obviously said "Oh, Equus at number 42 is an Architect - he must be a nice respectable professional chap (
), why don't we ask him?". I am certain that none of them knows the first thing about me, beyond exchanging pleasantries when I'm out walking the dogs.Local Government 'democracy' is a farce at all levels.
Covid has got in the way a bit, but be assured that I haven't finished with Huntingdonshire yet. Leaflet drop come the next election is a good idea, though, if it's not resolved by then.
Equus said:
With massive irony, I've just been asked to sit on the Parish Council in my village.
Parish Councillors are an even bigger bunch of self-important clowns and incompetents than Borough and County Councillors, so normally I wouldn't be the slightest bit interested.
...But in this case I know for a fact that there is no democratic process in place - they're just a little self-elected junta, despite that fact that they take it upon themselves to act as 'statutory consultees' on Planning applications, among other functions - so I'm half inclined to accept, just to rattle a few cages.
I know exactly what has happened: in our village they're all ex-Doctors or other retired professionals with too much time on their hands. A vacancy has come up, and the guy who runs the parish magazine (which we advertise in, out of community spirit) has obviously said "Oh, Equus at number 42 is an Architect - he must be a nice respectable professional chap (), why don't we ask him?". I am certain that none of them knows the first thing about me, beyond exchanging pleasantries when I'm out walking the dogs.
Local Government 'democracy' is a farce at all levels.
Covid has got in the way a bit, but be assured that I haven't finished with Huntingdonshire yet. Leaflet drop come the next election is a good idea, though, if it's not resolved by then.
There is a democratic process in place - there are elections every four years which any qualified candidate is free to participate in. If there are only as many candidates as there positions then the candidates get nodded through by default. Any unfilled vacancies can be filled by co-opting members as long as the required procedures are followed.Parish Councillors are an even bigger bunch of self-important clowns and incompetents than Borough and County Councillors, so normally I wouldn't be the slightest bit interested.
...But in this case I know for a fact that there is no democratic process in place - they're just a little self-elected junta, despite that fact that they take it upon themselves to act as 'statutory consultees' on Planning applications, among other functions - so I'm half inclined to accept, just to rattle a few cages.
I know exactly what has happened: in our village they're all ex-Doctors or other retired professionals with too much time on their hands. A vacancy has come up, and the guy who runs the parish magazine (which we advertise in, out of community spirit) has obviously said "Oh, Equus at number 42 is an Architect - he must be a nice respectable professional chap (
), why don't we ask him?". I am certain that none of them knows the first thing about me, beyond exchanging pleasantries when I'm out walking the dogs.Local Government 'democracy' is a farce at all levels.
Covid has got in the way a bit, but be assured that I haven't finished with Huntingdonshire yet. Leaflet drop come the next election is a good idea, though, if it's not resolved by then.
Of course it’s much more fun to moan about councillors than it is to be one, but if you aren’t part of the solution then you are part of the problem.....
Parish Councils are “statutory consultees” by statute. It’s not something they have “taken upon themselves “!
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