Do you believe in Local Government?
Discussion
What do you make of the Government's 'localism' policies? How do you feel about local authorities gaining extra power and Westminster supposedly taking a back seat? I ask as a result of the Nottingham Workplace Parking Levy and the remark that the Government cannot interfear in a local matter, although that didn't seem to be the case when residents of (I think) Northamptonshire told them they didn't want a waste burning facility in their area or whatever it was.
The Government seems to quickly intervene when the local people and local authorities decide on something the Government doesn't like.
Thoughts?
The Government seems to quickly intervene when the local people and local authorities decide on something the Government doesn't like.
Thoughts?
I personally have no faith or belief in Local Government. I believe main laws and policies should be shaped by central Government and universally applied. Take speed limits for instance, I've seen examples of roads which cross county lines and have NSL on one side in one direction and 50mph in the opposite direction on the same piece of road because one side decided people should leave/enter the county slower/faster.
Local Government should do flower baskets, plaques, park benches and ribbon cutting. The end.
Local Government should do flower baskets, plaques, park benches and ribbon cutting. The end.
martin84 said:
I personally have no faith or belief in Local Government. I believe main laws and policies should be shaped by central Government and universally applied. Take speed limits for instance, I've seen examples of roads which cross county lines and have NSL on one side in one direction and 50mph in the opposite direction on the same piece of road because one side decided people should leave/enter the county slower/faster.
Local Government should do flower baskets, plaques, park benches and ribbon cutting. The end.
Oddly, even you can have an effect on speed limits, all you need to do is get involved in the decision making process. Local Government should do flower baskets, plaques, park benches and ribbon cutting. The end.
It isn't hard, but it takes a little effort. So its easier to winge about it than influence things.
You are part of the problem.
eldar said:
Oddly, even you can have an effect on speed limits, all you need to do is get involved in the decision making process.
It isn't hard, but it takes a little effort. So its easier to winge about it than influence things.
You are part of the problem.
Its not my job to run the local council. I have my own job and my own things to do and so does everybody else. When was the last time you saw a town hall public meeting even half full? I cast my vote in the general election, that was my contribution. I voted for a party which supposedly believes in smaller Government, but they've just brought me closer, split up Government which is equally as meddling.It isn't hard, but it takes a little effort. So its easier to winge about it than influence things.
You are part of the problem.
I dont want to have an effect on speed limits in my area, or anybody elses area. I want central Government to say 'so and so types of road are this speed limit' and for that to apply to every such road in the country. No need for debates or arguments, rules is rules, this is how it is for everybody on every road everywhere. Done, sorted.
The general public and lowly qualified councillors should not have influence on road traffic policy. Speed limits should be determined by experts such as the Police and advanced motoring organisations and implimented by central Government. I dont want to be one of those people who gets a 20 limit outside my house but then drives past everybody elses house at 35.
I strongly disagree with people making decisions on matters which they are not qualified.
I have to snort back my own snot when some people say a MOP can actually influence decisions if only they could be bothered. I can assure you that by the time the 'consultation process' starts with my council the decision has already been made. They usually send out a survey for you to pick one of 3 options, all of which actually endorse the decision they have already made. Then they say we asked you and that's what you told us you wanted. They also like to throw people out of meetings that don't hold the 'correct' views. So when did a speed limit last get raised or a proposed lowering get abandoned - very very very rare, councils don't go with the democratic option, they go with the politically correct.
Fair point. Most councils only ask the publics opinion after they've decided what they're going to do. If the responses don't agree with their plan they'll just say they did. I too am aware of people being thrown out of public meetings because they dare to criticise the councils point of view. I read in a newspaper recently about an area which has implimented one of those horribly expensive 'shared space' schemes and thousands of people have complained and even turned up at council meetings to complain. One of the councillors said in the newspaper people should 'just shut up and stop whining' about the scheme he fought hard to secure funding for, despite no consultation process and no resident being offered the chance to vote on it.
Local Government is a cartel and the fewer powers you give them the better.
Local Government is a cartel and the fewer powers you give them the better.
Hoofy said:
Caruso said:
Politicians are like nappies, they need to be changed from time to time and for the same reason.
I like that.As long as there is money+self serving w
kers+lobbyists+nimbys involvedi dont like ANY govenment.
All administration should be done by professional experts in the required field
overseen by an elected (UNPAYED) parliament with fixed and properly
overseen expenses/staff.
odyssey2200 said:
Sadly my experiance of Local Government has only served to confirm my opinion thatthey are a complete Wunch of Bankers.
I would cross the street to piss on them if they were on fire.
They are not democratic, they are a bunch of unaccountable zealots with a chip on their shoulder.
Too true. I too would also cross the road to piss on them if they were on fire, but only if I was pissing petrol.I would cross the street to piss on them if they were on fire.
They are not democratic, they are a bunch of unaccountable zealots with a chip on their shoulder.
I currently work in local Government. It is interesting because my department is one where you really need to have a consistent approach from all councils throughout the UK - of course how we operate is influenced by our elected members and management, so inevitably each dept does things slightly differently.
This has been noticed by the Govt and they wanted to take steps to make us change our behaviour - as essentially the Govt is responsible for producing the policy that we work to - but they do not actually control any member of staff in our departments as the local council do.
So on one hand you have the Govt wanting one part of local government to do what they want and on the other hand they are pushing for local government to serve the needs of their population (and therefore act differently in diferent parts of the country).
To be fair though, my dept should really be taken out of local government and funded by central govt - but that will never happen.
This has been noticed by the Govt and they wanted to take steps to make us change our behaviour - as essentially the Govt is responsible for producing the policy that we work to - but they do not actually control any member of staff in our departments as the local council do.
So on one hand you have the Govt wanting one part of local government to do what they want and on the other hand they are pushing for local government to serve the needs of their population (and therefore act differently in diferent parts of the country).
To be fair though, my dept should really be taken out of local government and funded by central govt - but that will never happen.
there only needs to be 2 teirs of government, not the 4 that exist at present
the two needed teirs ares the national government and then a single tier local government at the district council level
county councils are increasingly irrelevant ( as the police and fire service become regionalised / national and Schools shake off the shackles of having LEAs reimposed on them under bliar ) and parish councils are a utter waste of time focusing on trivia ...
the two needed teirs ares the national government and then a single tier local government at the district council level
county councils are increasingly irrelevant ( as the police and fire service become regionalised / national and Schools shake off the shackles of having LEAs reimposed on them under bliar ) and parish councils are a utter waste of time focusing on trivia ...
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