Parliamentary Campaigner Chris Took welcomes new Independent Residents Group
February 24, 2011 11:00 AM
By Chris Took in Kentish Express
By Chris Took in Kentish Express
Ashford Liberal Democrats' Parliamentary Campaigner Chris Took has welcomed a political campaign by a new Independent residents group, with a caution not to fall foul of local council rules and regulations. Below is a copy of his letter to the Kentish Express from Thursday February 24th
Whilst I welcome involvement in the political process from any local resident or new party there is a fundamental problem in standing on a 'no to development' platform. Whatever your political position all councils are required to populate their development committee with councillors. These committees usually involve between 25% to 40% of elected councillors. They are quasi-judicial i.e. not party political. By taking a stance of being against development per se potential councillors are excluding themselves from the development committee process.
As a former councillor myself I can assure any would be councillors that, if they have circulated leaflets or issued press releases that they are against development x or development y, then they will not be allowed to vote on that particular development.
The ideal solution of course would be that every electoral division was a 'two member ward' so one councillor can fight for the cause of local residents (whilst there are still enough additional councillors to populate the committee). Unfortunately we are not in such an ideal situation. The more that residents are involved the better the political system is - however the machinery of local politics is both slow and frustrating. I would caution about promising the earth but delivering only handfuls of dust.
Chris Took
Ashford Liberal Democrats
Parliamentary Campaigner
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