Political blog, August 25: Too many councillors and a rail fare row
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Have we got
too many councillors in Kent?
A few years ago, the then Labour secretary of state David
Miliband singled out Kent as an area where there could be a
case for reducing the number of local politicians by having the
county divided into unitary authorities. At the time, a memo
pointed out that Kent's population of 1.4 million was served
by 13 council leaders, 99 cabinet members and 500
councillors.
As it turned out, Labour decided to leave things as they were.
But I see there's an interesting debate running on the
Conservativehome website over a bid by the newly-elected
directed mayor of Doncaster to cut the number of councillors there
by half, saying it would save money and be more
efficient. I don't know if he's right or not.
Fewer councillors could lead to less scrutiny and weaken the
necessary checks and balances needed to keep those who are taking
all the decisions on our behalf.
On the other hand, I've lost count of the number of times
councillors have confided to me that as backbenchers, they feel
rather sidelined in the decision-making process - an issue
particularly pertinent in Kent where about one in eight of the
84 members are outside the cabinet.
In the current climate I do know that reducing the number of
politicians at any tier of government is likely to strike a
populist chord with the public.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I've been trying to think
whether there are any politicians I'd like to have giving me
directions on my Sat Nav, following the news that Bob
Dylan is in talks about voicing a GPS system in
America.
It's a struggle. Margaret Thatcher? Far too hectoring. Gordon
Brown? Probably send me to sleep. Tony Blair? Not sure I'd
trust him as he'd forever be sending me along the middle way.
Ann Widdecombe? I think I'd feel intimidated.
I've noticed that KCC leader Paul Carter is quite keen on the
phrase "direction of travel" so maybe he's the man.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
It's no wonder that Kent's Conservative MPs are hopping mad
about planned rail fare increases and the Government is on the the
defensive. While the high speed rail link is undoubtedly bringing
benefits to the county with faster train times, there remains a
suspicion among many rail passengers that having endured the pain
of the rail lik being built, they are still paying too heavy a
price for the dividends it will bring.
Tuesday, August 25 2009
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