Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,856
Over the years we have seen the debate go on and on around the need for three councils .
My view had always been decisions should be made as local as possible
I don't think we should look at this from a views of which parties run which council but look at more how will Dover benefit the most .
I have always been of these opinion that three councils is to many and to get decisions as local as possible if we did away with a very costly KCC
And gave this work to District councils , and then gave some of this to Town councils we would see decisions more local .
There has always been the questions around capability,and who we elect but that isn't going to change
We are very close to one party running all 3 councils .
For some reason they fall short at Town council level .
When we look at all the costs of chief executives or clerks, and the staffing running into millions our council tax remains sky high.
The trouble is whenever this question is given a very small amount of discussion each council just protects it's own council and we end up with a stalemate .
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Weird Granny Slater
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 7 Jun 2017
- Posts: 3,002
Any authority is only as good as the people elected to serve in it. And, as has been proved over and over with DTC, DDC, KCC, councils up and down the land, and parliament itself, the standard (in intellect, imagination, erudition, independence of thought, wit, and any other comparator you care to mention) is very, very low indeed. They are, almost without exception, unprincipled, vain, self-serving dullards. The astonishing thing is that we nevertheless continue to put these exploitative, compromised fools in place. And that says much about our own standards.
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'Pass the cow dung, my dropsy's killing me' - Heraclitus
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,856
Wierd
Although I accept some of your viewpoint
It's usually because not many can commit the time required and
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Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,798
Keith, I think it is more likely many can not see the point of even trying to get elected as the existing 'old brigade' have no desire to change their self serving ways.
Where there is the will time can always be found, very few people, unless in high powered jobs or self employed, do not have a lot of free time to do with as they wish.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 432
Sadly it’s dominated by money and those who have it get elected. In power they enable contracts to be awarded to their monied friends. Very, very few politicians of integrity who speak for the people who elected them. Sound bites and scare mongering to get communities at odds with one another. I feel that my vote is worthless.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
Arthur I was elected for twenty seven years .I donot have wealth .i never bought my way into the Council Chamber .I always worked for the community regardless of politics .
Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 432
My comments were about central government not local.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
I accept that Arthur
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,856
But even locally the same tired old brigade get elected , not because they are the best candidates, but because there is no opposition.
This is sad for local politics
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Arthur- Registered: 18 Nov 2020
- Posts: 432
Have little/no experience of town council but at parish level it’s very difficult to recruit new blood onto councils. Sadly it’s seen by younger people as something for the retired. Much needs to be done to change this perception but PCs also need to get away from the same old tired discussions about speeding, parking and dog mess! Additionally it’s hard when residents feel that their genuine concerns regarding planning, lighting, etc. are almost impossible to resolve without support. Many PCs work extremely hard but sadly they have had a bad press recently due to the recording of a couple of meetings.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,856
Some are bigger than parish councils
We also have a district council with big budget
And KCC with an even bigger budget
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Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,798
Following on from Arthur's comment I think the majority of people prior to middle age simply have little interest in their local councils or how they are run, they simply want to enjoy life, the same goes for politics in general.
The few who are interested can easily be put off by the attitude of some of those of the older generation who think their way of running things is the only way and refuse to change. Then there are those who are interested who are often passionate with their ideals, which are sometimes far to extreme to be applied without gradual change.
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
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Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,856
I don't disagree Jan .
I always think it's good to get new people elected with maybe different ideas .
Councils spend a vast amount of our money
So whilst I understand politics is dieing
To ignore it will see projects that have little support or big council tax rises which are coming our way
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Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
I believe the answer to the original question is no. We do not need three Councils. We do need Parish councils - perhaps federated with neighbours to provide muscle & cash. We do not need Town Councils in their present format. Neither District Council ot County Councils in their present format work.
We tried a debate on larger East Kent Strategic Council with stronger Town Council functions as a model a few years back. In effect removing one tier of Council by disbanding KCC & Districts & forming 3 sub regional bodies to replace twelve Districts & KCC. Unfortunately for East Kent one of the four Districts (Shepway) voted against. Influenced by KCC members who were also Shepway members. This would have enabled functions to move down to Town Councils to overcome some of issues identified here.
There is no doubt reform is necessary .
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
I recall that debate
Ross Miller
- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,696
The elephant in the room that more than anything discourages most people of working age, especially those who are young, is the lack of any payment for being a councillor.
If we want to try to change the quality of people who represent us then we need to find a way to attract the brightest and best and this is only possible if we offer them a decent level of remuneration for their time. Otherwise it will continue to ne the same sorts of people who offer themselves for election (retirees, people who run their own businesses, people who can get paid time of work) and the rest of us will go get real jobs that pay our bills etc.
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 649- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 14,118
I do not know what you mean by real jobs we all have done that and paid our bills etc and still do
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,856
See some even Paul and I share the same view .
I do understand Ross what your saying but increasing allowances doesn't guarantee any change and you could still end up with the same crowd just getting more allowances but still being of poor quality
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Paul Watkins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 9 Nov 2011
- Posts: 2,226
Correct again Keith.This worrying.
Sue Nicholas- Location: river
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 6,018
I have knowledge of the candidates .?