Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
UK Councils not given the same status or platform they deserve in national politics as in other countries
Local government should have a key place at the national political table and have its role protected by law, according to a new report published today.
Councils are finding that, compared with authorities in other countries, they are not being given the status or platform they deserve in national politics. This is in spite of the vital front-line services they provide to local people.
The independent report from the think-tank Localis, sponsored by the Local Government Association, argues for a series of vital reforms to the political process to ensure that local issues are placed at the heart of national politics.
The study compares the government of England with that of countries across the world, demonstrating the fundamental differences between the way local government is thought of in England compared to countries as diverse as South Africa and Denmark.
Councils are finding that, compared with authorities in other countries, they are not being given the status or platform they deserve in national politics. This is in spite of the vital front-line services they provide to local people.
The independent report from the think-tank Localis, sponsored by the Local Government Association, argues for a series of vital reforms to the political process to ensure that local issues are placed at the heart of national politics.
The study compares the government of England with that of countries across the world, demonstrating the fundamental differences between the way local government is thought of in England compared to countries as diverse as South Africa and Denmark.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on
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COULD the reason – that councils are not given the status or platform that they might be thought to deserve – be that councils in this country have a perceived level of staffing, competence, intelligence and efficiency such that have yet to merit increased influence?
Beadle's About
Those of a certain age, who saw the late Jeremy Beadle's spoof programme Beadle's About, will remember his classic wind-up, involved a council officer appearing on the scene. After sufficient chaos had been organised around the unsuspecting wind-up-ee, Beadle, dressed in a smock and holding a clip-board, would suddenly appear in the street or on a domestic property and start harassing the member of the public! Invariably, the council officer would make the most preposterous suggestions and support the most ridiculous arrangements.
The point is that (a) Jeremy Beadle thought this was a good subject to send up, that was deserved, would be accepted and believed, and (b) for many of the poor folk being wound up, at least initially, they often went along with what the council officer was saying, no matter how silly. Often Beadle would have to up the ante and get more and more insane before the wind-up became obvious.
In principal, the proposal to boost the status of local authorities sounds fine. But what does Beadle's About say about the image of the average council (let alone Haringey) or of the average person's perception of local authorities and their readyness to allow "local government ... a key place at the national political table?"
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