Part three of a series of articles looking at the Conservative local government green paper, Shift Control. This time, chapter two. This chapter is about localism, and promises that a Conservative Government would: give local residents the power to determine the balance between the level of council tax and the level of services delivered; drastically [...]
Posts from ‘February, 2009’
Elsewhere
The Local Democracy blog may be a bit quieter than usual this week as a couple of the contributors will be away. However, I posted a long-ish article on the Liberal Conspiracy weblog yesterday timed to coincide with the Convention on Modern Liberty.
Signposts off
Do keep an eye on the Google Reader page that I’ve set up – I’m trying to track as much of the blogosphere’s comment on local democracy as I can – particularly where there is anything that touches on interactivity. If you have your own shared items, please send me an e-mail from the gmail [...]
Beecham on the Conservative local government proposals
I’d very much like to find someone who’ll write a guest post here defending the Conservative proposals for local government – particularly the large-scale reliance upon referendums. Here’s Labour local government big-beast Sir Jeremy Beecham on the proposals. Warning: It’s not kind.
The commentariat and their version of democracy
I’d like to start a national campaign – if you’ll join me in it – in which the columnists who denounce the actions of elected politicians are obliged to step forward, say what they are in favour of themselves, and defend it. If this were to happen, I’d ask for The Times / Guardian columnist [...]
Command Backspace
Part two of a series of articles on the Conservative green paper on local government, which are also appearing on the Democratic Society blog. Section one of the green paper discusses local housing and economic growth. The Conservatives’ proposals are: enable local authorities to benefit financially when they deliver the housing that local people need; [...]
A defence of political parties: Part 1
I’d like to write a series of posts here in defence of the political Party system. I’m conscious that this is not an elegant or fashionable position to take, and it’s certainly not one of those lines that you can defend in the 140 character Twitter template. I’d go further: It takes a series of [...]
Conservative Home promoting twittering councillors
In a welcome bit of political prodding (it always usually comes form civil servants or NGOs) Conservative Home is urging Tory councillors to use Twitter. You can see a detailed list of twittering councillors on Cllr Tweeps.
Shift Delete
Local decision-making should be less constrained by central government, and also more accountable to local people. We will encourage democratic innovations in local government, including pilots of the idea of elected mayors with executive powers in cities. David Cameron’s green paper Shift Control, published yesterday? No, the 1997 Labour manifesto, and if you want a [...]
Director of Digital Engagement
Well, the Power of Information Taskforce appears to have reached it’s conclusions. The job has been advertised. Dominic Campbell has a few very perceptive bits of advice for whoever the successful candidate may be. This phrase leaps out of the job ad: ” …the job requires someone who would be acknowledged by their peer group [...]
