Advertisement

How to reinvigorate local democracy

Peter-Macfadyen-2-266x300I’ve been a town councillor for just over three years and am currently mayor of Frome. I stood with a disparate group of individuals fed up with the distraction from reality we felt party politics created.  As ordinary concerned voters we had watched on horrified as continual and corrosive inter-party warfare led both councillors and council workers deeper into a mire of negativity and inefficiency.

With the promise of localism on the horizon we saw opportunities that a group, working together with the betterment of our community as our sole aim, could access.  We recognised that ‘more of the same’ would just increase the cynicism of voters, undermining any remaining legitimacy left in this vital local layer of democracy.

We looked around for models of independents working as a group. Where elected they tended to implode once in power, having found little common ground after whatever it was they stood against had been achieved. So we devised ‘ways of working’ and agreed principles on how we’d behave in office – rather than attempting to focus on specific policy promises. We made it clear and unequivocal that we were standing for Frome, not following the agenda of some far off uninterested political party. Thus Independents for Frome was born.

We must strive to reinvigorate the most local level of democracy,

to make it something people feel comfortable engaging with

We ran a positive, high-energy campaign. We increased the vote by 75% – half of it for the Independents – and won 10 of the 17 seats. Once in power we dissolved all committees and reformed them in a simplified, more accessible structure. We needed the public’s views on where to take action, which meant drawing them into the process by exercising proper consultation, using a recent community plan as a starting point.

We formed working parties of local experts in key areas – from open space management to forming an ethical policy – and took their advice.  We trebled the budget for community grants, contracted support for community fundraising and employed a staff member to work with voluntary groups.  As funding from higher levels of local government has reduced (we now receive none for the arts or youth) we’ve increased our spend in this area still further.

FlatpackOf course not all the policies we implemented have been successful. Recognising that the ideal of frequent ward councillor consultation was unlikely, we initiated ‘participation week’ with a raft of initiatives to involve people more.  Some ideas worked well while others simply illustrated that it will be a long process to reach widespread involvement. Plans for participatory budgeting have not materialised and public voting on grants was a short-lived experiment.

As our story spread, we were increasingly asked to share it.  So I wrote ‘Flatpack Democracy’ which has led me into a range of fascinating discussions. As town councillors we are volunteers and all of us still have day jobs; inevitably, real action tends to go where councillors and staff have energy. A talk to the council on increasingly high levels of local poverty was picked up with one councillor’s energy and interest, leading to a new charity being established, staffed and funded.  My own enthusiasm has led to a raft of ‘green’ initiatives through the employment of an energy and recycling officer.

We still need to further strengthen two key areas. Firstly, to engender genuine participation with clear links to action based on that participation. Secondly, further support for the voluntary sector, mainly through careful development of partnerships, but being aware all the time that a few individuals tend to take the load.

My dealings with higher levels of ‘local’ government have been largely depressing. Watching their floundering has led me to conclude that without a functioning town/parish level they have no means of knowing what communities really want or need. All of which leads me to the conclusion that we must strive to reinvigorate the most local level of democracy. To make it one people feel comfortable engaging with. Properly organized their voice becomes heard loud and clear, they engage meaningfully with their own governance and everybody wins.

Peter MacFadyen
Peter Macfadyen is author of Flatpack Democracy – A DIY Guide to Creating Independent Politics published by eco-logic books price £7.99 www.flatpackdemocracy.org
Help us break the news – share your information, opinion or analysis
Back to top