Running the council as a democratic process
In view of Sadiq Ajiya,
Conservative Candidate - Your views count
As the Conservative Candidate of Junction Ward in the forth coming by-election’
If given the chance to serve as your councillor, I shall ensure that the council run democratically allied accountability with the sole aim to bring council in to 21st century.
The changes should lead to:
* More opportunities to air your views
* Develop a new forum for residents who are listening to your concerns
* Spend less time in decision-making, and with your support, run council better in the future
* Review local priorities, roads, schools, amenities and environmental concerns, especially with a view to reducing wastage and inefficiency
HOW IT WORKS
* You would elect Councillors to the full four-year term as Management Committee.
* The Councillors would choose a Leader or Chairperson from among them
* The Leader or Chairperson would choose a Management Team or Working Group of say, between 5 and 10 councillors to assist him/ her make decisions. Each would hold a special responsibility - social or welfare, for example
* Transparency/ Scrutiny Committee would be set up, including Management Team or Working Group allied Management Committee. They would review Management Team activities and make wherever possible recommendations to the Full Management Committee on how activities could be improved.
ADVANTAGES
* Decision - making would be in the hands of Management Team (a group appointed within the Management Team by the Leader or Chairperson) rather than by the whole Management Team
* More members would be involved in decision - making, depending on level of expertise and experience
* The group would be an elected, pro-active career person (s), and business men/women with high calibre. The Leader or Chairperson may not have the any political or business experience or knowledge of running a diverse organization
* The Management Committee could vote the Leader out at any time upon justifiable ground (s)
*As the electorate as Management Committee or Councillors elected the Management Team, they might be more likely to work together - with less time wasted or “Point Scoring”
* This system is perhaps familiar to you because it is similar to the one under New Government rules except for the new proposed changes
* Meetings of the whole Management Committee make the really major decisions -projects, spending, fund raisings for instance.
DISADVANTAGES
* The small group is not directly elected (although, s/he would be an elected member of Management Committee or Council as it is now known) hence therefore, could not be held accountable
* Some members might not have as high public profile as elected members
* It might be less clear who makes decisions because more people are involved
* Decision - Making might be slower with more people involved
* Some may argue that this would lead to friction and confusion
* It would be possible to represent your view more easily
* More ways might have to be found to ensure that Management Committee and not just Management Team are fully involved in the Council’s business
* They would meet more frequently than under the current system
These are not my views alone, you can have yours and together we can make a difference!
Thank you and God bless you all.
Sadiq Ajiya
Conservative Candidate
Junction Ward
April 12th 2001
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