Are you concerned about far right groups gaining community council seats?
- Yes
- No
0
voters
Community Councils are mainly unrepresentative, ( There are some excellent positive exceptions to that ) They are powerless, usually controlled by retired white middle class males , barrack room lawyers as cannot attract real community activists, the young or women generally the working class and poor… Most people are put off by their ridiculously toothless role and often unwelcoming bureaucratic chair and handling of meetings. Above that the general lack of opportunity for the public to participate . Meetings are often the scene of power plays by these middle class elderly gents. Possibly they are wide open for right wing nutters as often their views would tally with many of the existing community Councils. There is a real need for Community Councils to be given more than just a consultative role empowered to make decisions and participate m ore with the agencies that affect their community. Payment of volunteer members to allow a wider demographic spread and access to funds that could make an impact in their area. Greater involvement of other community organisations such as tenants, youth, mother’s and a wide range of more representative community action groups. They need training and support from Local authorities and officials from Public sector organisations directed to attend not make it an option or a punishment . It needs a reenergising and deep commitment from the Government to make them something that people relate to or would participate and if required vote for. To combat the right wing public agencies need to develop better relationships with their communities as the current situation leave a door open for the infiltration of idiots with dangerous ideas. Currently they let community councils to exist in a bubble and use them as their excuse for community consultation and involvement . Which is the worst kind of tokenism. In my area a large proprtion of community councils seem to have existing members of UKIP and noe most likely REFORM. There always has been a disproportionate number of Conservative supporters . At a community Council I have attended A senior police officer cautioned the chair and a member of the public in. attendance that the subject under discussion if it continued in the disgusting way it had , he would probably be forced to make arrests as it was beginning to move into illegality in terms of equalities and racial discrimination. Our conservative MP using a Community Council to support his views on refusing a site for travelling people. I have worjked with and along side community Councils for over 40 years and believe them to be a disaster for local and national democracy . Created by Central Government and untouched by recent Governments they and the concept of local democracy requires a massive and significant review moving from a 70’s idea to something to radically change how people actually take more power over their lives and services. It is not politically "sexy’. People like the hothouse of council or central government, it cannot remain so.