Gary's views

Gary's weekly views

Each week an article by Gary has appeared in the Plympton Plymstock and Ivybridge News in South West Devon. The articles are published here

Local Service

What a contrast. On Friday afternoon I helped unveil a plaque in Ivybridge dedicated to the memory of the late and much missed Jim Kelly who served for years as a town councillor, at great personal sacrifice, as an unpaid servant of the community. I doubt if he ever got a penny for all of his trouble. As I drove back to Plymstock for a surgery I picked up on Radio Devon the tail end of a debate triggered by the councillors who now run Torbay having voted themselves a whopping increase in allowances, including a massive 33% up grade for its leader, now on £30,000 a year! At a time when many on fixed incomes are struggling to pay massive hikes in council tax, I was utterly speechless!

It made me think: where are we going on support for local councillors? Do we still regard it as an unpaid act of service by community minded souls who give up so much of their time, or are we on the way to full time paid councillors who see it as a profession? There is a vast difference between a smallish town council and a unitary authority the size of Torbay, but it raises the issue in principle.

There is trouble these days in finding enough people of proven ability willing to serve on councils of all shapes and sizes. There are many reasons: life is so busy for most people; some councils have become very party-political which turns a lot of good people away; and these days so many decisions are handed down from Whitehall, much of the local discretion has been removed.

But we do need councils, both large and small to make local decisions, and we therefore need elected people on them.

Here’s what I think. First, councillors should not typically be paid, although they should certainly be reimbursed for out of pocket expenses. Second, to make the task worthwhile and attract men and women of ability we must truly devolve power again down to local councils and give real decision-making and responsibility back to them. Third and crucially, we all need to respect and appreciate those prepared to serve. I recall from my own experience on the Plymouth City Council what a mindless slog it can be. Ever thanked a councillor? For local democracy to flourish we need servant-hearts to step forward. People like Jim Kelly.

What do you think? E-mail me on: mail@garystreeter.co.uk

posted by Nigel on Monday, December 08, 2003