Lib Dems Campaign For More Power To Local People

8.16.36pm GMT Thu 22nd Feb 2007

Lib Dems want more power for local people here in Ealing

Liberal Democrats have recently considered the Government's Local Government Bill which proposes to change the way leaders of councils and/or mayors are elected, beef up the powers of the local ombudsman and allow councilors to speak out on licensing and planning issues that matter in their local communities.

Lib Dems believe that:

• Residents should still have three councilors per ward

• Councillors should be able to quickly implement schemes and improvements in their local area

• Councillors should conduct more meetings at a ward level instead of most meetings occurring in the town hall which reduces attendance.

• Local councilors should be able to speak on planning and licensing issues that affect their ward.

Jonathan Hulley, the Ealing Liberal Democrats Chair of Policy said of the Bill, "We welcome some proposals. For example, we support the strengthening of the powers of the local Ombudsman and council Overview and Scrutiny committees and also the proposal to allow councillors to speak out on local planning and licensing matters, but feel that these proposals don't go far enough and have not been thought through in enough detail."

Mr. Hulley added: "For example, the Bill doesn't change how councillors are elected. Instead, Liberal Democrats believe that councils should be elected by proportional representation (PR)".

Jonathan said: "We don't support a directly elected mayor for Ealing and voted against a directly-elected mayor in a Borough referendum in 2002. Jason Stacey has not yet been the leader of the council for a year and already local people are growing tired of him".

Jonathan added: "Liberal Democrats want to see councillors allocated annual formal ward budgets so that they, together with the local community can decide for themselves what local projects deserve financial support. Councillors and local residents together can best decide what ward projects deserve support - not officials in the Ealing Town Hall who are far removed from local residents."