The South East Councils asked the public which cuts scenarios they were most concerned about. The public did not express as much concern as the Councils probably hoped in a number of areas. On climate change 61% of Councillors wanted increased public transport but only 32% of the public did. Only 17% of the public wanted more EV charging points which are now making their costly appearance more often. 46% of Councillors wanted more financial assistance for insulating homes but only 32% of the public. Only 14% said they plan to buy or drive an electric vehicle.
In area after area Councillors wanted a higher spending more interventionist model of local government whereas more of the public did not. The survey was a typical one with so many Labour and Lib Dem Councillors on the organisation. It was skewed to wanting more and bigger local government and more spending. There were no reported options to spend less, reduce the number of things Councils do, to reduce executive and admin staffing levels, and to cut down the number of bogus consultations where Councils then ignore the findings if they do not like them. There was no option to stop the aggressive spending on removing lanes, reducing flows at junctions, narrowing roads and making it very difficult to drive to work or school.
The survey did capture people’s frustrations that local government makes important decisions about their lives but the people do not feel part of the process or empowered to stop bad decisions being made. Lib Dem Wokingham is an example of a Council which ignores public opinion after spending a lot on consultant designed schemes and on consultations. It specialises in spending money on trying to get more people to abandon their cars as it follows its anti motorist agenda.
February 13, 2024
I would love to know how many defibrillators have been installed across the U.K., the cost and how many times they have been used.
We have one at the end of our road. If I had a heart attack k can think of nothing more stressful than trundling down to the roadside in the west and dark and wit while my husband read the instructions!
February 13, 2024
Councillors are local people and local people vote for those they choose to support their interest.
Something is wrong.
February 13, 2024
Four legs good, two legs bad.
February 15, 2024
Afraid many of the surveys they send out, on proposals that they suggest, are worded in a manner which assumes acceptance of some sort, very rarely is there any room to make constructive criticism, or a place for simple objections.
Thus they come to the wrong conclusions, because the survey suggests, the default position is complete acceptance.
Given the size of the population of the local area, the responses seem quite low, so a very vocal minority in practice, can look to be the majority on many survey proposals.
Like wise unless you are signed up to receive local information, you never get to hear about consultations !