Town Hall debates are more inclusive than you imagine

12:10pm Wednesday 15th August 2001

It's precisely because so few people are bothered about traditional Town Hall debates that the Government has called on councils to modernise and become more open. This in turn has led to Croydon Council taking local government to the people and providing real opportunities for meaningful public involvement in a way that was never possible before.

Contrary to the limited views of David Ashton (August 2) we have found that people prefer to participate in influencing local issues rather than to listen to councillors taking political swipes at each other. However, if he really wanted political debate then he only had to stay for two urgent debate motions which took place at the council meeting on July 23 both involving extensive, cross party debate on topical matters.

Thanks to a series of initiatives that we have introduced, it has never been easier for people to get involved with what Croydon Council is doing. It's not even necessary to travel to the Town Hall. We're regularly taking meetings into different parts of the borough so that people don't have to go far.

Cabinet consultants panels enable people with a special interest to influence policy-making and directly help cabinet ministers make up their minds before decisions are made.

Neighbourhood partnership meetings, which are already attracting big audiences in the north, east and south of the borough, are being extended to cover the whole of Croydon and provide a local platform for lively grass roots community discussions.

Across the country councils of all political persuasions are modernising and becoming more relevant to their local residents. Mr Ashton is welcome to linger in the past, but the future is a lot more exciting and relevant.

Tony Newman

Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing

Remember When...