You do not always win in a democracy (From Swindon Advertiser)

You do not always win in a democracy

5:35pm Wednesday 18th January 2012 in Letters

I am increasingly exasperated by reading those who complain that when a decision does not go their way that democracy is dead, or councillors are evil, or similar nonsense. The fact is that the 59 elected members take their duty, as set out in the council’s constitution, to represent all residents of their ward and the Borough to the best of their ability very seriously indeed.

If you are going to take part in public policy debates, here are a few facts to help you.

For any issue, there are least two points of view. Just think how hard it can be to settle a family dispute about what to watch on TV. Don’t you think it is much harder still to reach consensus over 8,500 residents?

Just because you believe something passionately doesn’t make you right. You need to persuade councillors, not castigate them. We have exhaustive, open and transparent decision-making process in this borough. While no one likes losing, the reality is that your case may not have been strong enough.

Just because you did not win doesn’t make the system corrupt – just ask any football fan if they give up on the game when their team goes through a losing streak.

Above all, these are public policy decisions for the whole community and by the whole community. If any residents think that a councillor should reflect his or her views perfectly, then doesn’t every voter deserve the same?

My challenge to those who lose is to follow the Nolan principles of public life: be selfless, not selfish.

Councillor Roderick Bluh Leader of the Council

...We need a voice

Following the excellent letters by Des Morgan, Mary Ratcliffe and Guy Green commenting on a democratic deficit in Swindon (as exemplified by the Croft School planning fiasco) as Chairman of Swindon Civic Voice I feel bound to comment.

Very simply our mission is to ensure the community's voice is heard by those elected members making decisions on their behalf.

Any final decision may be seen as irrelevant, as long as all sides in a debate are given a fair hearing and due process is respected. Recent governments have mooted that it would create more trust if the electorate had a more positive voice on local matters.

The diabolical planning committee meeting of November 29, 2011 brings out several important questions that the public should think about before the local elections in May.

Once councillors are democratically elected, is it their duty to “represent the views of their ward members”, or is it to “make decisions as they see fit”? How should they balance the needs of their own ward and the needs of the borough as a whole? Should the new Localism Act be tied in with the Members Code of Conduct?

Councillors who limit dissent on an issue, act without consistency, shout down members of the community in public meetings, mislead residents and show a careless disregard for process demonstrate a terrible suppression of transparency, integrity and their own personal accountability.

Despite a Conservative Government adopting the Localism Act, two Conservative MPs serving Swindon and a local authority with a substantial Conservative majority, true Localism seems a long way off for Swindon residents.

Lisa Hawkes Chairman Swindon Civic Voice

...Now an ex Tory

The failure of the Conservative administration at both national and local level, to carry out even the basics, is beginning to worry me immensely.

The Government can't control immigration or the related problems this is causing.

The local council fail to collect my recycling and that of many others on time, if at all, and either ignores or sidesteps the issue when I contact them to complain. There was also the street light saga in Wichelstowe. We couldn’t turn them off but what we could do is turn of the lights elsewhere in the town and openly run the risk of endangering the public.

How can anybody have any confidence in anything Conservative to address the really important issues that currently exist?

The Government needs to properly sort out the economic mess we are in, something in my opinion they are failing to do.

The council needs to sort out the problem that is the town centre. Allowing the main shopping area to go bust and becoming an absolute eyesore is not acceptable.

I generally vote for the Tories in both national and local elections, but will not in the local elections of May 2012, because I feel they are letting us all down.

I for one am hoping that in Swindon, where the whole council is up for re-election, they are soundly beaten. They may get a wake up call and it may encourage them to get their act together.

Jon Ellis Chicory Close Swindon

Rats a disgrace

I use the number 17 bus at Fleming Way on a daily basis. Most days I see rats on the pavement on Fleming Way.

I am not sure if it is Zurich Insurance or the borough council in charge of the bushes there, but i would suggest that if the bushes were taken out, or cut down to a minimum, it may help to get rid of the problem.

I have spoken to many people at the bus stop about this and they all say how disgraceful it is. It is bad for tourists and people from out of town to see.

Helen Thompson Welcombe Avenue Swindon

New Year dream

I can only hope and pray that 2012 will bring some form of pride that the UK has lost in this last year. I have written a list of media headlines which I would love to see published in the New Year. I would be interested to know if my own true citizens of England agree with me. Thus I begin: l ‘Judges granted full powers to give maximum sentences for the most heinous crimes.’ l‘Borders closed to Great Britain for 50 years.’ l‘Royalty will be not given money by the tax office and treasury. They will live off their own wealth.’ l‘Celebs no longer qualify for knighthoods, only worthy people who benefit the nation.’ l‘The armed forces will never interfere in other nations’ wars (mainly Middle East) only to defend this country in case of threat.’ l‘No national money will be given to so-called third world countries. Their own leaders will be responsible.’ l‘Foreign Aid cash will be given to our needy instead.’ l‘Britain leaves the EU and retains the proud island image again with trade with the world as a whole.’ l‘Illegals in any bogus marriage to allow them to remain will be deported within 24 hours of conviction.’ l‘Restore capital punishment’.

It would be wonderful to see these headlines in the national press in the coming year, but with the spineless power we have in Westminster, it will only be a pipedream.

H G Smith Wroughton

Burning issue

I wish to respond to the misleading letter from Steve Halden of January 2 concerning anti smoking legislation.

He claims the smoking ban has destroyed the British pub then claims the proposed ban on displaying cigarettes will have the same effect on small retailers. I would agree the smoking ban has affected the pub trade which, combined with the present world economic climate, has seen the demise of many of our well know drinking holes.

However, Mr Halden is totally wrong in his claim that this is EU legislation. The decision to introduce a “comprehensive smoke-free workplace” was a sovereign act of the British Parliament and was passed as an amendment to the Health Bill on the February 14, 2006, after all political parties in parliament allowed MPs and Lords a free vote on the issue. This decision ensured there was a complete coverage of such a ban across the UK.

Some two years later on the July 8, 2008, the EU Commission did recommend a Public Places smoking ban be introduced in all 27 countries by 2012. However, it is not EU legislation, and even the right wing Daily Mail acknowledge the commission has no powers to enforce it.

On the issue of banning the display of cigarettes, this legislation was passed by the last Government and, after a review, the Con-Dem Government announced on March 9, 2011 that it was to introduce the ban in supermarkets in April 2012, and in smaller retail outlets in 2015. In the short term this could benefit the smaller retailer, but it is important the Government monitor the effect this legislation is having to ensure the viability of our local small retailers.

I will give Mr Halden the benefit of the doubt and not claim his anti EU views have got the better of him, and has tried to deliberately mislead readers. Instead I will put it down to fact that he, like most of us, are confused by UKIP policy.

UKIP want to return sovereignty to the British Parliament, but are opposed to the smoking ban, and as this was a sovereign act, I can understand why Mr Halden made his mistake!

Kevin Small Jennings Street Swindon