TAMESIDE WITNESSES THE SECOND COMING OF SIMON DE MONTFORT

For sheer brass neck, Tameside’s Council Leader, Kieran Quinn must be a prime candidate for taking the last chocolate chip biscuit.

In his latest blog, he actually had the temerity to talk about the importance of ‘democracy’

Now here is a man who presides over one of the most anti-democratic forms of local government – where the majority Labour party holds 96 per cent of the seats, but then, through cabinet appointments, this translates into 100% of the cabinet positions – which massively diminishes any other political points of view.

Introduced by Labour in 2000, the introduction of ‘the cabinet system’ fundamentally changed the nature of Local Government. It sought to have a select group of councillors lead their electorate, whereas the former committee system assumed that  a councillor would represent them. 

There’s a very big difference, but one not often explained by our current councillors, who still claim they are in office to represent the wishes of their constituents!

Under the leadership of Cllr Quinn, Tameside council’s executive committee is made up of eight councillors. The fact that most major decisions are made by the all-Labour cabinet, means the remaining 43 backbench councillors have very little influence. Consequently, important decisions are being made that affect large swathes of the boroughs population, mainly behind closed doors, and in most cases by a very select group of nine labour councillors, ‘the cabinet’.

There isn't a week goes by that critics complain in the local press that public questions to the council often go unanswered, and no follow-up is permitted and on the rare occasion they do, the reply is not responsive.

I've heard it myself from current councillors that although they often want to agree with their constituents, they cannot be seen to disagree with’ cabinet decisions’ as it would have a detrimental effect on their future prospects. They forget who elected them and because of the whipping system toe the party line!

He then had the affrontery to talk about the low turnout and the diminishing number of people voting! He said, “…it is a pity they don’t use that right because it really does give them power over the decision-makers. All 57 members of Tameside Council only hold that rank thanks to the people who put a cross against our name every four years. None of us takes that support for granted and we’re all fully aware that it could be removed at any time.”

This is absolute nonsense!

We all know that the Executive leader is not too clever with figures but even he knows that if everyone in Tameside who was eligible to vote at the next local election voted for anyone but Labour; Labour would still hold total control over the council!

This is because the current system has been orchestrated so that only one third of the councillors are up for re-election at a time. So if they were all voted out, they would still hold a two thirds majority!

My growing concerns are based on the inability of back bench councillors to truly represent the people they stand for and work for the good of the borough.

If Kieran Quinn is so concerned with democracy he should announce in his re-election manifesto that if he and his Labour colleagues are re-elected, they will use the new powers introduced under the Localism Act to trigger a governance referendum, to abolish the dictatorial cabinet system and re-introduce a system of open door, all party committees and revert to a full council election.

Only then will we see how serious Cllr Quinn is in his gushing support for local ‘democracy’

To those who perceive this as just another go at the council then you are sadly mistaken. It’s about re-introducing a fair and transparent process which is all accountable and not hidden behind closed doors and brushed under carpets which is often the case.

Unfortunately, too few people take an interest in what is going on in local government. If they did, there would be little short of rioting on the streets, when they realised just how badly served they are by the present administration.

To those people I say, just look around you.

Look at all the services that have been lost, the dead market grounds, the lack of Town Centre shops and parking restrictions. Look at the waste. Then listen to the excuses from our councillors. Most of whom have been ‘on the council’ for most of their working lives!

These people are solely responsible for the sad state of Tameside and only you, with your vote, can begin to make a change.

In conclusion, Cllr Quinn wondered why interest in politics seems to have hit an all-time low!

And they say satire is dead!