Council is failing democracy

2:13pm Tuesday 25th March 2008

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A HELPFUL debate has been launched about the need for High Wycombe to have a town council.

Claim and counter-claim are being evaluated but one aspect is already crystal clear. There is a little common ground between those supporting local democracy and the district council which does not.

The district council is failing in its statutory duty to ensure that our local government structure reflects the identities and interests of the community.

On the contrary, the town is currently governed by "the country"; all but one of the ruling cabinet do not live in High Wycombe. In defence, the council says there is a town committee with councillors representing High Wycombe.

The reality is that the town committee is a powerless talking shop with no commitment to greater local democracy. At its last meeting, it would not even endorse a review to see if local government could be improved.

Would a town council be any better? Well, the overwhelming evidence says yes. Over the last ten years, 150 new town councils have been created. Experience shows that town and parish councils are more efficient, cheaper and responsive than district councils. They also generate local ownership and pride because people connect to the place they identify with.

When was the last time you said "I live in Wycombe district"?

In a local democracy context the town does not exist! Instead, 46000 people are denied the grass roots community democracy to which they are entitled and which is enjoyed by the rural and suburban parts of the district.

We need a cohesive, efficient and representative focus for High Wycombe. But, sadly, the district council opposes the enhancement of local democracy in the town.

It argues council tax would rise but is unable to substantiate the figures it uses to scare the people of Wycombe from seeking their democratic rights. The truth is that with a town council it would be possible to reduce the expenditure of the district council and to transfer the substantial funding already given to the toothless town committee.

Wycombe District Council has the power to review the current arrangements and conduct an unbiased assessment of the arguments for a town council.

I challenge them to explain why 46000 people in High Wycombe should be denied the level of local democracy available to everyone else in Buckinghamshire.

Ralph Ashenhurst, Labour Party prospective Parliamenatary candidate for Wycombe