Unitary Status Disgrace
Additional Information to Submission
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From: Jim Harle
To: reviews@boundarycommittee.org.uk
Sent: Thursday, May 14, 2009 10:50 PM
Subject: Summerway Submission Email 3
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Dear Review Manager,
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Unitary Status Options Within Devon
Additional Information to Summerway Submission
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It is most disappointing to report that Exeter City Council has done absolutely nothing to rectify and make amends for its despicable behaviour towards the Summerway Junior LTC and myself since my earlier submission to the Boundary Committee in September 2008. It continues to keep its head firmly buried in the sand. Consequently, I submit this additional information of its unworthiness to receive unitary status.
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The Summerway Campaign continues to grow, evidenced by the steady flow of caring, intelligent folk joining the ranks of Summerway Watchers. Needing a logo, we have adopted Eddie the Ostrich:
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Click Image to View Nellie and Eddie on YouTube
Click this link to View Nellie’s Arrival in Exeter on YouTube
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As explained last September, the Heavitree Arch is another example of an Exeter City
Council (ECC) project foisted on citizens willy-
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Struck by huge differences in attitude towards youths and children shown by Prince Charles and ECC, I wrote to the Prince. An article about this was published in lightly edited (and probably improved) form in the April edition of ‘The Voice of Exeter’, circulated to 20,000 Exeter households. If Exeter becomes a unitary authority, ECC will have responsibility for schools and other children’s services. This scenario doesn’t bear thinking about in the light of its current failure to appreciate children’s needs and the value of role models.
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Since my last submission, the City Council caused a crisis by withdrawing its contribution to the Splash holiday play scheme, leaving its partners and the children in the lurch. This is yet another example of its uncaring attitude towards children’s supervised activities. Fortunately, others look set to rescue this invaluable community asset. My article on this was published in rearranged form in the May edition of ‘The Voice of Exeter’. Should Central Government inflict such an authority on the City’s children by awarding it unitary status?
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I am struck by the hypocrisy of the City Council when it says, “Help preserve accountable and meaningful local democracy in Exeter and Devon”. This is quoted from ECC’s card circulated throughout the City, which will produce a misleading impression of citizens’ views in my opinion. The type of democracy described is a mythical concept in our well documented experience. The local paper refused to publish my letter about the failure of local democracy on its letter page, presumably having an agenda of its own. This is surely significant.
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Is it right to reward Exeter City Council’s failures and remoteness from its citizens by granting it unitary status? The electorate wants to see real democracy, and to elect representatives. We are finding increasingly that, in practice, decisions are made by Council officers. Councillors, who should be representing us to the officers, represent the officers to us instead. Hence, we only get to elect Council spokespersons who rubber stamp officers’ decisions. Electing new Councillors makes no difference, even when from a different political party, as we have found out at Summerway. The Heavitree Arch debacle highlighted who controls the Council in reality, and we don’t elect the officers. So much for democracy!
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Time factors prevent me from submitting further evidence for my views, which I know to be widely shared. I repeat my plea to leave things as they are for now, and not to meddle with something so radical where there is such divergence of opinion. These things need to be worked out over time, and a clear consensus proved before implementing change. We have to see clearly the advantages and disadvantages before we can make a decision, and wish to look before we leap.
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Even if the Government and the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government refuses to listen, I urge the Boundary Committee to recommend the maintenance of the status quo for the time being, pending proper clarity of the way forward and REAL (fully informed) consultation.
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Yours sincerely,
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Jim Harle.
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PS — There is an article in today’s local paper headed, “Minister’s ‘frustration’ over unitary bids”. It is reported that Local Government Minister John Healy has expressed his frustration at the “uncomfortably long” current consultation process. It seems he wishes to get on with changing things without doing his homework properly. No wonder the public are losing confidence in government. Democracy is dying, with Big Brother in the ascendancy.
