Public Excluded -
It’s déjà vu. Excluded again! The leopard hasn’t changed its spots.
Council officers seem to be thumbing their noses at public opinion and proper consultation, and Councillors seem to prefer officers’ views to the public’s. Not for the first time!
I was one of about 160 citizens who were excluded from an Exeter City Council meeting of the Executive Committee which was claimed to be open to the public. We remained in the reception area. The issue made the front page of the local newspaper the following day and again five days after that.
Only Cllr Mrs Yolonda Henson of the nine strong Executive Committee voted with the
220 citizens protesting the lack of consultation -
The letter below, addressed to ECC’s Chief Executive Officer and dated the day of the meeting, was written on my return home. The meeting was held on 23rd November 2010 at the Civic Centre. Being immediate, the letter is probably rather less polished than it would have been if given more time.
My main concerns were voiced in the letter, however, and investigation by the Chief Executive requested.
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Initial Letter from Jim to the Exeter City Council Chief Executive, Mr Bostock, dated 23rd Nov 2010
Reply Letter from the Exeter City Council Assistant Chief Executive, Ms Arjoon, dated 1st Dec 2010
Dear Mr Bostock
Exeter City Council Style Democracy
I am disappointed, preferring to encourage rather than to complain, to have to protest strongly about my exclusion from observing the Executive Committee meeting this evening as a member of the public.
I see now that exclusion is a powerful technique employed by Exeter City Council to avoid facing unwelcome scrutiny, bulldoze its own wishes and avoid consultation. I presume you are aware of the atrocious and arbitrary manner in which your officers refused to deal with me and respond to my detailed points and questions regarding the Summerway Junior Lawn Tennis Club. The refusal by a Council Director to tackle the issues, even to comment when approached by Exeter's Member of Parliament, is nothing short of disgraceful, making a complete mockery of democracy.
Aren't you ashamed of the way the Council failed to respond to the resolutions passed by the Club's Special General Meeting on 20th January 2007, dismissing them as "unhelpful"? Unhelpful to whom? An attendance of over forty at that meeting showed the degree of concern, and for the Council to treat that concern in such a manner speaks volumes about Council arrogance. Perhaps it would be a salutary experience for you to take note of our four YouTube videos, the first of which was broadcast on TV's Five News programme, all easily accessed from the first page of our www.summerway.org website.
The Summerway Campaign is the direct result of the Council doing its own damaging
thing without meaningful consultation, behaving as though a line has been drawn under
the issues, and then expecting its bullying to eventually fade from people's memory
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How can we have confidence in a Council when actions and words so clearly contradict? We know which speaks the louder. Please examine our website where examples, based on documentary evidence, indicate the degree to which the Council will stoop to flout democracy, and pursue its own agenda, sometimes by clandestine means. Pretending to be open to the public is no substitute for meaningful consultation with those involved and affected. The Club had no say in local government's deliberations concerning the premises it had leased for over thirty years. The unilateral demolition of the pavilion, originally just a wooden hut, which the Club upgraded at its own expense with plumbing, sewerage, electricity and other facilities, was a boot in the face for community and the City's less privileged children. Again, see the website.
For years now I have been observing almost every public meeting of the Executive Committee, Scrutiny: Community and the full Council, as well as other Committees and organised events. I am occasionally the only member of the public present. More often, there may be just one or two besides me. Knowing large numbers were expected this evening due to an emotive issue the Council appeared to be pushing without adequate public consultation, I arrived early at quarter past five to be told sixty people already packed the room to capacity and noted a similar number remained excluded in the reception area. The denied eventually increased to one hundred and sixty. As a regular attender, I strongly resent my exclusion, and point out that, as a rule, members of the public are not permitted to enter the room until five minutes before commencement of the meeting. Naturally, I wished to witness the discussion and assess the arguments and individual attitudes of members of the Committee. Denying me this opportunity makes a mockery of public scrutiny, and I can have no confidence in the decisions reached. I already have experience of the lack of respect the chairman of the committee has for my democratic rights. Please see the "Letter for Express & Echo" page posted 25/11/2008 on the website.
I didn't waste my time while waiting for news from the meeting, but conversed with others deprived of the opportunity to observe, listening carefully to views expressed. While not agreeing with every viewpoint, I do share the predominant feeling that the Council has no true regard for democracy, and is extremely remote and out of touch with citizens.
I have no wish to gainsay the energy, excellent work and friendly, helpful attitude of many Councillors and officers. Such earn my gratitude and respect. Unfortunately, there are others who do great disservice to the community by their destructive approach to anything which doesn't conform to their own blinkered views and understanding. For these, common sense seems an alien characteristic, and seriously damages citizens' perception of the Council. The Council's handling of this evening's meeting was seriously flawed, exposing rigidity where flexibility was required.
We are constantly reminded that citizens elect those who represent them, and are urged to use the ballot box to determine issues. This is an illusion of democracy. What is the point if our representatives listen more to officers or party political diktat than to us? Officers are appointed, not elected, and often seem more interested in following the 'system' and their own tunnel vision. The bureaucracy, and not democracy, appears to be making the decisions. Surely, government and officers should be serving and consulting the public. I suggest there are fundamental democratic issues which need to be addressed at the Civic Centre, and request that you, as Chief Executive, look into the points I raise in this letter.
I will wish to share this correspondence with others.
Yours sincerely
Jim Harle
SJLTC Membership Secretary
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Email from Jim to the Exeter City Council Assistant Chief Executive, Ms Arjoon, sent 9th Dec 2010
Unsolicited Email of appreciation from an Exeter Resident to Jim and his reply sent 13th Dec 2010
The Assistant Chief Executive verbally suggested on 14th Dec 2010 a talk with Jim in the New Year
The Assistant Chief Executive and Jim met on 10th January 2011 for an ‘off the record’ discussion
Email from Jim to the Exeter City Council Assistant Chief Executive, Ms Arjoon, sent 17th Jan 2011
Letter from Jim to the Exeter City Council Assistant Chief Executive, Ms Arjoon, dated 10th Sep 2011
Reply Letter from the Exeter City Council Assistant Chief Executive, Ms Arjoon, dated 15th Sep 2011