Residents' Association councillors are by definition parochial in their outlook. They have very little to say on national political issues except where they seek to use something national government is doing to attack their political opponents locally. Indeed their slogan is "Keep national politics out of local government." Such political narrow-mindedness means the council lacks leadership and focus. Why? Because as local politicians we need to engage in national politics so as to best represent our residents. The RAs were unforgivably slow to react to previous threats to Epsom Hospital because they initially did not see it as a "local" issue. Chris Grayling MP and local Conservatives instinctively responded by leading the campaign. When the Labour government was outrageously underfunding local government in Surrey so that they could flood their northern strongholds with cash the Residents' Associations had nothing to say and had no influence in fighting against the Labour Party.
Despite their inability to engage or exert influence where national politics impacts upon local residents perhaps the coming to power of the coalition government will lead the Residents' Associations to a more sensible approach. National Conservatives have been leading a quiet revolution in local government. I will be highlighting some of their most welcome initiatives on this blog in the near future and begin now with measures giving councillors the freedom to campaign, the freedom to debate matters with our residents and the freedom to make clear what we think about issues without being accused of closing our minds on those matters.
Importantly this will mean that councillors can let residents know where they stand on important planning applications before a vote on the local planning committee comes along. Councillors will still need to listen to all the arguments and weigh them up, but they will not get in trouble for expressing a view earlier in proceedings, a view that any engaged councillor will obviously possess. Crucially if there is a big planning issue in an area just before an election then candidates will be able to publicise their stance without excluding themselves from voting on the application if elected.
This is a good, common sense change brought about not by the RAs but instead national politics which the RAs so wrong-headedly tell up should be kept out of local government. Long may it continue.
