Moved by Ian Driver
Seconded by Stuart Hill
This AGM notes that the Government “has put on hold” its proposals for Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) in England and Wales until further notice.
This AGM notes that these proposals, if implemented, would be the biggest reorganisation of local government in over 50 years and will affect millions of voters.
This AGM also notes that many people, including experts in local and national governance, believe that the Government’s proposals will fail to extend democracy and increase citizen’s participation in the democratic process, fail to make our or to democratic system fairer and more representative and likely to favour those parties who have access to significant financial backing.
To overcome the failings of the Governments “stalled” proposals this AGM calls on Unlock Democracy use this delay to:-
Launch a campaign for the Government to establish a cross-party committee of inquiry to review current and new proposals for LGR and to make recommendations to Parliament for a fairer, more democratic, system of local government than that of the stalled scheme.
That this committee of inquiry takes and considers evidence from individuals and organisations who have an interest in the democratic matters including the future of local government and its organisation
That Unlock Democracy encourages individuals and organisations such as MPs and councillors, political parties, the Electoral Reform Society, Make Votes Matter, the Local Government Association etc, to join, participate in and contribute to the campaign.
That the campaign will argue for
A voting system based on proportional representation for all local government elections
The retention of county councils and no forced mergers of district councils into super sized councils
No dilution of councillor/ voter ratios or the introduction of mega electoral wards.
Local, county and regional voters to be consulted on how they are governed including referenda
The freedom for local authorities to make their own decisions on governance arrangements such as cabinet or committee decision making and having or not having executive mayors