Mover: Stuart Hill
Seconder: Ian Driver
"This AGM recognises that the National Commission on Electoral Reform provides a great opportunity to move towards a system of PR to replace the discredited FPTP. Democratic transformation will eventually require that a system of PR will apply also to elected Local Government.
At present most councils have a Leader and Cabinet Governance. This enshrines a top-down system that concentrates control in the hands of very few councillors. The great majority of councillors have very little say. This importation from the USA , in 2000 by Tony Blair, is not universally popular amongst councillors.
Executive Mayors in unitary authorities are even worse. Power is even more concentrated in the hands of a single person, who exercises autocratic power over most councillors. Nepotism is baked in. Councillors do not exercise any kind of effective accountability over Executive Mayors, no matter how many may wish to do so.
This AGM recognises that Local Government needs far greater resources than at present and greater powers, freed from over-rigid National Central Control. It, therefore, agrees to run a consultation, in 2027, to identify better forms of local government for a more democratic future. In this exercise Unlock Democracy will seek greater engagement with the Local Government Association.