Many of you see the FODDC as a money grabbing useless swamp of a thing that you pay money to for very little in return.I understand that although if you look a bit deeper you would see the exraordianary things and sheer hard work that the people that work there do for this district.
But for you it might be that necessary evil or you may not even give it a thought or care. I understand all that.
If you work there however or if youve been a councillor , and certainly if you have ever led the council or been in cabinet it is obviously something much more.
You care about it,it is a living vibrant thing with duties to perform , services to provide and ,much more importantly, opportunities to make a positive difference to our community.
Now Im not leading the council and having been put very firmly in my back bench place, by the electorate initially and then by other Councillors ,many friends have told me I should let it be, some have suggested I pack it in all together, some suggest that I just muddle on.
As I write this however at 4am, I am sad. Sad not for a loss of position of control or any assumed power. Not for any denting of ego or loss of kudos , not for money and not for no longer being of media importance.
No Im sad because I very much fear we are witnessing the demise of the FODDC.
I dont say that lightly, I dont want it to happen , I just fear that its true.
A budget that will damage growth ,damage our towns and cities, that will end up costing people more for less.
Ideology led politics ,kills local government, it just does, it just will.
A proposed 300 percent car park charge rise to £2 an hour. Everything going up, with no evidence for need, no growth items that dont just concentrate on Green issues, more Green Officers, bringing services back in house with no financial consequences being offered.
And last night the announcement of an 8th Cabinet post being created.
8 Cllrs out of 38 ( 21% ish) are now on the executive, taking executive allowances.
While at the same time
Underfunding from Central Government is reaching impossible levels and more and more councils are going bust.
Its terribly difficult trying to keep the council financially viable at the same time as actually trying to do good things, bringing funding in , create something, do some good.
FODDC isnt doing that as far as I can see.
And theres nothing I can do, Im a minority group cllr, no say, no support (other than my group) and no outlet.
The media locally seems to favour the Green way,not cricising or reporting issues and failings but printing the ideological photo calls and claims. Its complete Green washing.
I shall tonight go to the scrutiny committee meeting thats discusses and questions the cabinet on the decisons they make but thanks to the Chairmans sycophantic approach to the Greens ( I cant say what Id like to say) scruitny at FODDC is pretty much obsolete. He even agreed with the Greens request NOT to scrutinise the withdraw from Publica, despite the potential costs and issues, untill AFTER the decision has been made.
So scrutiny at FODDC is a bit like going out to bat against the Aussies in the first ashes test , but with a rolled up copy of the Forester instead of an actual bat.
Theres nothing I can do or say, its the people choice and thats democracy.
Im sad as I think we are seeing the beginning of the end of FODDC. With increasing calls for devolution and Unitary authorities, our defence against that was always our finacial stability and the work we did in the community our rescillience
I fear next time that devolution suitor comes calling the finances wont be good, we wont be doing the hard miles in the community and we will have no option but to join in.
Mind we will have a large number of Green and enviromental officers and empty car parks.
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