Local referendums 'need a rethink'

08 September 2009

Tory proposals to introduce local referendums could land councils with "unmanageable" financial commitments, a report from the New Local Government Network has warned, adding that the plans could also undermine the role of locally elected government and dilute the rights of minority groups.

Under the Conservatives' proposals, people would be allowed to hold a referendum on any local issue if five per cent of the local population signed a petition in favour of it within six months. The NLGN has accepted that this could lead to higher voter turnout and more public engagement but it has several concerns. These relate to the quality of decisions that are made and the likelihood that the referendums would produce "reactionary rather than progressive results".

There is also the possibility of deferred referendums – or 'deferendums' as they are being called – delaying decisions by months or even years. And there is a chance that wealthy interest groups could unfairly influence policy by using the weight of their financial resources to collect the signatures needed to get issues to the referendum stage.

The NLGN has suggested its own 'Community Proposal' model which it said would obligate elected representatives to engage with the proposal being put to them and make voting mandatory rather than optional. This would give the Community Proposal the status needed in the public's perception to encourage engagement and restore the link between citizens and elected representatives.

Author of the NLGN report Tom Symons said: "The appetite for democratic renewal has been growing for decades with calls for greater transparency, accountability and redistribution of power towards the public. However, direct referendums do not resolve many of the problems inherent with 'direct democracy'. Instead, a Community Proposal, based on the principles of deliberative democracy, would represent a means of increasing public participation and engagement and give citizens the power to set the agenda at a full council meeting."

COMMENTS

The local government establishment has reacted to proposals for democracy reform like hens which have noticed that the fox has started to dig a tunnel under their fence.

A closer look at how citizen-led democracy works in practice would help to allay concerns of local politicians.

For instance:

Revolution is NOT being proposed. What has been suggested is that elements of direct democracy should be introduced, complementing the indirect (representative) democracy which we already have.

Electorates do NOT want to take over the running of ALL public affairs -- for that we appoint, by election, councillors and mayors.

We do want the job to be well done, which leads to a desire to have more say about government, planning etc. in the periods between elections -- this has been repeatedly confirmed in social surveys.

People do NOT want to be fobbed off with more petitions, consultations or "citizens' juries". They do want to be able to take back control of some issues, either by veto of council proposals or using the right to make proposals about policy.

The NLGN (New Local Government Network ) suggestion of "community proposal" instead of more democracy resembles a glorified petition (a right which we already have). The council is not obliged to act on the proposal and no ballot of the electorate must be held.

Sincerely,
(Dr.) Michael Macpherson

I&R ~ GB Citizens' Initiative and Referendum
http://www.iniref.org/
http://www.ipetitions.com/campaigns/i-and-r.gb sign up for reform
Dr. M J Macpherson - Guildford/UK/PSAMRA ~ INTEGRAL STUDIES

My understanding is that, under the Local Government act of 1972, any six members of the local electorate are entitled to call a Parish meeting to call for a local referendum. If then 10 people at that meeting support the proposal then the local authority is duty bound to carry out the Referendum.
(This makes the Tory proposals seem like a backward step for Democracy)

I, with five others, are on the verge of calling a referendum on a local planning issue. (Any practical advice would be appreciated if done soon).

Some attempts have been made to have local Referenda on the Lisbon EU treaty but I believe the high court has ruled that this isn't a local issue.

Re: costs, an anti-Lisbon treaty, pro- Referendum website has claimed that costs of such local Referenda average only about £400.

My only concern about 'my' proposed Referendum is that local people won't have the get-up-and-go to vote on a dark winter's night.
Dr. Robert Clipperton - Cheshire UK