Electon time

Apologies for not updating for a while but election process is taking up my time and I forgot my password.

Talking of which I have to be very careful what I say this blog as any declaration to vote one way or another would mean that this blog would become an election expense.

But I should be safe as this blog was meant to be all about Southampton and not declaring allegiances to one party or another.

Last couple of weeks have been about making decisions.

A LibDem Millbrook councillor resigned from council after the last council meeting on the 21st. No reasons were given but I can only assume she had enough of her group and the council. I must send my sympathy and best wishes as apart from being LibDem, Cllr Moore as was did believe in her community and changing Southampton for the better.

As result of this change all the parties have been frantically finding a candidate for a double header in Millbrook. The Tories have gone for a female who stood in Bassett before and I understand from LibDem insiders that have not got a second candidate yet. They have only got until Wednesday to get nominations in.

Labour has chosen a very capable young man to fill the seat. Millbrook should be Labour seat and evidence of polling shows the area votes for Labour in general elections, when more people vote. The crux of local elections now, not persuading voters to vote for you but making sure your voters go and vote. If all declared Labour voters voted in local elections Southampton would have five more Labour Cllrs.

So if you are thinking you will not bother in these coming local elections, however you vote, THINK AGAIN, you can make a difference.

VOTING

We need compulsory voting. I tired of listening to many of the general public who have opinion, or want to complain about the local authority or council tax but then I find out they do not vote, have not voted or even have never voted. If another council tax payer says “I don’t do politics” particularly those I meet representing others at community or partnership groups, I going to scream. We all do politics whether it is overtly party political or not. So do not be naive if you ever express an opinion, you do politics and if you represent anyone else at meetings or to the elected politicians you also do party politics. Lets stop seeing politics and party politics as the problem. It is not, as it is usually politicians that provide the answers and drive change/implementation forward.

Partnership Work

The council have work with a group of community representatives in Southampton when deciding and delivering policy. They are call LSPs (Local Strategic Partnerships), they are made up of representative from community groups, local business and organisations that are major players e.g. Health trusts.

Southampton Partnership is recognised as a leading, functional and effective partnership. However it fell out with the council last week as elected councillors asked the question who are the decision makers, where is the local democracy (partnership representatives are invited quango like). The partnership ironically is effective because it is concerned about one thing “making Southampton a better place”. However it is not fettered by answering to electorate which politicians are, as a result there will always be conflict between the advice givers the partnership and decision takers the council. The irony is that both the council and the partnership need each other to deliver real change and policies that makes Southampton better place for all.