Official Launch of The Petition for Democracy
The Petition will
be launched officially on the 23rd of July with photos and article
in the Fress Press and Argus. The wording of the petition is as
follows.
We,
the undersigned, petition Torfaen County Borough
Council to change it’s Constitution to require the
following:-
1. Proportionality from the leadership
down through all member committees - this includes all cabinet
posts and scrutiny positions.
2. The Leader and Deputy Leader cannot be from the same
political party.
In addition we want the current leadership to step down
and a fresh election for a new Leader and Deputy Leader
to take place. Petition for democracy launched
23rd of July 2008
|
| Download
PDF copy of the petition here (right click and save?) |
You can download
a copy of the petition in pdf form from the above
link, print it out and start getting signatures straight away,
but only from those living in Torfaen, and please get all the
details filled in.
The address for the
return of the petition will be advised later, watch
this space!
CAMPAIGN FOR DEMOCRACY Mission Statement
"We wish to establish a fully representative
council giving appropriate weight to all elected interests that
operates in a fully transparent manner."
Why is this petition being raised?
We believe that the recent elections have resulted in a mockery
of the democratic system and the Torfaen County Borough Council
being led by a Labour regime that is unpopular and has lost touch
with the electorate. We also believe that many people feel that
there is now little point in voting if the old regime can just
walk back into office. People have become disenchanted with the
democratic system.
We are being led by a regime that has governed within the region
for decades and do not have the courage to admit to themselves
and the population of Torfaen that it is time to adopt a new system
of governance. A system that is not based party politics but on
communication and partnership working.
The current regime holds power on the weakest and most tenuous
of threads, they hold power simply on the support of three Plaid
Cymru and two Independent Councillors. If the five individual
councillors removed their support from Labour the regime would
collapse.
The Existing System of Governance
The council is currently made up of four tiers of elected member
administration, and every significant position is the currently
held by a Labour member or a supporter of the Labour regime. This
includes the Mayoral position that has the benefit of two votes.
What this petition is proposing will eventually have to be adopted
under proposed new legislation and pressure from the National
Assembly. It makes sense that the Labour regime accept change
is coming and work to achieve it now in partnership with other
political groups rather that have it forced on them later.
The New System of Governance
The four tier structure would remain in place and not be changed
in anyway, but there would be a number of small but significant
constitutional changes. The changes would consist of the following
points:
1. Proportionality from the leadership down through all member
committees including all cabinet posts and scrutiny positions.
2. The Leader and Deputy Leader are unable to be from the same
party political party.
The elements of the proposed alternative arrangements would probably
be regulated by the Local Authorities (Alternative Arrangements)
(Wales) Order 2007. The regulations are prescriptive in the way
that the Board and other committees are run. There has to be political
balance on all committees.
The Campaign Method
The signatures secured by the petition will inform all councillors
of the level of public feeling regarding the aims of the petition.
The petition will be presented to the Mayor at a full council
meeting by a significant member of the campaign group and a short
presentation will be made.
Two councillors will contact the Democratic Services Department
with TCBC twenty one days later and raise a motion in writing
that they wish to have a full and recorded vote on the aims of
the petition at the next full council meeting. One councillor
will raise the motion and the second Councillor will second the
motion.
At a full council meeting every councillor will have to vote
on the aims of the petition. At that point, the councillors of
the region will have to support democratic change or make a decision
to support the existing regime.
The Benefits
This system of governance is not new. It has operated successfully
in the county of Gwynedd since 28 February 2002, and was implemented
and introduced by Plaid Cymru Councillors.
• The administrative system remains unchanged;
• The leadership positions are shared throughout all political
groups;
• The opportunities for corruption and dubious practice
are reduced;
• Party political issues and priorities become secondary
to local community issues;
• All councillors have to work in partnership;
• This basic system of governance will be eventually introduced
under new legislation.
Press Release from Councillor Fred Wildgust 14th July
08
"I am pleased to inform the residents of Torfaen that
‘The campaign for democracy’ entered a new phase
on the 6th July at 2.30pm, at a meeting held at a local venue
25 people where in attendance to show their solidarity for the
movement and join the campaign for democracy. This resulted
in the creation of a campaign committee that has taken on the
full responsibility for the delivery of the campaign and the
securing of signatures on the petition. Since then the group
have met again to organise themselves into working groups to
identify tasks and campaign tactics. The group felt that it
would be stronger and more representative of the residents of
Torfaen if no elected members were involved in the committee,
but showed support and offered advice from outside the group.
The Chairman of the Committee (Ian Williams) did not want to
risk any Councillor losing the right to vote on the democracy
petition when the petition is presented to full council in the
coming months. The group has the full support of a number of
councillors, these include representatives of Torfaens Peoples
Voice and independent councillors including myself Cllr Fred
Wildgust.
The committee is committed to holding a rally and multiple
events throughout the borough, it is hoped that other groups
and organisation with join the campaign for democracy, which
in turn will secure thousands of signatures to the petition.
At the present time committee members are organising meetings
with all political parties to explain the aims of the campaign
and secure support for the petition, initial meetings have taken
place with Plaid Cymru and Torfaen Peoples Coalition. The petition
has three simple aims
1. Proportionality from the leadership down through all member
committees - this includes all cabinet posts and scrutiny positions.
2. The Leader and Deputy Leader cannot be from the same political
party.
3. The current leadership will have to step down and a fresh
election for a new Leader and Deputy Leader to take place.
The campaign for democracy will continue until the views of
the people are truly represented by introducing proportionality
and the failing labour regime has the courage to admit that
a new leader is required for the council. The current Leader
of the Council barely retained his seat at the last election,
the majority of people in Torfaen don’t like him and have
no faith in his abilities as the Leader of the Council. If you
would like to support the campaign in anyway contact your local
Councillor…"
Circulated by Cllr Fred Wildgust
Campaigners to March 'For Democracy'
By Darren Evans
South Wales Argus 19th June 2008
CAMPAIGNERS who are angered that Labour retained control of Torfaen
council are planning a protest march to call for democratic change.
Independent Pontypool councillor Fred Wildgust is calling for
a system where all parties are represented on their share of votes.
The authority remained in Labour hands despite the party's poor
performance at the local elections on May 1, thanks to the support
of five newly-elected councillors.
The three Plaid Cymru and two independent members were then rewarded
with committee chairmanships and extra pay-cheques, sparking a
huge backlash from the electorate.
Councillor Wildgust is organising a Torfaen-wide petition calling
for proportional representation, and is planning a major protest
march from county hall in Cwmbran to the civic centre in Pontypool
at the beginning of July.
He said: "I have had dozens of letters and e-mails calling
on me to act. I want to motivate the population and get people
marching for democracy.
"My message to the Labour leadership is democracy is coming."
Councillor Wildgust took legal advice on whether a referendum
could be held on the matter, but solicitors said the process could
take up to three years.
He says he has the backing of other councillors, including the
three People's Voice members.
People's Voice Torfaen chairman Ian Williams said: 'I have never
seen an issue in Torfaen that has struck the public mind in such
a way. Labour was cut in half but it still leads the council.
People felt that they needed change and they didn't get that."
Independent councillor Stuart Evans, who leads the opposition
Torfaen Peoples Coalition, said members are waiting for further
details from councillor Wildgust before deciding whether to support
his actions.
The Argus was inundated with letters and e-mails from dozens of
Torfaen residents who were furious that Labour retained control
of the council despite failing to win a majority.
Torfaen council leader Bob Wellington refused to comment when
approached by the Argus. Comments
Here
www.torfaen4us.co.uk
|
(You will have to type this address into your email program. This
is to help reduce spam, sorry!)