Green Party issue update on their 10 point reform plan for Lewes Town Council

The Green Party in Lewes have published an update to their pre-local elections (held on May 5 of this year) reform plan for the Town Council.

The 10 point plan included the points listed below and their update (below that) is bound to fan the flames of a social networking tussle between parties currently to be seen on Twitter:

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Greater Public Involvement:

 - More effort to get people to come to meetings (including schools and local interest groups)

- The introduction of 'Questions to Council' Guidance online and an online system for doing so

- Having a public debate at the start of Council sessions

- Having Council surgeries at sensible times for working people not mid afternoon on a weekday

Greater Efficiency & Accountability:

 - A record of how councilors voted as standard

- Making the Sustainable Communities Act happen at Town Hall Level

- Better reporting on how well the Town Hall is doing what Councillors have achieved

- Abolishing the religious reading at the start of meetings and the wearing of robes

Improved Communication:

- A better and more user friendly website for the public

- A better internal communication system for Councillors

 

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In September the Party said:

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'Of the ten point reform plan the following has already been done, and it doesn't stop here:

- More effort to get people to come to meetings (including schools and local interest groups)

The Green Party has invited local interest Groups (notably with regards to St Anne's) to meetings. Additionally individual Councillors have been encouraging people to attend meetings even if there is no specific single interest motion relevant to them. This will, of course, continue.

- Having Council surgeries at sensible times for working people not mid-afternoon on a weekday.

This has been done. Councillor surgeries will now take place on Saturday mornings from the New Year thanks to the Green Party.

- A record of how Councillors voted as standard.

Again, thanks to the Green Party requesting a record be kept before each vote, and despite some vehement Lib Dem opposition you can now see how your Councillor voted on every issue. At the moment this relies on Green Councillors asking for it however we hope to make it standard practice for all Council votes soon.

- Better reporting on how well the Town Hall is doing what Councillors have achieved.

The Green Party is reporting each month on Town Council meetings and regularly updates on individual Councillor achievements. We have also proposed better communication policies for the Town Council on overall Town Hall and Town Council activity.

- Abolishing the religious reading at the start of meetings and the wearing of robes.

This wasn't fully approved by the Councillors but the wearing of robes is now optional.'

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We invite other parties to respond to the Green Party's update, do you think that they have thus far achieved their aim of making the Council more open to local people, and are more local people involved? Have your day on Lewes People…