Friday, January 19, 2007

Labour adds another layer of bureaucracy

Neighbourhood team adds to the weight.

The Labour Party in South Tyneside seem to think that their new Neighbourhood Teams are an avenue towards devolved responsibilities for local residents. The inward investment for these teams, I assume, will be tax-payer funded for a limited finite period, but until then we will see citizen representatives elected, officers employed, offices acquired, equipment utilized, and further monies granted to achieve a mini empire of neighbourhood cells.

The small team now working in Jarrow has a manager, an office in the Mid Tyne Activities Centre , and is working with the interim partnership board towards the priorities it agrees with local residents. Shortly, five community representatives will be elected to the board for areas like Central Jarrow, Hill Park, and Low Simonside.

So, a partnership board, elected local representatives, staff, managers, offices and facilities, a complete cadre of a new layer of democracy. Do we really need the future expense of this extra layer?

Which begs another question; if these small groups of people are to decide the priority actions for their local areas - then what is the point of electing three ward councillors?

Link

South Tyneside Council

# posted by Curly : 12:45 pm