Democratic Deficit

Good management and good governance should be important across all public affairs and services.

The avoidance of poor management depends on proper systems of accountability being in place. Do we or do we not want people in their communities to be listened to, decisions taken on the basis of fairness and building of consensus in transparent processes in which all have the chance to participate?

Alternatively we can have opaque and impenetrable decision making where pushy sectional interests seek to gain an advantage that is not shared by all and that leads all too often to skewed priorities not subject to the light of scrutiny?

Scrutiny and accountability is resolutely avoided by those who don't want to be found out. We have elected representatives who should take their roles seriously in the interests of those who chose them. Why does that not happen? In Sheffield councillors are very poor at public engagement and at scrutinising policy and practice across local government, and that goes for all parties represented. They are most engaged in cheap party political point scoring against their rivals.

This year is unusual: in May we elect three councillors in each ward instead of just one as normal. Wait for masses of carefully spun literature through the letter box. A pity there's been so little attempt to discuss issues with the public before. For example there should have been at least three public ward meetings each year set up by councillors. Hardly a ward in Sheffield has seen this happen. They don't like listening and responding, preferring to sit on the fence waiting for a bandwagon to come along.