tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150854159364820604.post8386385702992014695..comments2023-05-10T16:38:37.925+01:00Comments on Stockwood Pete: Aren't Neighbourhood Partnerships brilliant?Pete Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07115478143080295370noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150854159364820604.post-42928157995288209972010-12-20T22:19:38.158+00:002010-12-20T22:19:38.158+00:00I think we need to learn some lessons from Athenia...I think we need to learn some lessons from Athenian democracy. It's correct that councillors and representatives of groups should make the arguments about how money should be spent in communities. However the decision should be made by local people selected by lottery, a bit like a jury. <br /><br />For each partnership, 51 names could be drawn from a hat and paid £10 to attend (expenses for the people). They can then hear the arguments and decide how that year's money is spent. Each year new names can be drawn. <br /><br />harryTAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150854159364820604.post-27706238784066409432010-12-19T21:38:03.277+00:002010-12-19T21:38:03.277+00:00Hi Paul
My paranoia must have been showing! Reas...Hi Paul<br /><br />My paranoia must have been showing! Reason is, there's been a bit of a spat going on off-blog about the NP decisions, and I thought it was spreading here!<br /><br />I agree, I don't see any way that the NPs can become representative of communities under the present system, focussing on a quarterly council-style meeting. We're making some efforts here, setting up sub-groups to deal with particular issues (environment, transport, etc) which should be much more accessible. Personally, I think the web should be the key to extending it and making it more immediately relevant. Given its instant access and ever-greater 'interaction' (plus its extent to what, 70% of households?) it can reach so much further than 'Our City' or notices in libraries. I know two or three longer established NPs (Bris, Gtr. Bedminster) have gone down this road, and we're following: the council is providing web space for all NPs and a pretty free hand in running it. <br /><br />Still a long way to go, though!Stockwood Petehttp://stockwoodpete.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150854159364820604.post-41188077254521711982010-12-19T13:35:41.049+00:002010-12-19T13:35:41.049+00:00Sorry Pete, I was Anonymous by mistake, not intent...Sorry Pete, I was Anonymous by mistake, not intent. Push one key, get a different result. I was at a NP meeting on Tues. but not yours. My problem with NP is I see no way they can be democratic. Very few of my neighbours know they exist let alone what they are about. I said at a previous meeting that 90% of my neighbours did not know about NP and a very prominent councillor said she was surprised. Thought it would be nearer 99%. That may have been somewhat "tongue in cheek" but she did not argue. Even with the best of intentions it seems difficult to get the message out. This leaves influence with the same small group of people, and although I am one of that group, surely it's not how devolving power to local people was intended. Untill a way is found to give a majority of residents atleast the chance to get involved, making decisions on behalf of the community cannot be right.Paul BemmyDownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150854159364820604.post-83619792196972190192010-12-16T23:28:50.241+00:002010-12-16T23:28:50.241+00:00Insofar as Friends of Stockwood Open Spaces agreed...Insofar as Friends of Stockwood Open Spaces agreed that I should be their rep on the NP, yes, I'm elected. I have secured a minor change in that organisational members like me can be 'substituted' by the organisation concerned. But no-one 'elected' FoSOS onto the Partnership, so far as I know.<br /><br />At the moment, the partnership is a fairly ad hoc group of people who've taken an interest in getting the NP up and running, in effect, a steering group; if you were at the meeting on Tuesday (I rather think that you were!) you'll know that the only ex-officio voting members are the ward councillors, the rest come from Community organisations or are resident reps, and can only vote on matters that don't involve spending. It's hoped that a better democratic process can be run next year, though it will depend on the community interest just how representative it becomes.<br /><br />Do you have an interest in this? Could you be one of Tuesday's dissidents?Stockwood Petehttp://stockwoodpete.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150854159364820604.post-29347773244439865362010-12-16T19:04:10.265+00:002010-12-16T19:04:10.265+00:00Hi Pete.
You say you are a delegate member. Does t...Hi Pete.<br />You say you are a delegate member. Does this mean that you were elected and if so, by whom?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8150854159364820604.post-39450057038317685912010-12-16T10:24:46.068+00:002010-12-16T10:24:46.068+00:00hi Pete,
I'm in Stockwood HC today. Sorry late...hi Pete,<br />I'm in Stockwood HC today. Sorry late notice, but wd you like to have lunch together ? My no zero 77four 786 double8 36. Text as poor reception here.DocRichardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08903964792092284406noreply@blogger.com