Gavin Webb: Libertarian councillor for Stoke & Trent Vale

Within the last week, the electoral commission returned its recommendations on the number of city councillors for Stoke-on-Trent.  It is their view, and one that I am quite happy with, to reduce the number of councillors from the current sixty, to around forty-five.  Indeed, in the proposals I made to the Governance Commission, I suggested the number be reduced from sixty closer to forty.

Unfortunately, there are many councillors who don’t share my enthusiasm about this reduction, but I think they are wrong to be concerned.  Instead, they should see this as the start to a) further improve the representation of city residents, and b) return power and authority to local residents and communities.

I have consistenty suggested that local councils – that is, town, parish or community councils – across the city.  They are nothing new.  Look at neighbouring Newcastle-under-Lyme or Staffordshire Moorlands.  As well as the borough or district council, there are tens of local councils serving local people by delivering many services at a more local level.

According to the National Association of Local Councils there are around 10,000 local councils in England, each delivering services that we currently see the City Council delivering.

Political representation is not the be all and end all to ensuring people’s interests are met or services are delivered.  Not surprisingly, I believe there is a need for government to start doing less for people so that they can do more for themselves.  It is a fact that government can’t help but interfere in our daily lives and frankly this needs to stop.

The size of government is not acceptable, not justified, nor is it sustainable.  The more government there is the more likely individuals are to become dependent on this government scheme or that, and the less in control they are of their own lives.

Ensuring that individuals are able to exercise the maximum sovereignty and responsibility over their own lives will de facto lead to fewer politicians at all levels, and therefore any concern that there might be too few councillors becomes irrelevant.