Most said they had enough money. There was praise for Local Government Ministers – but exasperation with the Government overall.
You wouldn’t want your name to be changed against your will, and nobody voted for their history to be rewritten by bureaucrats.
We should be asking ourselves what we want from local government in the future, particularly in light of the Covid-19 crisis.
Changes in administrative boundaries are resisted because of suspicion that they are seeking to change our identity.
While national command and control sometimes stumbled, our district councils ensured that we could keep calm and carry on.
In Lichfield, I predict we will see a change with our next cohort of councillors. Those with jobs and young families will find it easier to take part.
There can be benefits to democracy – and efficiency from reform. But change must come from below – not be imposed from the top.
Local identities matter. Rather than abolishing small local authorities, more power should be handed down to them.
Forced, and arbitrary, local government reorganisation risks ignoring community wishes.
The Electoral Commission stumbles from one crisis to another – while proven voter fraud goes unpunished.
It is the Conservatives who have spoken out over illegal and dangerous exploitation at local factories.
There is a strong case for making greater use of these tools: to allow wider participation and more transparent decision-making.
It can provide councils that are more efficient, cost effective, and customer focused, without giving up accountability.
Conservatives have identified savings that would allow the service to be restored.
Each ward member is given an enabling communities budget of £7,500 per year, funded from the New Homes Bonus.