Empowering the citizens of Birmingham (Birmingham Liberal Democrats)

Birmingham Liberal Democrats <info@birminghamlibdems.org.uk>

Empowering the citizens of Birmingham

October 17, 2008 12:16 PM

Empowering Citizens: Cllr Paul Tilsley successfully led the Lib Dem argument in Birmingham for epetitions and the Sustainable Communities Act.

Liberal Democrat councillors have successfully proposed that the Council should adopt an epetition facility and express its interest about opting in to the Sustainable Communities Act. The proposal received cross-party support.

Councillor Paul Tilsley (Sheldon) said the Council was "serious about public involvement and participation" and that an epetition facility would enhance democracy at a limited cost. He also hoped that it would encourage children and young people to become involved in the democratic process.

Speaking in support of the Sustainable Communities Act, Councillor Ernie Hendricks (Moseley & Kings Heath) was enthusiastic that it could address disengagement from the political process and removing decision making from Westminster.

The Sustainable Communities Act became law in October 2007 with full cross party support following a 5 year campaign run by a coalition of over 90 national citizens organisations called Local Works. The Act gives local councils, working with local residents, the power to:

make proposals to government on the action and help government must take or give to promote sustainable communities in that local council's area, and
argue for a transfer of public money spent in that local council's area and it's related function from central to local control;

Sustainability of local communities is broadly defined, including

the improvement of the local economy,
protection of the environment,
promotion of social inclusion, and
participation in civic and political activity.

The text of the full motion adopted by the City Council at its meeting on 14 October 2008 was:

"This Council is committed to listening to the views of Birmingham people via an extensive range of established and extensively used mechanisms.

Council recognises that we should aim to constantly improve our consultation and involvement processes, to enable the Council to recognise and meet the needs of Birmingham people.

Council therefore resolves

to request the Chief Executive to consider extending the influence of the citizen by providing members of the public with access to an epetition facility, to enable citizens to raise issues directly with the Council.
that this Council expresses an interest in opting into the Sustainable Communities Act 2007. This Council believes that the Act will empower the citizens of Birmingham to participate in the democratic process to bring further services to this city."