Tory-led administration must stop dithering over local democratic reform - Dakers

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 6th Jul 2009

As public patience has been stretched to breaking point by a series of expenses scandals and trust in politicians is at an all time low Hounslow Liberal Democrats are calling for democratic reforms at a locally to help restore confidence in public life. These would support reform at a national and European level.

Cllr Andrew Dakers, Leader of Hounslow Liberal Democrats and Parliamentary Candidate for Brentford & Isleworth Constituency will outline in a series of speeches at public meetings across the constituency this week specific proposals to increase trust in local government and increase citizen participation in Hounslow, including plans for 100 citizens to be given the power to call in council decisions for a scrutiny review.

Cllr Andrew Dakers, Lib Dem parliamentary candidate for Brentford & Isleworth constituency, said:

"Hounslow's Constitution Review Group, chaired by Cllr Mark Bowen, has been sitting on and off for almost three years. But barely any change has flowed from the meetings.

"Public disenchantment and the need for change is huge. Our proposed reforms address key issues of local politicians' accountability and transparency.

"As the low turnout at local elections demonstrates, greater public participation and engagement in decision making is now vital.

"Practical measures such as giving 100 citizens the power to "call in" decisions for scrutiny, regular newsletters from councillors and a reinvigorated 'full council' will help re-establish mutual trust. The changes would also lead to more effective local government."

NOTES TO EDITORS

REFORM OUR LOCAL DEMOCRACY

Cllr Andrew Dakers' and Hounslow Liberal Democrats are proposing to reinvigorate our local democracy with action in a number of key areas:

1. Greater Executive accountability;

2. Reinvigorate full council;

3. Signpost how decisions are made and how citizens can influence decisions;

4. Revise the concept of "consultation" to a new process of "reaching agreement through dialogue";

5. 100 citizen scrutiny call-in;

6. More online democracy;

7. Strengthen links to Youth Council;

8. Transparent links to and monitoring of outside bodies;

9. Empower local area committees;

10. Put the environment at the heart of local government decision-making;

11. Fair allowances and annual reporting;

12. Establish a convention on relations between political parties;

13. Through the Sustainable Communities Act Hounslow should explore changing the local voting system.

Download the full proposals: Reinvigorate our local democracy in Hounslow - http://takebackpowerhounslow.org/Documents/Reinvigorating%20democracy%20in%20Hounslow%20proposals.pdf

Nick Clegg's 100 day plan to reform our democracy

http://www.takebackpower.org/100%20Days%20to%20Save%20Democracy.pdf

The Lib Dems' full agenda to reform the European Union http://europe.libdems.org.uk/sites/default/files/euromanifesto.pdf

All published and summarised online at http://takebackpowerhounslow.org/reform.aspx