Comments on: Parish Polls http://iangrey.org/2008/07/02/parish-polls/ A riotous colour of life's rich tapestry Sun, 23 Nov 2008 13:39:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: IandR http://iangrey.org/2008/07/02/parish-polls/#comment-3821 IandR Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:51:05 +0000 http://iangrey.org/?p=2204#comment-3821 IandR wrote: 2) Increase the proportion of residents who must approve a proposal in order to trigger a referendum (or “poll”). Nigel wrote: Surely it should be more than 50% at a meeting. I agree that there is no reason why 10 people or even 10% should be able to do something, like force a poll, that could cost thousands. ---------------- Just to clarify: We are suggesting that the rules for citizens' poll (parish, town etc.) should be brought in line with fairly standard procedures. There are many examples, e.g. in Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, USA. The only example in UK is the petition for referendum about "boss mayor", form of local council, for which at least 5 percent of electors have to sign. Endorsements (signatures) for a proposal can be collected over a longer period from all registered voters, not only those who attend a parish meeting. Regarding costs of polls and referenda, these estimates should be critically checked. Also, the issues even in parish affairs can involve spending hundreds of thousands of public pounds. IandR wrote: 2) Increase the proportion of residents who must approve a proposal in order to trigger a referendum (or “poll”).
Nigel wrote: Surely it should be more than 50% at a meeting.
I agree that there is no reason why 10 people or even 10% should be able to do something, like force a poll, that could cost thousands.
—————-
Just to clarify: We are suggesting that the rules for citizens’ poll (parish, town etc.) should be brought in line with fairly standard procedures. There are many examples, e.g. in Netherlands, Italy, Switzerland, USA. The only example in UK is the petition for referendum about “boss mayor”, form of local council, for which at least 5 percent of electors have to sign.

Endorsements (signatures) for a proposal can be collected over a longer period from all registered voters, not only those who attend a parish meeting.

Regarding costs of polls and referenda, these estimates should be critically checked. Also, the issues even in parish affairs can involve spending hundreds of thousands of public pounds.

]]> By: Nigel http://iangrey.org/2008/07/02/parish-polls/#comment-3820 Nigel Thu, 03 Jul 2008 17:14:25 +0000 http://iangrey.org/?p=2204#comment-3820 Surely it should be more than 50% at a meeting. I agree that there is no reason why 10 people or even 10% should be able to do something, like force a poll, that could cost thousands. Surely it should be more than 50% at a meeting.
I agree that there is no reason why 10 people or even 10% should be able to do something, like force a poll, that could cost thousands.

]]> By: Shades http://iangrey.org/2008/07/02/parish-polls/#comment-3819 Shades Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:37:30 +0000 http://iangrey.org/?p=2204#comment-3819 Thanks for that, "I&R" Thanks for that, “I&R”

]]> By: IandR http://iangrey.org/2008/07/02/parish-polls/#comment-3817 IandR Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:40:33 +0000 http://iangrey.org/?p=2204#comment-3817 The law governing citizens' referendum and parish polls should be re-written (Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent regulations). Reforms which we suggest: 1) Apply the "initiative and referendum" procedures in cities, counties, towns, districts as well as parishes. 2) Increase the proportion of residents who must approve a proposal in order to trigger a referendum (or "poll"). This might be, say one in ten voters for a small parish, and one in a hundred for a town (a sliding scale is available). This would give more weight to a citizens' proposal (at present as few as ten people can trigger a poll). 3) Also set a reasonable period of time to collect endorsements. 4) Let the elected council debate the proposal and put forward an alternative, approve or reject it. 5) The result of the referendum is treated like a law or order passed by the elected council (so that all powers held by a council may be exercised). More about proposals for democracy reform can be found at http://www.iniref.org The law governing citizens’ referendum and parish polls should be re-written (Local Government Act 1972 and subsequent regulations).

Reforms which we suggest:
1) Apply the “initiative and referendum” procedures in cities, counties, towns, districts as well as parishes.
2) Increase the proportion of residents who must approve a proposal in order to trigger a referendum (or “poll”). This might be, say one in ten voters for a small parish, and one in a hundred for a town (a sliding scale is available). This would give more weight to a citizens’ proposal (at present as few as ten people can trigger a poll).
3) Also set a reasonable period of time to collect endorsements.
4) Let the elected council debate the proposal and put forward an alternative, approve or reject it.
5) The result of the referendum is treated like a law or order passed by the elected council (so that all powers held by a council may be exercised).

More about proposals for democracy reform can be found at http://www.iniref.org

]]> By: Nigel http://iangrey.org/2008/07/02/parish-polls/#comment-3816 Nigel Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:40:27 +0000 http://iangrey.org/?p=2204#comment-3816 It is more the handling of the meeting that concerned me. There was a majority of people in favour of the petition. Yet on the only reason for the meeting, and it was bungled. Either through incompetence or some other reason. It is more the handling of the meeting that concerned me. There was a majority of people in favour of the petition. Yet on the only reason for the meeting, and it was bungled. Either through incompetence or some other reason.

]]> By: Shades http://iangrey.org/2008/07/02/parish-polls/#comment-3815 Shades Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:04:08 +0000 http://iangrey.org/?p=2204#comment-3815 I was hoping to link in to Morleytoday which should explain that, but it isn't working at the mo. I was hoping to link in to Morleytoday which should explain that, but it isn’t working at the mo.

]]> By: Buck Tarbrush http://iangrey.org/2008/07/02/parish-polls/#comment-3814 Buck Tarbrush Wed, 02 Jul 2008 19:57:30 +0000 http://iangrey.org/?p=2204#comment-3814 You could have mentioned they are non-binding, just a mere test of public opinion. You could have mentioned they are non-binding, just a mere test of public opinion.

]]>