Time to put the local back in local government

A Council of 12 people and a Mayor does not have the ability to really understand all the problems in the community.

Efficient and effective local government requires input from people at the grassroots level. They are the ones who understand the problems and issues that they have to deal with every day.  

There are many people in the community who are willing and able to contribute to making the community better, but cannot make the major commitment required to go onto local council. With appropriate recognition and support, these citizens at the grassroots level can solve problems as they arise rather than getting tied up in bureaucracy.

For all these reasons, as Lord Mayor, I am proposing to establish locally based groups to work with council to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of council programs. 

Parks User Groups

I will re-establish local parks and grounds committees, involving all the user groups, (different sports clubs, land care associations etc)  to advise on the management and maintenance of local sports grounds and community spaces. These committees previously existed in Newcastle for many years.  In the last few years they have been shut down and council has stopped listening.  When local user groups talk to each other, they can establish their own priorities for maintenance and improvement to the grounds better than any councillors or bureaucrats. 

Business Associations

Council will reestablish local business associations.  Local business groups can identify the best opportunities for improving or better managing their own local centres.  Bureaucratic interference just makes things difficult. The local businesses know how best to help themselves.  When these local business groups are sorting out their own problems, Council shouldn’t interfere.

Local Community Groups

The City of Newcastle is unique in being a collection of ‘urban villages’, mostly based on old mining towns.  Each village has its own rich character, history, and charm.  Each of our ‘village’ communities within Newcastle should have a local community group that works to identify local issues, solve local problems, and to advocate and coordinate with Council.  Some of our communities already have very effective groups, such as Wickham, Stockton, and Carrington. Other areas of our city need help to establish or reestablish these local committees.

I look forward to these initiatives being ways to enable community-minded citizens to become actively involved in the community, to build local identity, to improve the community for everyone, and to reduce bureaucratic interference in the Community. 

It’s Our Community.  It’s Our Newcastle