I've just had a look at the forum and the website and wanted to say well done to everyone involved. Community web sites are growing in numbers and importance and can play a part in keeping our local democracy healthy.
e democracy and e government are key issues for me and I recently became chair of London Connects which brings together public bodies across London to work on them - http://www.londonconnects.gov.uk/e-gove ... london.cfm
Best Wishes
Steve
Congratulations!
so have you looked us up on a map then Steve? Can you work out where that place "Sydenham" is? You used to represent it as a councillor. Remember? Not that you ever did anything for us.
Have you learned to write yet? You must have an immense pile of unanswered letters concerning Sydenham.
Oh dear I have an intense feeling I am going to throw up.....
Have you learned to write yet? You must have an immense pile of unanswered letters concerning Sydenham.
Oh dear I have an intense feeling I am going to throw up.....
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GLOBAL THINKER
- Posts: 179
- Joined: 2 Nov 2004 13:20
- Location: SYDENHAM
Whilst I don't agree with Knightons comments I can understand his anger, to have the Mayor contribute to the site so near to local elections is to put it frankly, insulting. Sydenham has one the best community websites in London and instead of encouraging his councillors to contribute we virtually hear nothing throughout the year. I have a labour councillor living on my road, though you wouldn't know it, maybe my view of him is obscured by the mini motorbikes and feral kids 
!! No doubt he will be popping by in the next few days. All I can say is let the voting commence 
.
On a personal note to Steve, this website is used by people who care about their community and high street we would like to hear from you more often. E government indeed!
!! No doubt he will be popping by in the next few days. All I can say is let the voting commence . On a personal note to Steve, this website is used by people who care about their community and high street we would like to hear from you more often. E government indeed!
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Paddy Pantsdown
- Posts: 204
- Joined: 1 Oct 2004 10:04
- Location: Venner Road
I'm not surprised you haven't received answers to your letters Knighton. I wouldn't bother to reply to your negative and boorish comments if I were them.Knighton wrote:Have you learned to write yet? You must have an immense pile of unanswered letters concerning Sydenham
Frankly I have never had a problem getting replies from Cllr Best, Mayor Bullock or MP Dowd so it must be personal. If you are thinking I am an apologist for them then check back. Those responses were mostly to letters critiquing their actions.
You too have appeared out of nowhere when an election happens. The Forum has generally been of thoughtful and sensible comment even if I disagreed with much of it. Think about it and see if you can raise your game. Unimpressive as the choices are at this election a choice has to be made even if it is spoiling a ballot or staying away. What are you going to do?
And what are you about Global Thinker? I usually respect your contributions but I think you failed to notice the Mayor's comments were made nearly TWO YEARS prior to the election. Can we have some real political debate rather than somewhat inaccurate jibes?GLOBAL THINKER wrote:Whilst I don't agree with Knightons comments I can understand his anger, to have the Mayor contribute to the site so near to local elections is to put it frankly, insulting.
I have only just appeared since I have only just found the site. That has no bearing on the election and if you had noticed this was not the first thread I posted on. I found this little gem after exploring the site for a while.
I am interested to hear you had responses from the Labour clique. Did action follow? An elected representative has a responsiblity to respond equally to all constituents. If they fail to do so they are unfit to hold the position.
Brevity is a must on sites such as this. The point of the brevity is to hold attention. A touch of sarcasm after 18 years of neglect of your area is very much called for. Just look around you.
I am interested to hear you had responses from the Labour clique. Did action follow? An elected representative has a responsiblity to respond equally to all constituents. If they fail to do so they are unfit to hold the position.
Brevity is a must on sites such as this. The point of the brevity is to hold attention. A touch of sarcasm after 18 years of neglect of your area is very much called for. Just look around you.
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Paddy Pantsdown
- Posts: 204
- Joined: 1 Oct 2004 10:04
- Location: Venner Road
I'll give you two guesses!Knighton wrote:I am interested to hear you had responses from the Labour clique. Did action follow?
I wouldn't have expected the other lot to do much better. I feel the problem is deeper than that. Many of our politicians did get elected to serve and had ideals with which we would probably both agree.
The system makes them largely ineffective in representing local interest. Central government provides most of the money and the targets so they can't help seeing them (whether Blair or Thatcher driven) as the 'customer' rather than us. The piper always calls the tune.
A real problem was the amalgamation of LAs in the 60s & 70s. This was sensible at the time in sacrificing local accountability for the economies of scale in running schools, refuse disposal, housing etc. The problem is that has now changed. Many services are or could be outsourced to specialist suppliers. So you could return to Sydenham sized local authorities controlling service delivery from larger well organised providers. The French Mairie in almost every High Street is an example of where in an otherwise highly centralised government the local mayor really is important and will change the local environment for the better. Or receive a nasty segment of it in the neck as they walk to work!
My problem is, even if you agree with my analysis, how do we move from where we are? Powerlessness is what I feel. I'm not even sure what to do with that pencil and paper on May 4th.
Ideas?
I am vexed by the same problem. I believe the underlying problem lies not in Local Government but within the Civil Service where real power lies.
Take a look at the NHS. It has been reorganised on 19th Centruy Local Government principles. Why? Because appointed management is the preferred instrument of the mandarins. Why? Because they are not seen as competing. Hence we have centralising of local services into the control of pseudo regional quangos. Commisioners under another name.
In fact there are virtually no services that cannot be delivered well by a borough wide administration. It has, though, to be set up to be essentially democratic in nature and efficient. I do not agree that a local Sydenham council would be effective. There is an optimum size for a local authority due to the cost of the democratic process itself. Lewisham is probably about the right size if it had control of all its services instead of the London County Mayor having them.
The answers are simple to define but not so simple to implement. I would scrap the Civil Service in its present form and reform parliament to remove power from the executive. I would abolish any form of regional administration (goodbye Red Ken) and replace it with an English parliament to give England equal status with its dependent provinces (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland). I would abolish the power of the mayor and reintroduce the local council - albeit reformed.
For that reason I shall be voting for the only candidate offering achievable steps towards this... the independent John Hamilton.
When it comes to candidates for councillors I despair. We have been offered the choice of a bunch who have done nothing against a bunch who seem capable of nothing. One, at least, appears to be a religious "oddity". One is a flat-earther with a distorted view of reality. Since councillors at present claim to wield no influence perhaps this is understandable.
Take a look at the NHS. It has been reorganised on 19th Centruy Local Government principles. Why? Because appointed management is the preferred instrument of the mandarins. Why? Because they are not seen as competing. Hence we have centralising of local services into the control of pseudo regional quangos. Commisioners under another name.
In fact there are virtually no services that cannot be delivered well by a borough wide administration. It has, though, to be set up to be essentially democratic in nature and efficient. I do not agree that a local Sydenham council would be effective. There is an optimum size for a local authority due to the cost of the democratic process itself. Lewisham is probably about the right size if it had control of all its services instead of the London County Mayor having them.
The answers are simple to define but not so simple to implement. I would scrap the Civil Service in its present form and reform parliament to remove power from the executive. I would abolish any form of regional administration (goodbye Red Ken) and replace it with an English parliament to give England equal status with its dependent provinces (Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland). I would abolish the power of the mayor and reintroduce the local council - albeit reformed.
For that reason I shall be voting for the only candidate offering achievable steps towards this... the independent John Hamilton.
When it comes to candidates for councillors I despair. We have been offered the choice of a bunch who have done nothing against a bunch who seem capable of nothing. One, at least, appears to be a religious "oddity". One is a flat-earther with a distorted view of reality. Since councillors at present claim to wield no influence perhaps this is understandable.
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GLOBAL THINKER
- Posts: 179
- Joined: 2 Nov 2004 13:20
- Location: SYDENHAM
Ahh Paddy,And what are you about Global Thinker? I usually respect your contributions but I think you failed to notice the Mayor's comments were made nearly TWO YEARS prior to the election.
It's nice to know my posts are respected, but even you can't deny to copy and post a message written nearly two years ago (agreed, an oversight on my part) is still somewhat disappointing from a contribution point of view. If Steve
did this two years ago and was impressed, I would be interested to hear his comments since 2004!I've just had a look at the forum and the website
Too embarrassed to say GT. Just last month Steve was very complimentary about the Forum in front of around 500 guests when we were finalists in the Mayor's category for the Lewisham Business Awards. Not enough to win - and he blew it comprehensively by giving his prize a <surprise>FOREST HILL</surprise> lady. So after helpful support over the last couple of years - he lost a vote hereGLOBAL THINKER wrote: If Steve "I've just had a look at the forum and the website" did this two years ago and was impressed, I would be interested to hear his comments since 2004!
If you want to see Steve go a funny colour - ask him about the Lewisham Council website.
Admin
PS I have split off a followup thread on Lewisham websites to here: http://forum.sydenham.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=528
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GLOBAL THINKER
- Posts: 179
- Joined: 2 Nov 2004 13:20
- Location: SYDENHAM
