Local elections delayed is democracy denied | Letters
The cancellation of local elections (Some councillors in England could stay for more than extra year under shake-up plans, 5 February) means that the government and those council leaders who will gain most from the planned reorganisation will not have to face voters to justify the cost to them.The proposed mergers of district councils and splitting up of county councils to form new unitary councils was examined in a PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) report commissioned by the County Councils Network in 2020.This showed that all the options to create multiple unitary councils were extremely expensive and disruptive.PwC predicted that the loss of economies of scale at county level would cost billions across the country.With local government already on its knees, spending a fortune on a reorganisation to create a more costly alternative is the last thing we need.
Our local council has had to set aside millions to pay for these changes.Who will tell us what benefits offset the extraordinary costs?Richard GilyeadSaffron Walden, Essex A well-run local authority is a pleasing experience.The borough council of King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, where I live, is in my opinion, one such council.The proposal to create a huge unitary authority of Norfolk and Suffolk is not the enhancing devolution experienced by Andy Burnham’s Manchester.Norwich will predominate and the margins will suffer.
As a former resident of Cambridgeshire, I would say its elected mayor struggled to show any interest in the poorer rural areas in the north of the county.I am sure the Labour government has an agenda, but this is not devolution.The fact that certain county councils appear to be embracing this possibly speaks more of executives’ and senior officers’ personal ambitions rather than improvements for the majority of residents.I do not want my opportunity to influence to be excised through cancelled elections.Anthony SaundersKing’s Lynn, Norfolk It is possible that the changes to local government are necessary, and even democratically beneficial.
What is not acceptable is delaying local elections in some areas because the new system is not ready to go,By deciding to delay the elections rather than delay the implementation of the new system until the next scheduled election date, Angela Rayner has chosen to subvert the democratic process and deny millions the opportunity to express their views through the ballot box,Democracy delayed is democracy denied,I would not welcome the predicted increase in voter share by Reform UK, but better that and allow voters their say than deny them their democratic rights,Perhaps voters should be allowed a council tax “holiday” while they are denied any say in how their taxes are spent.
Rodney LambertRomsey, Hampshire Local government reorganisation is a double whammy for 5 million people in England (Editorial, 6 February).First, they have been deprived of their right to vote in May and, second, they haven’t been consulted about who represents them in their area.Devolution isn’t just about boosting economic growth, it should also be about listening to and strengthening local communities, and maximising their input into the decisions that affect them.So far, that aspect of devolution has been ignored.Tom BrakeDirector, Unlock Democracy Have an opinion on anything you’ve read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
Diaries at the ready: Samuel West lined up to star in Beckett play... in 2036
When it comes to forward planning, a new arts festival is going well beyond normal expectations.The organisers of the Beckett Biennale, which from next year will celebrate the great Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, are this weekend naming the actor who is signed up to star in a 2036 production of Krapp’s Last Tape at their sixth festival. And, in a unique coup de théâtre, Samuel West will be giving a performance that he has already partially recorded: in fact, he did it 19 years ago.Beckett’s daring short play, one of his most popular works after Waiting for Godot, revolves around the thoughts of Krapp, who at 69 listens to a recording made by his younger self back on his 39th birthday. Writing in 1958, Beckett gave most of the dialogue to this disembodied voice from the past
Artists decry ‘irresponsible’ plans to demolish brutalist Midlands tower
Artists and conservation groups have decried the “irresponsible” plan to tear down a brutalist arts tower at a Midlands university, saying the proposed redevelopment is overlooking the “massive historical significance” of the structure.The University of Wolverhampton has earmarked the nine-storey School of Art, which is also known as the George Wallis building, for demolition as part of a “radical” expansion proposal. But it has faced opposition from the Twentieth Century Society, which has submitted a listing application to Historic England that could prevent its destruction.Built between 1966 and 1970 and designed by Diamond, Redfern & Partners, the building sits beside Wolverhampton Wanderers’ Molineux Stadium and is one of a small number of brutalist buildings of its type that remain in good condition.“This is an excellent surviving example of a postwar art school that has remained in its original use and survives in very good condition, and is loved by both staff and students,” a Twentieth Century Society spokesperson said
‘I’m in my early 20s most of the time… totally up for it!’: Tamsin Greig on ageing, caring and learning bass guitar
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Come early, leave early: a gen X dance party that ends at 10pm is taking off across the US
Founded in Chicago by two friends in their 40s, Earlybirds Club gives people an opportunity to let loose without interfering with responsibilitiesThe signature tequila cocktail is called a Hot Flash. The playlist skews towards nostalgic hits from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. Cis men are politely asked to just stay away.Founded in Chicago by two friends in their 40s, the Earlybirds Club is a party designed for women and trans and non-binary people who have jobs and responsibilities that start early in the morning – but who still want a chance to dance crazily with their friends.The dancing starts at 6pm and ends around 10
‘It’s a gut punch’: how the California wildfires affected film and TV workers
When Sandra French returned to her beloved 1930s apartment, she found the building reduced to rubble and ash. “It was so weird,” she recalls. “Out of the rubble, there was a little bright object. It was a pencil holder I bought in Italy, I believe, in 2008 and was sticking up in the air. That was the only thing that survived the fire
Why are ‘friendly neighbourhood cats’ appearing on Google Maps all of a sudden?
Sanjana, I hear all the cool kids are going to a new Sydney landmark called “friendly orange cat”. What is this new kitty club and how do I get in?That’s right, Emma. Locals are putting friendly felines on the map, literally. They’re listing good-natured suburban cats as tourist attractions on Google Maps, with photos, ideal viewing times and reviews, so others can find these adorable furry friends too.There is no shortage of interest either, with locals making the trek to see these “hidden gems”
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