Party Politics

[new guy]

To what extent do Party Politics play a role in your council?

Do you get the feeling that business has already been discussed and agreed within (private) Party meetings and the (publicly accountable) Parish Council meeting is being used to green light that business by the controlling Party?

[Alan]

There are no Parties in our Parish Council, if there were I, as chairman would resign and leave the council.

It has no place in Parish councils!

[cath_p]

I disagree with parish councils being in anyway shape or form political however reality is that a lot of them are polically run, fact of life i guess but to be honest whatever political persuasion councllors might be its ultimately the residents that are of prime concern and experience tell me that thats what most parish councillors are about ensuring residents get a fair deal

[richardgarforth]

I would imagine all parish councils are political, to a greater extent rather than lesser.

Everyone who is on the council is participating in local government, everyone was voted on to the council, and therefore will most likely vote themselves in other elections. Threfore you have an leaning to one party or another.

however if you have groups of people that stick together though party allegience and vote against the other side and vice versa, then yes, I would imagine you do have a problem.

So after rambling on a bit, if you have party politics standing in the way of open and sensible discussion then you have a government not a parish council.