Upon taking over the lead of Southwark Council Labour decided to set up a democracy commission. They feel council assembly is rather dull. I tend t agree with them on that.

The majority of the decision making powers  is with what was called the Excecutive and now Cabinet of 10 councillors. Saying council assembly is dull is a pretty natural conclusion of power not reciding with council assembly.

Saying that a few ideas that the Lib Dems have proposed to increase interest: 

·   Lobby government about the Localism Bill which plans to free up local authorities from centrally controlled rules.

·   Petitions and deputations – reduce the number of signatures needed to present a petition to full council from 3000 to 500 for a borough wide issue and 100 for a ward issue.  Allow petitioners to present instead of councillors.  Allow deputations to ask questions of the Cabinet.

·   Questions and Motions – allow more time for members’ questions with the possibility for two supplementals. Introduce half an hour of public questions from the gallery.  Allow more urgent questions to the Leader from councillors so that more topical issues can be discussed.

·   Publicity and information – make the paperwork in the gallery more helpful with a simple leaflet explaining procedure, format and order and have a member of constitutional staff in the gallery as people arrive to explain the process. Actively invite community groups/TRAs/residents to come and ask questions.

·   Place statutory reports and constitutional items at end of meetings to make sure the early part of the meeting is focused on the parts which the public find most interesting.

·   Hold council assembly in different locations across the borough and publicising it better to help ensure greater public attendance.  

·   Have a joint meeting with Southwark Youth Council and let them have a role in agenda setting.

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Also to allow community councils to feed in to full council more formally. For example if there is an issue to be debated at full council, ensure views from community councils are include.

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What do you think would attract you to attend full council assembly?