9:13am Thursday 18th March 2010
By Chris Wickham
With the campaigning for the Richmond Council elections set to begin in ernest the borough Conservative opposition have set out a series of pledges to “put people first”.
Councillor Nick True, leader of the borough Tories, has promised to put “listening at the heart” of everything his party would do if they were to win the ballot on May 6 and his party have also set out a plan to change the way council meetings are run.
Coun True said: “Everywhere I go I hear complaints about the arrogance of this unpopular council. They do not listen, they think the town hall knows best, they are wrong.
“The borough belongs to the people and we will put them in control.”
Coun True made six commitments, including asking every taxpayer what their priorities should be for their first year in office what their priorities are, to meet the public directly and to reply publicly to any petitions put before the authority.
Councillor Geoffrey Samuel, deputy leader, said at meetings of full council residents will be allowed to raise ward concerns, members’ questions will alternate between parties and some key decisions will be referred to all councillors rather than just cabinet.
He added motions would be scrapped and there would be a council to “serve the people”.
Councillor Serge Lourie, leader of Richmond Council, said his party was committed to consultation, which went beyond the minimum legally required in licensing and planning, and used the academies programme as an example.
He added: “I am delighted that the Tories have been converted to the merits of consultation as their previous administration consulted on the future of town centre managers and then took no notice of the result.
“They consulted on the council tax and yet increased it by record amounts and built up enormous reserves that we are now investing to the benefit of local residents.”
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