What can local people do about absurd counsellors

[Vallies]

Obviously use their vote, but you can only vote for what you're given.

Until recently we had a Labour led council. I am generally left leaning, and didn't hate him. I think he believes in the town, which is something many don't but he's not very professional in the way he approaches things/what he says.

Now we have a Reform led council and the new leader and the old leader are on SM throwing insults at each other multiple times a day. They both believe they have 'dirt' on the other and are constantly hinting at what it might be. Afaik neither has made any complaint that would lead to an investigation.

Meantime the town's services....

Well I’m afraid if any council voted in reform they should expect this. They are the party of negativity and insults. The services will go to shit and if that’s what’s going to make people realise and not vote for them in a general election then so be it.

I have a reform councillor. Since May he’s attended no meetings, held no surgeries and collected the wage.

How are these people even allowed to take the piss like this?

And yet people still think Andy’s idea for devolution of power to regional councils is a good idea. 🥴

Devolving power to local areas is democratically sound. If powers are devolved, local voters would have more reason to engage - turnout currently can be extremely low.

In Ashington a "no show" rule meant the Reform councillor was kicked out after failing to attend any meetings for 6 months - they're having another by election in October. I dunno if that rule is a nationwide thing.

I think screwing up local councils so comprehensively has led to the decrease in public support nationally. It’s actually a very good thing even though I know it doesn’t feel it at the moment.

We also have councillors slinging insults at each other on SM. For us it’s the Greens v seemingly everyone else.

@Vallies The answer is to get more involved and talk to neighbours. The previous councillor may still be active in your area - you could support them in their efforts to get re-elected.

As for 'you only get what you're given' - local groups often choose who stands - you can get involved in that process.

Report them to the council's monitoring officer for the online abuse, take screenshots of it.

A lot of Reform councillors are an absolute joke, not serious or reliable people, and have left office already. I called ours out to his face for using directly copy and pasted ChatGPT responses in an online post on Facebook about local planning, trafffic and cycle lanes. Had twee little symbols and everything.