Does a lack of legitimate opposition undermine local government?

 

I find myself in the interesting position that my house straddles the boundary between 2 parliamentary constituencies, Southend West & Leigh and Castle Point, and as a result I feel part of both communities and take an interest in local issues affecting both councils.

The current status of Castle Point Council is particularly interesting. Before last May the Council was run by a coalition between the Canvey Island Independent Party representing various wards on the Island and The People’s Independent Party representing various wards across the rest of the Council area. There was also a group of Conservative councillors who formed the opposition to this administration.

In the run up to the elections in May 2024 a decision was taken to hold “all up elections” rather than having staggered elections over three years. There is obviously a question of the democratic accountability of an “all up” election as it can mean that the result is swung by the national mood and results in no opportunity for the local electorate to make change for four years.

In this case the Canvey Independents won all available seats on the Island and the People’s Independent Party won all seats across the rest of the area with a wipe out of the Conservatives and no success for any of the other national parties.

This meant that the People’s Independent Party had an overall majority and could have been expected to take over the Council with the Canvey Independents forming the opposition.  However these two groups decided to continue their joint arrangement sharing out cabinet posts between the 2 groups and with a Canvey Councillor becoming the Council Leader.

The bizarre outcome of this decision is that there is no opposition and this will continue for the next four years! It was the Council of Europe’s Forum for the Future of Democracy which previously commented that “Opposition is an important part of democracy..”. It ensures that the policies and actions of the Administration are subject to robust scrutiny and challenge from elected councillors and the current arrangement in Castle Point must be perceived as undemocratic and extremely concerning.

Whilst I have previously commented on the unsatisfactory nature of “Independent” candidates in local government it is surely the case that the People’s Independent Party should honour the mandate they have been given and assume sole control of the Council allowing the remaining councillors to become a robust and conscientious opposition.