HIGH WYCOMBE is a “desert” in which people are denied access to information other areas are privy to owing to the lack of a town council that creates a “democratic deficit”.
Those were the firm sentiments echoed by two local councillors responding to the creation of a new town and parish council charter discussed during a Communities and Localism Select Committee, on Thursday, November 19.
High Wycombe was denied a town council when plans to install one were put on hold in January, according to Disraeli ward member Cllr Khalil Ahmed.
READ MORE: ‘No town council creates democratic deficit’
The shadow executive, set up to make decisions ahead of the formation of the new unitary authority, said a town council should be determined once Buckinghamshire Council was established on April 1.
Cllr Ahmed previously said “neglected” parts of the town needed local representation.
The “live” charter, expected for publication by the end of the year, ‘defines the operational relationship between Buckinghamshire Council and the lower authorities’.
Effective communication between these groups has been critical throughout the pandemic, with relatively new Community Boards playing a key role in relaying local concerns.
But Labour Cllr Muhammad Abdullah Hashmi and Wycombe Independent Cllr Julia Wassell challenged its efficacy given the current council structure.
“As the person who triggered the governance review in November 2019 – me for Totteridge, my colleague for Micklefield – which suddenly got people sitting up to say there was this democratic deficit in High Wycombe, I do feel the [charter] needs to be brought more to the awareness of our Wycombe town committee and Community Board,” said Cllr Wassell.
“The reason for this is our residents are losing out on the kind of trickledown information that people with parish and town councils are receiving.
“Therefore, democratic deficit isn’t just about the structure of the council – it’s the opportunities for residents to take part in local politics and gain local information.
“The sooner this is remedied the better.
“High Wycombe is a desert area in so many respects. But I hold councillors responsible – councillors who’ve had decades to put this issue right in High Wycombe and they’ve failed to do so until myself and one other councillor got up and did something, which excited everybody and now we are where we are.
“But it’s the residents that lose out because of this issue, not county councillors and political parties.”
READ MORE: Tories hit back over claims town has ‘democratic deficit’
Cllr Hashmi added: “The principles being expressed in the town and parish charter are interesting but may be said to be a little meaningless in light of the fact our community has no town or parish council at the moment.”
Conservative Cllr Gareth Williams, cabinet member for communities and public health, said while he understood Cllr Wassell’s perspective, the matter was under review.
Adding: “The High Wycombe Community Board…is one of the most, dare I say it…extremely proactive [Boards].
“I think [it] punches well above its weight…and I don’t think there are any services that have not been flagged through that board and they’re one of the first to plan the Covid recovery strategy as well locally.
“I’m confident on a lot of the very important issues High Wycombe is well served, certainly by the Community Board and the council.”
We’ve launched a new Facebook group for local news junkies, politics fans and everyone who wants to keep up to date with the latest issues affecting High Wycombe. Please join the conversation over at Buckinghamshire Politics
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