Originally Posted by Aardvark

BC



So BC you've never been to Eastern Europe then and have never dealt with any members of the local executive. You are unaware of the powers of local councillors in any eastern European country and have no idea how each country runs its structures.

In fact, with the exception of North Korea, we have the most centralised financial control in the world.

Where there is centralised control of policy, such as Belarus, there is 'universal madness'. You have to go to the various countries and see how they operate to realise a sweeping statement such as yours is utterly wrong.

Originally Posted by Northumbrian

So I take it then, you're opposed to the federal systems in the USA, Australia, Canada etc.?

Originally Posted by Northumbrian

And who is going to be available to answer the concerns of local residents? The local MP's surgery wouldn't be able to cope, and that's assuming he's not away all the time at Westminster dealing with all the extra issues.

Originally Posted by British-Conservatism

I support a Federal UK.

Originally Posted by Little Englander (sour)

Your system is far, far too reliant upon computers.

Originally Posted by Aardvark

BC


Doesn't answer the question. What is your definition of 'Eastern Europe'? What did you do whilst you were there? Tourism doesn't qualify you to talk of other people's political systems.



Not sure what you mean. Who is 'they' and what powers are they handing over and to whom?



Nor do I, but I'm not sure which authorities you are on about. All councillors on English local authorities are elected by a first past the post system, albeit on a low turnout. As you said, the turnout is frequently only 20%. Democracy includes the right not to vote if you don't want to. If you're not happy then get elected and change things.



Parishes still raise a council tax precept which has to be collected and administered. When I was a parish councillor (8 years) the district council collected the money for us and handed it over to us to administer.

In your centralised system schools admissions, for instance, would be controlled by Westminster. Where would a parent from Newcastle upon Tyne go to register his or her child if all local government powers were centralised? How would they appeal against allocation? I sit on a Schools Admission Appeals panel that is administered within the county council.

All job interviews for all teachers at all schools in England would take place in London. All firemen would be recruited in London. Social services would be covered from London. Decisions on road building would be covered from London - down to the last pothole! Environmental health inspections would be carried out from London. All council house allocations would be done from Westminster.

This centralisation would lead to phenomenal increases in overall taxarion, create mass unemployment in the regions, lead to ever more overcrowding in London and would not make anything more efficient. Indeed things would grind to a halt in the counties.

Having sat as a director of a NHS PCT (over 5 years) the big problems were created by too much centralisation of power and having to obey orders from the DoH. The problems local government has are made worse by having to fulfil too many government guidelines with little consideration of local circumstances. It was central government dictates that frequently took us over budget when I was a District Councillor (4 years); we'd plan one thing and half way through the financial year have to find funding for something else.

There is more decentralisation in some of the eastern European and former Soviet countries I have worked in (Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia, Armenia, Georgia,Latvia, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo) than there is in our country.

Originally Posted by Aardvark

BC


Doesn't answer the question. What is your definition of 'Eastern Europe'? What did you do whilst you were there? Tourism doesn't qualify you to talk of other people's political systems.



Not sure what you mean. Who is 'they' and what powers are they handing over and to whom?



Nor do I, but I'm not sure which authorities you are on about. All councillors on English local authorities are elected by a first past the post system, albeit on a low turnout. As you said, the turnout is frequently only 20%. Democracy includes the right not to vote if you don't want to. If you're not happy then get elected and change things.



Parishes still raise a council tax precept which has to be collected and administered. When I was a parish councillor (8 years) the district council collected the money for us and handed it over to us to administer.

In your centralised system schools admissions, for instance, would be controlled by Westminster. Where would a parent from Newcastle upon Tyne go to register his or her child if all local government powers were centralised? How would they appeal against allocation? I sit on a Schools Admission Appeals panel that is administered within the county council.

All job interviews for all teachers at all schools in England would take place in London. All firemen would be recruited in London. Social services would be covered from London. Decisions on road building would be covered from London - down to the last pothole! Environmental health inspections would be carried out from London. All council house allocations would be done from Westminster.

This centralisation would lead to phenomenal increases in overall taxarion, create mass unemployment in the regions, lead to ever more overcrowding in London and would not make anything more efficient. Indeed things would grind to a halt in the counties.

Having sat as a director of a NHS PCT (over 5 years) the big problems were created by too much centralisation of power and having to obey orders from the DoH. The problems local government has are made worse by having to fulfil too many government guidelines with little consideration of local circumstances. It was central government dictates that frequently took us over budget when I was a District Councillor (4 years); we'd plan one thing and half way through the financial year have to find funding for something else.

There is more decentralisation in some of the eastern European and former Soviet countries I have worked in (Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Russia, Armenia, Georgia,Latvia, Macedonia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Albania, Kosovo) than there is in our country.

Originally Posted by Northumbrian

How? You've listed all the services you'd hand over to central government.