“Councillors on the Frontline”
Debate between Jason McCartney and Mark Pawsey(11 years, 3 months ago)
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Mark Pawsey
My hon. Friend is entirely right, and my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow East (Bob Blackman) also referred to the community’s lack of interest in the work of the council. Ultimately, I suppose, the newspapers would say, “If people want to read about it, we will print it,” but it is important for councils to give them information. We know the pressures that newspapers are under; if councils can put the information in a valuable form there is a greater chance that the local papers will use it.
Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)
My local newspaper, The Huddersfield Daily Examiner, is tweeting from a planning meeting at Kirklees council, which reminds me of the fact that a couple of the new councillors are professionals in their 40s who run their own businesses. There they are, having to give up a whole day, potentially, of paid work, to work on behalf of their community and make the right decisions on a planning committee. Does my hon. Friend agree that we need to think about how to get people of that age group—professionals who are still working—making such important local decisions?
Mark Pawsey
Absolutely. My hon. Friend has identified how councillors are adopting new methods of communication to make certain that their residents know exactly what hard work they are doing.
We have had a valuable debate and, I hope, recognised the role of councillors. I look forward to the remarks of the Minister and shadow Minister.
Oral Answers to Questions
Debate between Jason McCartney and Mark Pawsey
Jason McCartney (Colne Valley) (Con)
2. What assessment he has made of the potential benefits to Kirklees district of the new homes bonus.
Mark Pawsey (Rugby) (Con)
3. What assessment he has made of the potential benefits to Rugby of the new homes bonus.