Arrogance, councils and the way things are run 25 March 2008
Posted by Anders Hanson in Politics, Sheffield.Tags: councillors, graves park, labour, liberal democrats, officers, paul license, Politics, Sheffield, st lukes hospice
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The row over the proposed move of St. Luke’s Hospice’s to Graves Park is of course a huge issue in Sheffield at the moment. There has been a lot written about it, but this comment piece by Paul License, editor of the Sheffield Star, is one of the best. It’s succinct and sums up many of the wider issues about the way that Sheffield is run of which the Graves Park row is just one example.
I also advise that you read the comments, particularly comment 31 from Dave Flanagan. The Liberal Democrats may not be perfect, but I like to think that the way that we operate things is nothing like the arrogant way that Labour does.
But this article isn’t just about political control but also reflects on the role of council officers. It has always been a convention in local politics that you don’t criticise the council officers as they aren’t public figures and are purely employed to carry out the political will of the party in charge. That’s fine in theory, but in reality many councils (and I believe that Sheffield is one) are heavily led by council officers and what they want. In many cases this works fine as much of what a council does is non-controversial and many officers do an excellent job and have a good instinct for what is the right thing to do. But unfortunately there are many officers, and I have spoken to a number, who share the Labour arrogance and work on the basis that as they are professionally trained and therefore only they could possibly know what was in the interests of the general public and so politicians and the public should not interfere. It may be true that council officers are professionally qualified, but knowing how to follow the relevant regulations and legislation may not necessarily be the same as knowing what is the best thing to do.
A perfect council would be one where there are good politicians who instinctively understand the people who elect them and have a vision of where they want the city to go working with council officers who are professionally qualified, hardworking and innovative but are prepared to be guided by the politicians who have been elected by the people. Both of these sets of people though have to be listeners who go out and talk to normal people and find out what they want, actively seek opinions on things that are happening in the community and the city, and who are prepared to admit when they are wrong. If this happens effectively then you avoid the arrogance and refusal to listen that has been the hallmark of the Graves Park issue so far.
Finally, apologies for people who read this blog who aren’t from Sheffield and have no interest in its politics. I am aware that this blog has become a lot more opinionated on Sheffield issues lately, and has spent a lot of time overtly pushing the Lib Dem cause and criticising the opposition. It isn’t my normal style on here as although I am clearly partisan I am not blinkered and will criticise my own party where it is needed. But with the local elections only a few weeks away and with the likelihood that it will be exceptionally close Sheffield’s political issues are the things that are uppermost in my mind.
Yes a very hot potato in Sheffield,although I’m not it is as party political as you suggest. Many years ago (1996 I think) I was involved in a proposal to redevelop the Norton nurseries into an organic market gardening project to produce low cost local organic fruit and vegetables for ‘food desert’ communities in the city- I was a director of Heeley City Farm. There was complete opposition to the proposal from F.GP and the local community. As I recall opposition really was as much against ‘the type of people involved’ and impact on house values as anything of principal. The site, was and remains over a decade on under utilised, a poor use of community facilities. May l suggest this is the underlying desire of locals.
As for arrogance and Mr Flanagans , Brightside Mafia ’shock, horror’, this is surely the knock about stuff of an upcoming local election. After all it not just myself who recognises the Lib Dems Ad Hominum approach to electioneering; check out the Glasgow Media Monitoring Groups work in this area. Mr Scriven is a negative campaigner by instinct.
Interesting blog Anders
Thanks Carl for your comments.
As I don’t know the detail of your attempt to use Norton Nurseries I am not in a position to comment on why you were refused back in 1996 and whether that was fair or just down to snobbery (which I think was your implication). However, given the widespread concern about the use of Graves Park by St. Luke’s from across the city and not just by the local community, I think the objections are of a different nature from the ones that you had.
You accuse me of using this blog for knock about politics. From your comment “interesting blog” I assume you will have read more and seen the tone of what I normally write. It isn’t usually my style to engage in knock about politics just for the sake of it. I tend to just write about whatever is on my mind at the time, although admittedly I have written more lately that is overtly party political because these issues are uppermost in my mind.
Although my blog is not intended as a mouthpiece of the Liberal Democrats, I disagree strongly with you on your characterisation of Paul Scriven. I think it is the nature of Sheffield’s very confrontational politics that whoever is leader of the biggest opposition party will be characterised as being negative and this impression is not dispelled by press reporting. However as someone who knows Paul Scriven well I can honestly say that he has a very positive view of the city and where it should be heading. If the Liberal Democrats win control of the city council, he will make an excellent council leader.
Anders, your right about how the leader of the main opposition will inevitably be portrayed as somewhat negative.
First of all, whenever anything goes wrong in the Council Paul is usually the first one they come to - and so they should. That’s the official oppositions job. But also press releases often get a bit sensationalised when it comes round to writing the article and headlines. For example, it’s not unexpected for a press release to go out “calling” for something which gets tuned into “Lib Dems slam Labour”.
That’s the nature of some sections of the press who are all about selling papers, and long may it continue!