The Stationers'​ Company’s Post

Democracy is not a spectator sport. Our communities thrive when everyone feels they have a stake in the future. With council elections just around the corner, the Municipal Association of Victoria, wants to empower people from all backgrounds to get involved with local democracy. We’re proud to launch the Citizen to Councillor Guide, to encourage more diverse voices in local government and ensure our councils reflect the people they serve. This guide provides essential information on how to get involved and make your voice heard – whether as a council candidate or an active citizen in your community. There are tips on what it takes to be a councillor, how to organise community meetings, and how you can get to know, support, or influence your local candidates on the issues you care about. Victoria has an incredibly rich diversity of cultures, with more than 200 countries of origin, over 290 languages and dialects spoken, and 314 ancestries represented. We want people of all ages, cultures and genders to get involved. Having more perspectives and diverse life experiences at council level, strengthens local democracy and social cohesion. This guide fits into one of our ten enabling priorities set out in the MAV’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan – to amplify the importance of active local democracy. We believe that every voice deserves to be heard, and every perspective valued. We hope this guide will help inform, engage and empower people to be active citizens in their communities. You can download your copy here: https://lnkd.in/gWcC_HKQ #localdemocracy #localgovernment #shapingourfuture #cityleaders Dr Todd Fernando Professor Tomás Daly Dr Niki Vincent Cathy Oke Australian Local Government Association Council of Capital City Lord Mayors Melissa H. Ika Idris Ika Trijsburg LGPro VIC (Local Government Professionals)

Democracy is not a spectator sport. Our relationship with government has become increasingly transactional and rich with expectations for what “they” should be doing for “us”. But so very often, “they” are just the “us” that have taken the initiative and have (to quote Kelly Grigsby) “the intestinal fortitude” to step up to serve us. YES there are many (MANY) things that need to improve across all level and jurisdictions of our governments. And yes there are an overwhelming (!!) number of factors that make the thought or act of serving/volunteering/contributing too hard. In an era of growing stress, disruption and volatility in our climate, economies, communities, technologies and democracy I believe the only way we get through it together is for more productive collaboration, more active participation, more constructive connection with many of our existing and imperfect systems. Government is a tool for the people. It takes effort to learn how complicated tools work. Perhaps some better user manuals can help us learn to wield our tools more wisely.

The Combined Authority is one month old! 🎉 Over the last few weeks, we’ve been listening to your questions, and we want to provide some answers as we move towards mayoral elections on 2nd May. 💬 You’ve asked: Is the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority replacing City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council? 🗨️ No. We work closely with these local authorities to deliver devolution to York and North Yorkshire. 🔓 Devolution is unlocking new funding and using powers transferring from Westminster to tackle important issues like transport, create more affordable homes, improve skills and training, support businesses and to help the economy transition to net zero 🌱. We are a legally recognised, single body created by these councils to work together across York and North Yorkshire and we don’t replace them. We’re working with your local authority to address the issues that matter to you, in your area, from the dales to the city and the coast and everywhere in between. 🗳️ You can vote for a mayor to lead the Combined Authority in the election taking place on Thursday 2 May. ➡️ Find out more about the election, our work and the role of the mayor here: https://hubs.ly/Q02pgKXX0 #GetReadyToVote #YourVoteMatters #yourvote #yourmayor #youryorkandnorthyorkshire

BLOG: "If we want to create areas that work for everyone, we must seize the opportunities created by these recent elections to ensure our system is being used for the good of everyone." Read Victoria Hills MRTPI FICE FRSA MCMI CMgr latest blog 👇 https://lnkd.in/eNGgNG3H #localelections #housing #councillors

🚨 Harborplace Redevelopment Halted: Is Baltimore Sacrificing Progress for Confusing Politics? 🚨 A judge just ruled the Baltimore City charter referendum on overhauling Harborplace unconstitutional, citing confusing language. The $500M redevelopment was poised to transform our iconic waterfront, but now it's in limbo. 🏙️ Is the real issue the referendum’s wording, or are there deeper forces at play? 🧐 While some argue public parkland should be preserved, others believe this project is essential for the revitalization of Baltimore’s economic future. Will this ruling protect our public spaces, or does it undermine progress? What are your thoughts? Should the city appeal or rethink the entire approach? #CRE #Baltimore #RealEstate #Harborplace #DevelopmentDebate #UrbanRevitalization

The election is over. With a Labour government in Westminster and a Labour mayor at the helm of the English capital, one can't help but ponder the potential for a significant increase in affordable housing during the next decade of London's ongoing regeneration, as passionately emphasized in the Labour manifesto. Yet, it remains to be seen whether this vision will come to fruition. What we can anticipate, however, is a more harmonious London Plan that aligns with the Whitehall’s political agenda. Despite both parties emphasizing "growth" as a key message, it is intriguing to observe how a different administration adopts distinct approaches in pursuit of urban development. #ukelection2024

It is a real privilege to have had another article featured in the Echo. Here I discuss why decentralising government and giving more powers to local councils can have a positive impact on regional development and create more competitive elections. https://lnkd.in/ezJhwMKX

“Why you? Why now?” Sadiq Khan gave a masterclass in election campaigning yesterday when he launched his London Mayoral re-election bid. A piece of advice that is often given to candidates is that in an election campaign should answer two questions “Why you?” and “Why now?”. A well-constructed campaign narrative finds a way to answer both questions with a single story that is simple, credible, motivating and differentiating from your opponent. Sadiq Khan’s London Mayoral campaign launch was a case study of how to do it. Sadiq Khan answered the question of “Why me?” with a policy pledge to build 40,000 council homes by 2030. This is a simple policy to understand and it’s motivating; affordability of housing is the second biggest issue for Londoners, with 54% selecting it from a list as an important issue facing the capital (the most important issue is the cost of living). The policy is also credible. The London Mayor can tangibly influence the number of houses built (the role is less able to lower the cost of living) and Sadiq Khan has in office overseen the delivery of the largest number of council homes since the 1970s. Sadiq Khan has answered the question of “Why now?” by suggesting that it’s likely there will be a Labour government in Westminster by the end of the year and that this presents “a moment of maximum opportunity”. What Khan means by this memorable turn of phrase is that electing a Labour Mayor of London to partner with a Labour government - with whom he has good relations - has a multiplying effect and will enable the “greatest council homebuilding drive in a generation”. This clear, mutually reinforcing narrative is differentiating from the Conservatives because the Tories’ national record on house building is poor. In addition, given the party’s national polling and internal division, there’s no way that their candidate Susan Hall could tenably promise that a Tory government and Conservative London Mayor could work hand in glove for the next four years.

The proposed redistribution released by the AEC today moves almost 13 per cent of voters in NSW into a different electorate. Our in-depth analysis maps out where the biggest proposed shifts are, and what they mean for the next Parliament;  - With Kylea Tink’s electorate of North Sydney to be abolished, the marginal Labor electorate of Bennelong will take in much of this area, becoming notionally Liberal.  - Angus Taylor's electorate of Hume will move closer to the outskirts of South West Sydney, shedding the regional centre of Goulburn - Hume's loss is Eden-Monaro's gain, with the Labor electorate taking in Goulburn but losing area to the Riverina. A determination on the proposed redistributions is expected in October, before a final report and maps are published. For more information on our findings and their implications for you and your organisation, contact us: https://lnkd.in/gi8uS3X5 Kaila Murnain Callum Drake Jake Clarke

Now that the Tories have lost their majority on Cornwall Council they have no democratic mandate to take any unilateral decision on the potential disposal of Cornwall Airport Newquay and the 650 acres of land that surrounds it. Notwithstanding the many questions and serious concerns that exist in the wider community, that remain to be satisfactorily addressed and properly consulted upon, any decision must surely now be put before the full council for debate and a final vote. The fact that the Tories have seen Councillor defections from their ranks arising from the lack of transparency in this matter should be of sufficient concern to determine that only the full council can bring the requisite scrutiny to debate whether or not this proposal is in the interests of the rate payers of #Cornwall. Given the long-term implications of this proposal and the fact that we only have 9 months until the next elections, anything other than a full council vote is undemocratic and is likely to be considered an abuse of power by the now minority administration. #fullcouncilvote #democracy #actinhaste