Southwark grassroots is alive and kicking

Southwark Council's democracy champion has hailed the borough's grassroots, and backed residents to help the council make radical reforms to local decision making.

One of the conference participants, Elena Noel, a community mediator at the Southwark Mediation Centre, said:

"It was truly energising, and informative event. It was wonderful to see a wide section of the community coming together expressing care, and a desire to be involved in the decision making processes that shape their lives, with councillors, officers of the council, those from the voluntary sector and others -  voiced with such passion, energy and vigour!"

"It was truly stimulating, informative and well organised.  As a community worker  it was fantastic to be around those who made the effort to attend, to show Southwark that they really cared, and how important it was to have meaningful and inclusive engagement with all sections of the community."   

Councillor Abdul Mohamed, Chair of the Democracy Commission, heaped praise on local activists after a conference at St George's Cathedral on Saturday 4 September, which saw more than a hundred people join in a mass discussion on improving council meetings.

He today reminds residents that they have until 17 September to submit written views to the democracy commission, and that the final public meeting before the commission puts forward its recommendations on council assembly takes place on 23 September.

With tough financial decisions on the horizon, the Democracy Commission was launched in June in a bid to re-engage residents in council decision making. Its first job is to look at council assembly.

Saturday's conference followed earlier work to collect the views of residents, councillors and expert witnesses. The conference included a combination of informal debates, talks and panel discussions.

According to the team behind the event, some of the big issues raised included

• The role of community councils in improving local democracy
  The future of meetings in the town hall.
• How people can have a say on a decision before it gets to the final vote at council assembly?
• Can the links between scrutiny and council assembly be improved?

Recommendations on improving council assembly will go to cabinet on 19 October and council assembly on 20 October.

Speaking after the conference and responding to some of the points raised, Councillor Mohamed said: "Southwark's grassroots is alive and kicking. We are lucky to have active, engaged, forward thinking residents and I want to thank them for their contribution to Saturday's conference.

"The views of local activists are vital as we begin the process of drawing up recommendations to improve the way council assembly works.

"I agree that community councils have a big role to play. They are not being formally reviewed at this stage, but it is clear that residents see them as playing a crucial part in improving local democracy.

"No decision has been taken on the future of the town hall. But what is clear from residents' feedback is that it is not an ideal location for council assembly - not least because the view from the gallery is severely restricted.

"I agree that there is a real need to provide people with a stake in decisions, the opportunity to have a say before the decision is brought for a final vote. In the coming the commission will discuss if that is through using green papers or maybe changes to the role of scrutiny."

Earlier this month the democracy commission published its emerging findings.

One popular idea is building on the role of community councils by creating a system for issues to be captured locally and sent up through the community councils to council assembly. Some of the other common suggestions received by the commission include

• Themed meetings, moving meetings around the borough and changing the times of assembly meetings.
• More opportunities for the public to get involved with debate through more informal engagement activities (such as online debates, annual conference and workshops).
• There should be increased opportunities for deputations.
• The assembly should host debates and then detailed policy work is conducted by linked bodies (such as community councils.
• The assembly should have more decision making powers.
• The council should broadcasting the meetings online or on radio.

Residents can log on to www.southwark.gov.uk/democracy for more information.