Improving democracy in Liverpool

A SERIES of recommendations are being made to improve democracy and participation in local authority decision making in Liverpool.

The Liverpool Democracy Commission was established in 2008 to look at ways to improve the democratic performance of the  City Council , and increase the involvement of local people in decision making.  It was 1 of 9 initiatives set up across the country following issues raised about the health of local democracy in the national Councillors Commission report in 2007. The Liverpool activity is one of the earliest and largest.

The focus of the Liverpool Democracy Commission, chaired by Professor Michael Brown, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive of Liverpool John Moores University, was:-

• The representative recruitment of councillors

• The changing role of councillors

• The development and training of councillors

• Enhancing the performance of the  City Council  and councillors within the checks and balances of the democratic system

Evidence was heard in public from witnesses drawn from Liverpool and across the UK, including elected members, local government professionals and “experts”, stakeholders and representatives of the media.

A total of 26 recommendations are being made. These include:-

• Live webcasting of full council meetings on the internet and using social and ‘new' media to raise awareness of the democratic process (eg:- text messages, podcasts and emails)

• Political parties to develop innovative ways of widening the process of selecting candidates such as ‘open primaries’

• Developing a wide ranging communications strategy to improve public awareness of the role of councillors and the importance of local democracy

• Avoiding jargon and acronyms in all elements of communication

• Organising large scale public debates to discuss hot local topics

• Greater and earlier involvement of all councillors in “front end” scrutiny and decision making, and a quarterly Question Time for Executive Members

• Advertising for people to express a personal interest in exploring the possibility of becoming a councillor

• Further development of Liverpool’s successful neighbourhood devolution approach

• Developing ways of expressing appreciation to employers to employees that support and encourage their employees in becoming a councillor

Professor Brown said:- “The formation of the Liverpool Democracy Commission was a clear statement by Liverpool  City Council  that it wants to lead best practice in local government decision-making and participation rather than having to catch up later. 

If the recommendations of the Commission are adopted by the Council after the next elections in May 2010, this will transform the way in which Council policy is developed in the future. 

It will encourage people from a wider range of backgrounds to enter local politics, enhance the way in which people can access the deliberations of the Council and offer greater engagement of local people in local decisions and local politics.

The recommendations are based on extending existing good practice by the  City Council, combined with leading, tried and tested, practice drawn from across the UK.  No experimentation is required, it is all readily deliverable for the benefit of the people of Liverpool.”

Councillor Paula Keaveney, Liverpool  City Council’s executive member for ethical governance, who sat on the Liverpool Democracy Commission, said:- “It’s really good to have the chance to think about what we can do better. 

I am particularly keen on making it much easier for citizens to follow and get more involved in what goes on at the council.”

The Constitutional Issues committee of the  City Council  will now look at implementing the recommendations.

Let us know what your views and ideas, via emailing us at news24@southportreporter.com.

4 in 10 people running out of money before their next pay day

WITH 4 in 10 people surveyed in Merseyside regularly running out of money before their next pay day, working out a budget during these difficult times is even more important to help make ends meet, cope with any emergencies and plan for your future. Moneymadeclear, a new service offering practical help and information on money matters for people in the North West was recently launched by The Financial Services Authority (FSA) and HM Treasury, and has now published 10 Top Tips to help people with every day money management.

Dawn Evans, a Moneymadeclear ‘Money Guide’ based in Merseyside, says:- “Moneymadeclear offers real help that’s tailored to individual needs, whether it’s getting to grips with budgeting and saving, help to cope with the effects of the downturn, or understanding tax and pensions planning. Help is available through the Moneymadeclear website - which features tools such as a financial health check and a budget calculator – from trained ‘Money Guides’ over the phone, or face to face at participating local centres but, in the meantime, here are some useful Moneymadeclear tips to help you get started.”

1. Review your money situation:- Setting aside a few minutes a week is all it takes to review your money situation. Using a ‘Budget Calculator’ like the one on the Moneymadeclear website will help you work out your weekly or monthly income and prioritise your spending.

2. Keep track of things:- Once you’ve got your budget sorted, you need to stay in control by, for example, making a note of when your annual payments are due so that you can budget for them in advance and avoid late payment fees. You should also set up Direct Debits for payments like utility bills or credit cards so that the money is automatically paid from your account when it’s due. Check your bank and credit-card statements as soon as you get them to review your spending. Know roughly what your balance should be and contact the bank or credit-card company if you think anything looks wrong.

3. Avoid over-commitment:- It is easy to become overcommitted; every time you sign up for a new service (for example, cable TV, gym membership, or a mobile phone contract), buy something on hire purchase, or credit card, you add to your monthly commitments. When this happens you need to review your budget and adjust your spending priorities to allow for it.

4. Shop around and limit yourself:- Whenever you shop, either in a store or online, there are often vouchers you can use to save money, which can be found in magazines or online. But remember, don’t buy something just because you have a money-off voucher – you may not need it anyway. Writing a shopping list can also help you stop buying things on impulse that you don’t really need. Set an affordable limit on luxury items and gifts being before going shopping, and stick to it.

5. Check you’re paying by the cheapest method:- Often paying by Direct Debit is the cheapest method, and some companies may charge you a handling fee if you pay by credit or debit card, so always check.

6. Don’t buy insurance you don’t need:- Check whether you’re already covered by existing insurance before you take out new cover. Your home contents insurance may cover you for loss of personal items while away from home, electrical items may be covered if they break down and your employer or bank may offer health or travel insurance as a benefit.

7. Save energy:- You can save money but cutting down energy consumption in your home and car. You can check whether you would be eligible for a grant to help pay for insulation, compare prices of energy providers and get tips on how to cut down energy consumption in your home on the Energy Saving Trust’s website.  Directgov's ‘Greener driving tips’ website could also help you save one month's fuel over a year.

8. Build up some savings:- It’s a good idea to put some money aside for emergencies or unforeseen costs, such as replacing expensive household items like washing machines if they’re not covered by your insurance. As you won’t know when you’ll need this money, make sure you can access it easily. If you put aside a little each month and make sure you’re getting a good interest rate, it will soon build up.

9. Set yourself goals:- Using Moneymadeclear’s ‘Financial Healthcheck’ tool, you can set yourself goals along with a time you want to reach them by. These could be long terms goals such as saving for children’s education and retirement or short term goals such as saving for a holiday and reducing credit card debts.

10. Don’t ignore problems:- If you find that your finances are spiralling out of control, try not to panic or ignore the problem. It’s best to act sooner rather than later, as the people you owe money to may be able to help you manage your repayments. The Moneymadeclear ‘Dealing with debt’ will give you some ideas of what you can do.

For impartial money guidance please visit the FSA website or call 0300 500 5000 for a completely confidential chat or to arrange a free face to face session with a money guide near you.