Forum Topic

Tracking and publishing councillors' performance

Will any other political Party standing in the May 3rd local elections match the pledge in the Hounslow Conservative Group 2018 Manifesto to "Track and publish councillors’ performance"?https://www.brentfordandisleworthconservatives.org.uk/news/conservatives-manifesto-launched-better-deal-hounslow

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2685d4 Comments

You have your view and I have mine. We have punched well above our weight. None of us is perfect, but if there were more of us we could have achieved more.  As you know I would be very happy for you to come over to the "dark-side" and share your experience and wisdom with us.The real answer however is that we need more elected councillors. Our Group has been only eleven people for the last four years. It can get a little lonely at times.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2682d

I'm not sure 'blood and guts' is an accurate or apt description - however, I do think that 'being constructive' is a load of nonsense or code for doing not much at all. I agree people don't like the yah-boo stuff but God alone knows you've had some wonderful opportunities to show the majority party up for their shortcomings, of which there are many to choose.

Vanessa Smith ● 2682d

Hi Vanessa - I know that as an old blood and guts style politician you find this hard to understand but we believe that by being a constructive opposition we achieve far more. Our manifesto lists some of what we have achieved.https://www.brentfordandisleworthconservatives.org.uk/manifesto-2018There is a time and a place for marches, late night recorded votes, posturing in debates that no one is interested in and all the "Yah-Boo" stuff that most people despise. A few of of us have better things to do with our time e.g. crotchetting woolly hats for boiled eggs.Questioning the council's performance and digging into the real problems like illegal HMOs and Labour's detailed savings proposals e.g. shutting youth facilities, take time and effort. Not too many opportunities for glamorous photo ops with this kind of work. Just the quiet satisfaction that you have done a good job.

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2682d

We can only hope that if you are still in opposition you show more teeth than you have over the last four years when you've had some real gifts dropped into your combined laps, and failed miserably to go for the throats of the majority party.

Vanessa Smith ● 2685d