Posted at 4th February 2008 10:55Memo to Norman Lamb
Thank heavens we have at least one local politician with the interests of his constituents at heart. There is no urgency to the Private Bill being promoted by the Broads Authority. Please don’t be phased by pleas about public benefit from the Boat Safety scheme - we already enjoy the benefits by dint of recent byelaws – which went through like clockwork.
What we do need is a full enquiry into the operation of the Broads Authority. This Authority is widely mistrusted by local residents and yachtsmen, who feel they have every reason to detect various hidden agendas. Think in terms of trying to negotiate with the Militant Tendency.
The current Chief Executive has made at least three attempts to undermine, close or replace the statutory Broads Authority Navigation Committee. Why? One interpretation is that he is attempting to change the priorities of the Broads Authority without reference to parliament. Indeed is it correct that a Chief Executive should be seen to drive a council’s policy?
Functions such as navigation and tourism (an almost totally unproductive area of BA responsibility) impinge directly on local jobs and prosperity. By way of example, the boatbuilding industry based around the Broads is probably now of comparable size to Broads tourism. Yet local people are permitted no say in this unaccountable Authority. Almost half the members are appointed by outside bodies (Defra/Natural England) on the extraordinarily patronising basis of what they consider will be good for us. Against the background of the recent RSPB report, the last Natural England selection panel looks both sinister and appallingly judged. The selection committee was chaired by an ex RSPB employee who managed to select an ex-colleague but somehow omitted to declare an interest. What’s going on? Of course this sort of behaviour is mistrusted – and to return to a hackneyed point, the circulation of a reference by the Chairman to a meeting with mainly local residents as an ‘onslaught of the little men’ publicly displayed an arrogance that is suspected to run right through the organisation - coupled with lack of serious engagement with the local economy.
It is in the interests of your constituents to object to this Bill – and putting it off for a bit longer is of no material significance to anyone but the Broads Authority. Let’s get it right; by all means go even further and ask for a complete review of the operation of the Broads Authority but a decent measure of democracy is essential. Polls humble the arrogant. Would the chairman be likely to be re-elected at a Bye Election following his ‘little men’ gaffe?
Mr. Lamb, please go for it, have the strength of you convictions, stand up and object. Your instinct is right – your constituents need a saying their affairs and there is more support out there than you imagine.
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Category: Tourism.