|
3 Counties Group Text of a letter to Cllr. Martin Daws-Chew, Chairman, SE SELCO, WSCC, 2 July, 2003. Re—SE SELCO Meeting of 25th June Dear Cllr. Daws-Chew, This is just a note to say that I found the Meeting of your SELCO most interesting, as well, of course, as extremely painful. It is not easy to sit and listen to one’s respective County and specially-invited District (MSDC) representatives speak everything but the truth. Tis rather like being required to sit and listen to one’s name and character being falsely blackened without recourse to response. Very painful indeed. And of course quite wrong. We all found it astonishing that not one word was breathed by any Member about the only real “news” there was about the East Grinstead (EG) location. And that of course was that the people of EG had shouted a 96.3% NO! to the proposed 2500+ Houses at the Referendum held only a few days before. This had, and has, profound implications for the EG location. From past experience the County knows this well. But not a word! Remarkable! While this was an extraordinary comment on the operation of British democratic government as we know it; it was not made any better by the decision (confirmed despite a reasoned appeal) to suspend normal procedure. In this there was not only a personal affront and violation of fundamental rights; but equally important, in preventing us from stating a few relevant facts, the Committee was not able to receive important and useful information which might at least prevent it from endorsing monumental and indeed ultimately very costly errors. That said, we did note the unbuttoned vigour with which this “committee of oversight” (its formal role) attacked local issues—that is, other than EG local issues. I was particularly impressed by the force of the assault launched by yourself (having vacated the Chair) and Cllr. Goldsmith re Chichester constituency interests; the same for Horsham by their SELCO and other representatives present. And County Leader Harold Hall spared no effort in speaking to Fontwell concerns. Clearly too, Burgess Hill has a vigorous spokesman and defender in Cllr. Balsdon. As for EG, one had to sit and listen to Andrew Brock, a man thoroughly dis-credited and indeed decisively rejected by local voters at EG, still “welcoming” the 2500 houses at EG. If I may say, the operation of this Select Committee had little to do with matters of oversight; and everything to do with pursuit and protection of very local/parochial interests—at least in relation to those localities where Members were able and willing to speak up. Altogether our day spent sitting through the proceedings of your SELCO was most informative and instructive. It also was a most alarming, offensive and indeed worrying experience. It violated most of the principles and practices of our British form of democratic representative government that I happen still to believe in. And when it is thought necessary to muster whatever powers can be mustered to suppress a free and legitimate expression of view to such a public body, it certainly does not need me to say more. This is not only repugnant. It is wrong. I would suggest it is the duty of the County to review its position and procedures and ensure this never happens again. Such behaviour is not only a black mark against all County representatives and institutions. It is an insult to the people it claims democratically to represent. Briefly, if representative democratic government is to be legitimate and effective—and at whatever level—it must be prepared to hear and reckon with the truth—however unpalatable! Enough said. And it was good to have few brief words about your Ghana days. As you said, when the regime there changed, the previous leaders were shot. But then during the duration of that regime, the fate of any dissenter was not nearly so tidy. It does all help one to keep perspective. It also helps one to appreciate the value of our system of government; and of the need—at times vigilantly and vigorously—to protect and maintain it. Yours sincerely, Michael Vickers | Close | |
||
 |
|
|