Hmmmmm. Difficult to vote, because whilst it's good that UKIP have developed such a policy on local government matters, I do find myself disagreeing with a lot of it. The theme running through it is a little too much "We don't like the new way of doing it, we want things how they used to be". This is a critisism of UKIP on many fronts (whether justified or not) and this local manifesto certainly gives ammunition to that charge.
For example: We don't like cabinet-style of government, we want the old committee system back. We don't like the idea of councillors claiming allowances, we want the old system back. We don't like the county structure of local government, we want the old system back.
My other concerns include: the idea that having local referendums will increase turnout at elections. I would have thought the opposite to be the case. Why bother to vote in local elections if you know that you're going to have a vote in a local referendum on any issue that affects your ward.? An over-enthusiasm for Parish Councils. Why create a whole new tier of local government in order to administer miniscule budgets on park benches and street lighting? The suggestion that public consultation is not listened to (and should be). This pre-supposes that the public know what they're talking about. It's a personal bug-bear of mine that we always assume that the public are informed enough to make a valid opinion. My experience is that the public have too much of a personal (and therefore biaised) opinion in matters to make an informed judgement. So much of local government is about doing things that nobody wants doing, but must nonetheless be done. Giving the public a veto over these matters will just lead the council round in circles.
The overall theme that comes out of it to me, is that once in office, UKIP councillors will do their level best to give their powers and responsibilities away, be it to other councillors in other parties, parish councils, the general public, residents associations, business groups etc. To me, being a councillor is all about taking responsibility for the district you represent. Too much of this manifesto reads as though UKIP councillors want to shirk that responsibility. The logical extension of this view is why should I vote UKIP locally if they intend to let everyone else decide what policies are implemented? At least the Tories/Labour/Lib Dems will implement the policies that they stood for election on.
I would rate it a good basis, but needing a lot more thought on the implications of its full implementation.
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