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Camden New Journal - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published:16 August 2007

Sham consultations and how not to listen

• CONSERVATIVE councillor Andrew Mennear failed in his duty to shame the Liberal Democrat membership of Camden Council’s executive in its authoritarian ‘indicative’ decision for University College London academy sponsorship of the new school.
In colluding with Councillor John Bryant et al (July 25 meeting of the executive committee), who tried to use the 2006 Camden Liberal Democrat manifesto to claim a democratic mandate to over-ride what now appears to be a sham public consultation, Cllr Mennear has displayed singular short-sightedness.
He should have recognised the indefensible approach of the executive to the process and conclusions of their “consultation”.
The council’s consultation process did not mention the UCL bid, nor was a UCL bid requested or discussed in public, yet clear and open representations were made from other quarters – not least from some 2,000 people who petitioned and campaigned for a school with a Christian ethos.
Better, Cllr Mennear should have reminded his Lib Dem colleagues of their council leader’s May 2006 borough elections manifesto pledge to overcome Camden people’s cynicism with “consultation, participation and democracy” by giving these words “fresh impetus”.
Instead of consultation, participation and democracy, the executive has strategised and acted over a lengthy period to avoid listening to Camden people’s opinions, whatever these may be. In doing so, the executive has ignored statutory guidance by failing to provide sufficient information for consultation and by failing to respond to some very strongly supported views expressed during the consultation.
Even worse, however, is the long-term effect of this authoritarianism on public engagement with government – and not least with Cllr Menear’s planned September “consultations” about the executive’s UCL sponsorship decision. I doubt many will waste their time attending.
DAVID DAWES
Address supplied

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, Camden New Journal, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@camdennewjournal.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Tuesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld. Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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