Highly localised councils facilitated in an open way using inclusive methods that encourage deep listening and consensus building. Encourages a deep understanding of the topics of debate. These councils would inform counsellors voting who would honour these councils. Such practices could include: http://waysofcouncil.net/where-is-council-used/
One might suggest that those Councillors who abolished them didn't want to directly debate with the public, or to be accountable face to face. There are costs around advertising, hiring halls etc, but in this social media age, the advertising is free. The Dutch have a concept of the Polder debate, where everyone gets a say https://www.opendemocracy.net/westminster/hans-bruning/polder-and-politics
This could ensure local issues don't get lost in the council merger and enable people to feel better connected with local democracy.
Ability to get the present government or local majority to take any interest in the outcome of the meaningful debate.
Until 2015 we had Area Committees in Poole which served the same purpose as Neighbourhood Councils. They were axed as a cost cutting measure by the Conservative led council. They argued that no one attended but the Broadstone, Merley and Bearwood Committee always had 30 or 40 attendees. Neighbourhood Councils would be vetoed on the grounds of cost too.😩
http://ha2.boroughofpoole.com/akspoole/images/att23724.docx This document indicates a cost of £40k for Poole for Area Committies. £15k of direct costs.
To my mind this is the one good opportunity to come out of the merger. We can now rethink our neighbourhoods and create meaningful "villages" within the mass conglomeration. The problem with the Area Committees was their format. The set-up was oppositional with the Bosses (councillors) sitting in a row on one side of the room and the Supplicants (us lowly folk) sitting facing them! They were as dull as ditchwater! No wonder nobody bothered to attend!
This content is created by the open source Your Priorities citizen engagement platform designed by the non profit Citizens Foundation