Kingsmead Field and local democracy

The article on the front page of the Canterbury Times (dated 22 November) highlights growing dissatisfaction with the state of local democracy in Canterbury, see: Press Coverage - Canterbury Times.  It cites the Executive decision on Kingsmead Field as an example of the way in which local residents are being ignored. 

The article gives high-profile coverage to Canterbury Society's report, 'A Residents' Vision for Canterbury', which has been compiled after months of consultation with local residents.  The report is highly critical of the way in which the Council's Executive system operates.  It points to the fact that decisions are made by a small elite, consisting of ten councillors all from the same political party.  This effectively creates a 'one-party government' in which decisions are taken along party lines, with little, or no, regard to the views of local residents.

Where the Kingsmead Field decision was concerned, there was no Executive member representing Canterbury in the decision-making process at all.

Canterbury Society's report is due to be published next month.  A link will be given on this website.