Ready to Listen : Ready to Act

Cardiff Post Article June 2009

At the Council meeting last Thursday, there was yet another protest. I was first elected in 1999 and until 2004 there were relatively few protests at meetings. Since 2004, the Liberal Democrats (with Plaid Cymru from 2008) have been in office and we have seen regular protests on potential school closures, to incinerators, to playing fields to Bute Park.

As an elected member, I get annoyed when I see the ruling Executive blatantly ignoring tens of thousands of people making strong representations through petitions, protests or direct emails, wanting their elected representations to respond to their calls for help.

Last Thursday, we saw the opposition parties unite to stop the proposed bridge into ButePark and vote to reject the amended motion presented by the Liberal Democrat and Plaid Group. 

When I was a Member of a political group, I was principled and would not blanket support motions and issues for debate.  I always thought first and foremost about my constituents and then, secondly, Cardiff as a whole.  What I witnessed at the last Thursday were many Councillors looking uncomfortable with the Liberal Democrat amendment but nevertheless following the party whip to vote with their party groups.

My colleague Adrian Robson sits as the Independent member on the Economic and Culture Scrutiny Committee which had been examining the economic role of parks. It has recommended the Executive should “consider a pause in the development work taking place in ButePark in order to foster dialogue between the opposing sides of the argument about ButePark”. At the committee, it was a split vote with the 3 Liberal Democrats opposing this recommendation and the Labour, Independent and Plaid Cymru members supporting the recommendation and the Chair’s casting vote was cast in favour of the recommendation. At Council, my Independent colleagues proposed this formally as an amendment which was accepted by the proposers of the motion. But it was interesting that some of the Councillors who voted for it at the Committee followed the orders of their whip and did not support it in Council.  This reinforces the importance of being Independent – it allows you to form your views by comments and concerns of constituents and not by the diktat of a political party. Situations such as this make me question whether there really is a role for political parties in Local Government or whether residents would be better served electing independent Councillors who are directly accountable to them.

ButePark was given to the people of Cardiff by the Bute Family.  Cardiff has a wide number of beautiful parks and open spaces and we should be preserving them. The Executive of Cardiff Council must follow the scrutiny recommendation and pause the development until they have contacted representatives of those against the bridge to work through the current impasse. If they do this it will show that the Executive can listen and do understand the importance of scrutiny. Once a bridge is in place, it is the thin end of the wedge for other, future, administrations to increase traffic in the park. Is this really what the Bute’s want?

To see the debate, please log on to www.cardiff.gov.uk/webcasting and click on the meeting on 25th June. For residents who may not have this access, the local library will be able to assist you in viewing the meeting.

I can be contacted on telephone 029 2062 7757, fax 029 2087 7005, mobile 079 7001 3332 or E-Mail jcowan@cardiff.gov.uk  My colleagues and I have a website www.rhiwbinaward.com

My next surgery is on Saturday 4th July, between 10.30am – 12.30pm outside Rhiwbina Library.  If you are free, please pop along for a squash and a biscuit and enjoy the Rhiwbina Festival.  The festival is held in the main street in Rhiwbina and has something for all the family.