Local Government Accountability

EDM number 350 in 1989-90, proposed by Jeff Rooker on 22/01/1990.

That this House considers that in the interests of improved local government accountability, the London borough elections due on 3rd May should be the last when the whole council is elected and henceforth one quarter of the council should be elected each year; notes that the Metropolitan District Council elections due on 3rd May are the first since 1988 due to the legislation for the abolition of the former metropolitan county councils, not allowing the districts to revert to annual elections for one third of the council; believes it is in the interests of improved local government accountability for there to be an annual election for one third of the council; calls for legislation allowing such elections each and every year; notes that no elections are taking place for shire county councils this year and that none are planned for next year nor the year after; believes that four years between elections for these large councils is too long; and believes that improved local government accountability would follow if elections took place for one quarter of these councils each year, and that arrangements should be made which take into account the need of district council elections in the shire counties.

This motion has been signed by a total of 10 MPs.