It was interesting to read a letter to a local newspaper from a resident who questioned the point of being a Councillor, having witnessed a Planning Committee meeting in which every member spoke against a housing development but followed an officer recommendation to allow it, in the knowledge that it would almost certainly be granted by a Planning Inspector on appeal (likely with costs awarded against the Council).

The contributor said he was “witnessing the death of democracy”.

The fact is that when you stand for election and become a Councillor, you have to accept that there many things that you will have little or no control over.

A Local Plan, which is a document that sets out which land can be allocated for housing or employment purposes has a lifespan of some 20 years. Anyone joining the Council would be made aware that the Local Plan is what matters, not the views of any recently elected Councillor.

All the new, recently elected, Councillors on Hampshire County Council will be working within a budget agreed by the former Conservative administration.

There are many examples of things that limit the ability of a Councillor to do as they wish. These restrictions are baked in from the outset. Some react by getting frustrated and deciding that the job isn’t what they expected and even choosing to resign than put up with the situation.

Experienced Councillors have a better grasp of what’s actually important, how best they can affect things and the importance of “timing” actions. Overall, I do think that Councils have become neutered by central control exercised by Government, both by regulations and particularly the way things are financed.

Maybe, things will improve a little under local government reorganisation and a local Mayor with powers and finance that are currently in the hands of Whitehall.

I think I would say “Democracy isn’t dead, but it could be vastly improved”.