Over the last few years, I’ve taken part in increasingly more events and fringes at Conservative Party Conference, becoming increasingly aware that outside the big speeches, the zeitgeist is often to be found in the smaller rooms and discussions that take place. This year was no exception - the events I was invited to speak at focused around young people and devolution, in one way or another. Devolution could have featured so highly on my invites because, as a Council leader, it’s front and centre for the LGA - however, the focus in young people is less easily explainable by own own circumstance. I’m not that young anymore, and I don’t have any obvious links to youth organisations (though I do hold a UK Parliament Week badge, awarded by a local Brownie pack). Flipping through the conference guide, both topics came up again and again, so clearly it’s not just me.
So what have I learnt? Devolution - we all want it in our town halls and the government seem disinclined to give it, is the current answer. I heard various statements made from ministers, my favourite being that ‘a single accountable individual’ is a preference for big decisions. So that would be like moving to a Presidential system, rather than our current Prime Ministerial one then? *Silence*
What is clear however is that this one-size-fits-all model won’t actually fit us all, and probably downplays the importance of the current local government system. I won’t get my soapbox out, but it does make you wonder how many MPs know how local government works? On a less controversial note, I always enjoy the Centre for Cities events as Chief Executive Andrew Carter has a beautifully broad accent that I can really warm to, even when he asks me sharp questions. You can see what I said at their event here about Stoke-on-Trent and listen to a podcast we recorded just before the event here. I’m on from about 14 minutes in.
A few years ago, we rented property to students and I was the classic landlady who tried to pretend she was still young and cool, despite small children running round and a great line in warm, sensible clothes. Taking part in several fringe events and meetings for young people left me a remembering this starkly - as a councillor, I may be breaking the mould for being under 65 and having my own teeth and hair, but I’m definitely no longer at the cutting edge of youth issues. This was brought home to me when at one event, I was challenged about how I’d address an issue with improving street lighting. “But everyone in my ward knows me - I deliver leaflets 4 times a year, and am active on social media!” I cried. The response? Parents read leaflets, and young people don’t hang out on Twitter and Facebook. Lesson learnt - if I want to engage with my residents of tomorrow, I need to up my Comms game. Probably not a bad message to share with that minister from earlier - disregard the views of your potential supporters at your peril!
