HOW COUNCILS WORK - An introduction to understanding the system

We think the system doesn’t work for us. The problem is, we don’t really understand the system. Once we do, we can shape our futures forever.

HOW COUNCILS WORK - AN INTRODUCTION TO UNDERSTANDING THE SYSTEM

By Councillor Tony Wallis

It’s summer and we’re just past the longest day. At 9pm, I go through my emails. Another one has just arrived. It complains of more anti-social behaviour in the town centre. The author says the town is getting worse and “you councillors are so out of touch you’re doing nothing. “

It’s not the first time I’ve heard something like this. Indeed, I’ll get an email or letter saying something similar almost daily. Yet, far from being out of touch, I live in the ward. My family and friends live here. So, what is the problem? Why do people think I’m out of touch?

Do you think the council is a lazy, slow-moving organization that takes your money and makes your problems worse rather than better? If you do, there’s no surprise that many of your neighbours agree with you. Yet this mistaken belief hinders progress.

There is a disillusionment with local government. It is supposed to be there to help us, but we feel it’s the opposite. A faceless bureaucracy that makes matters worse. We feel like we’re talking to a brick wall.

Let me explain, though, as an elected councillor. It’s that very belief that is holding us back.

I’ve been a councillor for over two decades, but I still remember my first campaign. Then, I was full of enthusiasm, determined to make a difference, and bring about those necessary changes that appeared to be missing. I even won a prize for showing the potential of how we can change things for the better.

Alas, that prize certificate, while so proudly displayed in my living room, is a reminder of how different the real world is from those early expectations.

There has been progress over the years, but progress is slow. I remember attending community meetings, usually on an evening, calling for a better library, or a better railway station, or a better bus station, or regular train services to York. Eventually, we got all those wins.

Shortly, I’ll be attending a public meeting about the dismal bus services we have. The meeting itself won’t accomplish much, but tied with other meetings, calls and petitions, it will be successful one day, just like the others.

I recall being told one evening at a community meeting that I didn’t understand the area, as all councillors are from Wakefield. Imagine the speaker’s surprise when another pointed out I was practically a neighbour. “He only lives just up the hill.” The faceless council isn’t as faceless as people think.

The public’s perception can be based on misconceptions. For example, why do unpopular planning applications get approval despite the petitions?

Think the planning committee is a body that can pass or refuse applications as they wish? Not true at all. Most times, the purpose of planning is not to stop 

development. It’s dealing with any adverse effects, such as noise or unpleasant odours. Only in exceptional cases, where the decision makers cannot tackle these with conditions, can they refuse the application.

As part of the community, we expect a recent development causes parking problems, but if the application provides the number of parking spaces policy says is acceptable, we cannot refuse it on those grounds.

So who are we, we elected councillors that are so eager to get your vote?

We are the people who connect you to the services that faithfully form your life; from the roads you drive on, the parks you enjoy, to essential social care that protects our most vulnerable. It’s about realising that when we understand how our local government works, we can make it work for us. I’ll cover this more in another post.

I trust the above is useful. Let’s start an enlightening discussion. Tell me what questions you have about how our council operates. How do you see yourself playing a role in shaping council policy?

Copyright (c) Tony Wallis 2025