The Opposition in Parliament, and in local councils, plays a crucial role in holding a current administration to account. There is the opportunity to vote against policy, and to promote an alternative. That approach of suggesting other courses of action is more constructive but less commonly seen. It is easier to say what you are against, and vote against, than it is to construct a different agenda. The only problem is that opposition of this kind quickly loses credibility. People want to know what politicians are for. Local Labour politicians probably desire power but that driver is not enough. There is an obligation to say why.
Opposition can look as though it is for its own sake, but that does not work for long. On Wednesday 19th October, the Full Council voted to dispose of some small parcels of land to facilitate the Kilnwood Vale development, west of Bewbush. There will be approximately 2,500 dwellings and a neighbourhood centre including retail, a community building with library facility; a public house, primary care centre and care home. Land is set aside for a primary school and nursery; employment uses, and energy centre and amenity space.
The development, which is entirely within Horsham District Council, has received planning permission from that local authority. There are not so many developments of this scale starting up right now. Getting this development off the ground is a real success story. Crawley people will be able to buy, rent and part-own property in Kilnwood Vale, and density pressure across the rest ofCrawleywill be reduced. With the social rented properties,Crawleywill receive half of the nomination rights.
Despite being involved in the development process over a long period, Labour Councillors voted against the minor disposal of land necessary to make it happen. Had this view prevailed, there would have been no development and no housing to support economic growth and job creation. What on earth was the motive? You have to hope that it was not about branding – objection to a project just because there appeared to be a Conservative tag on it.
Similarly, it is Crawley Council policy to look at options for improving our services at The Hawth and Tilgate Park. There is nothing unusual in this and Tilgate Park, in particular, has seen substantial evolution over the years. It has gained a privately-run golf course and pitch-and-putt course, taking up substantially more space than is currently being considered. A Nature Centre and Walled Garden were also added. There has in the past been boating on one of the lakes, not directly run by the Council, and this is being considered again.
Here again, there is continued opposition to the notion of exploring options for service enhancements and different methods of delivery. It is as though everything must be preserved in aspic if the research effort has the ‘wrong’ party political label.
Conservatives in opposition were not so dogmatic. We supported a full review of management options for the K2 Crawley Leisure Centre. Today it operates very effectively as what is known as a hybrid trust, with the Council retaining full ownership. The Conservative Council is provider-neutral and principally interested in the service delivery outcomes for our customers. If only we could convince some of our political colleagues to show the same pragmatic attitude.
Councillor Bob Lanzer, Leader of Crawley Borough Council
25th October 2011