13 - Building A Better Sefton - Former Mayor/Councillor Bobby Brennan - Does Sefton Council Work?

Today at Building a Better Sefton, we speak to friend of the podcast Bobby Brennan, former Labour Councillor and Mayor of Sefton, about the structure of local council government. This is particularly important given the lack of local media and even online coverage of basic council policies and structures. Bobby is tremendously insightful and critical. We also chat about his new book about Christmas and his upcoming book ‘Love on the Dole.’ Check out Robert J Brennan on Amazon.

We chat about: -
Writing and new books.
The seemingly complicated ward system of Sefton Council.
The history of boundary changes.
Upcoming all-out elections.
Perceived criticisms of councillors.
Reform Councils.
The Cabinet System of local government.
One party domination and a lack of transparency and consultation.
Bobby going against the ‘cabal.’
The scrapping of Area Committees.
The role of Scrutiny Committees.
The importance of multi-party accountability and transparency.
Working with Council Officers.
The impact of austerity and privatisation.
Council Tax rises.
What councillors do.
Bootle Strand.
The removal of Area Action Groups.
Bobby’s resignation from the Labour Party locally.
Principals and politics.
Money in politics.
Democratic Deficit in local politics.
The danger of Reform.

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