tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17934023.post5074149980884810724..comments2024-03-20T12:28:00.031+00:00Comments on Liberal Bureaucracy: English Council – what is it good for? Absolutely nothing?Mark Valladareshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15773193846795037711noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17934023.post-20865681548252629082007-11-10T17:58:00.000+00:002007-11-10T17:58:00.000+00:00I'm with Mark - EC is the most tedious event in th...I'm with Mark - EC is the most tedious event in the year, and must cost a fortune with people able to claim expenses (why?).<BR/><BR/>I can't see there's much point to it but if it *must* exist, shouldn't we just shorten the meetings and hold them during Federal Conference?<BR/><BR/>The one interesting point on the agenda, from what I can see, is the financial bit. If I took the time to research it, I would be tempted to argue for a much higher % of membership subs to stay with local parties. It's ironic that EC bemoans the fact that local parties don't do enough to recruit more members - and then deprive them of any financial incentive to do so.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17934023.post-45580518325563690122007-11-09T17:18:00.000+00:002007-11-09T17:18:00.000+00:00having the Chair of the English Party report to Re...<I>having the Chair of the English Party report to Regional and Local Parties on a monthly or quarterly basis</I><BR/><BR/>The Chair does write a report before every executive meeting (which is every couple of months) which then goes to all regional chairs. Surely it is then up to the Chair to pass that on to the people in their region?<BR/><BR/><I>information about what the English Party has done, is doing, and proposes to do and consulting on issues ahead of us.</I><BR/><BR/>I would agree that communication to English party members should be improved. But every time I have also advertised the fact that I am happy to keep in touch with English party members about what is happening at ECEC. No one has yet taken me up on that offer, despite me advertising it every time I stand for ECE.<BR/><BR/>You have bemoaned the idea that the English party doesn't discuss policy, but that is because that is passed up to the federal party (just as English policy in parliament is also made on a federal basis). I have some sympathy for the English conference idea, but that could increase bureaucracy not lessen it, as we would also need an English Policy Committee for example. I can then inevitably see a conflict with the FPC at some point in the future.<BR/><BR/>I don't dismiss your idea, but I would argue that it isn't as straightforward as it seems.<BR/><BR/>Anders<BR/>(English Council Executive Member)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com