North West Conservative Councils have balls...Time for the 'Southern Softy' Councils to stand-up

The Conservative Councils in the North West have had the courage to give their notice of withdrawal to the North West Assembly...but in the South East they have made all the noises, and over 70% of SEERA's appointed councillors voted to disband the Soth East Regional Assembly,... BUT none of the Conservative Councils have the guts to withdraw. All talk and no action. Seems like you have to look northwards to see proper action.It's in your hands, Southern Tories to deliver a crushing blow to Prescott. Time to stand up and be counted.
Monday, 4th April 2005
Trafford vote is blow to Prescott's dream
BY MARTIN DILLON
TRAFFORD council is to pull out of the North West Regional Assembly - a move which has sent shock waves through local government.Councillors in the Tory-controlled borough backed a move to withdraw from the body next year.And this will deliver another blow to John Prescott's dream of strong regional government, after the Deputy Prime Minister's plans for elected assemblies were rejected by a referendum in the north east last year.The NWRA is responsible for regional planning, overseeing the work of major regional institutions such as the Northwest Development Agency, and supporters say is an important mouthpiece for regional interests inWhitehall and Europe.The unelected body is made up of councillors, trade union officials and members from business, the voluntary sector and universities.Trafford's decision casts doubt on whether the borough will host the assembly's annual conference, due to take place later this year.

Trafford council leader Susan Fildes said: "The assembly is an unelected and unaccountable body which costs a lot of money."When the no vote was delivered in the north east, it was quite obvious there was no future for the North West Regional Assembly, or any otherregional assembly.Chamber"I believe strongly that local people should be represented by local councillors, not regional quangos."

Sale Moor councillor Christine Bailey said. "This assembly does nothing of real worth."People round here don't even know that is exists, and that they are payingfor it."The assembly is an expensive debating chamber for political insiders. If it disappeared tomorrow, nobody in the real world would notice it was gone."

Coun Derek Boden, leader of the North West Regional Assembly said: "We would be very disappointed to see Trafford council lose its influence over regional decision making."The assembly will try to ensure that the interests of Trafford residents are considered when it sets regional priorities, but this would be easier if there were local representatives taking part."I hope that Trafford councillors reconsider their decision."

According to the North West Regional Assembly, Trafford is one of a number of Conservative-controlled councils which have announced they are leaving.
The others are Macclesfield, Ribble Valley and Fylde, along with WestLancashire district council. Under Assembly rules, any council must give formal notice by March 31 ofits plans to withdraw. It is then allowed to leave a year later.