P-04-478 A simple info pack for all the people of Wales explaining how they can stand as candidates and P-04-482 Public noticeboards across Wales notifying the public of who all their political representatives are – Correspondence from the petitioner to the Minister for Local Government and Government Business, 06.07.2013
Dear Lesley,
Thank you for your response to the Sovereign Wales petition for
public notice board signs informing people of their representatives
and the petition for citizens to be informed of how they can stand
as candidates.
In regard to notice boards. I accept that responsibility lies with
local authorities but I believe it's a real duty for them to
clearly show who the local councillors, AM's and MP's are and how
they can be contacted. I believe there should be at least pressure
and strong guidance from the Welsh Government for them to do this
effectively and consistently. I don't believe the internet should
be solely relied on to give this information: many people just
don't have time or the inclination to trawl through countless
websites and links and I agree with you that there is a lack of
clarity and consistency in this area on local authority websites.
It's impossible on some of these local authority websites to even
find out who local councillors are. I'm therefore very glad to hear
of the Bill you mentioned that was passed on June 18th. However I
still believe that this doesnt discount the need for actual
physical signs/posters as well. If placing/building new larger
signs is going to be too challenging at this point, may i suggest
that a well designed and branded template of posters
(weather/waterproof if necessary) is rolled out to all Welsh local
authorities to be placed on/in existing public notice boards and
community centres, so that people can recognise the branded posters
(e.g. a red and green outline or similar branded design) which
would use the same consistent branded designs in all local
authorities. Perhaps costs/work could be shared between the Welsh
Government and local authorities. I believe this would be very
worthwhile to do as it would improve the engagement and
connectiveness of the Welsh public with the democratic process in
Wales.
Regarding the second petition for a simple information leaflet
issued to all eligible Welsh citizens explaining how they could
stand as candidates,the electoral commission does provide this
information on their website but it is difficult and cumbersome to
understand and people are instantly bamboozled by an over
bombardment of links and pdf's. Many people dont even know who or
what the Electoral Commission in the first place. I'm glad to hear
a leaflet was produced but I haven't seen any mention of this
pamphlet anywhere and I believe most people wouldn't know who or
what the WLGA is either, not to mention thinking of contacting them
for a leaflet. I believe this information needs to be
given/advertised to people directly as well as in public places.
I'm sure also that a very simple paragraph outlining the basics of
what needs to be done to stand, as well as a direct link to the
electoral commission site could be added to literature that's
already been sent out by the Welsh Government diectly or through
existing advertising and publicity.
This basic information of how to stand as electoral candidates
could also be inter-linked/merged with the public notices idea
contained in the other petition, where all this information could
be put on the main branded local authority/community centres public
notices together with the information on existing representatives
as suggested in the other petition.
I very much hope this will be of constructive and positive use and
I thank you for your time and diligence. I would of course be more
than happy to further contribute to any developments,
Kind regards,
Gruffydd Meredith