UK Citizen

A slightly different version of the letter. Dear Councillor, Following the recent local elections and the ongoing major changes to local government, I wanted to write to you about some serious concerns I have regarding democracy and accountability. These worries are shared by many residents. I recognise that standing for local office takes significant time, resilience and commitment, often under considerable pressure. Thank you for being willing to serve the community in this role. While I support the principle of genuine local empowerment, I am increasingly concerned that the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 and the related reforms — including the move towards larger unitary authorities and strategic bodies — are actually taking us in the wrong direction. Despite the language of “devolution” and “community empowerment,” I believe these changes risk creating greater democratic distance. Decision-making appears to be shifting towards larger, more remote regional structures that will be less accessible to ordinary residents, less directly accountable, and more vulnerable to central government influence. In practice, this seems likely to dilute local democracy rather than strengthen it. I am particularly worried that: * Power is becoming more concentrated and administratively remote from the people and communities it affects. * Individual residents will find it harder to influence decisions, and their voices may increasingly be filtered through larger organisations or stakeholder groups instead of being heard directly. * The longstanding principle of subsidiarity — that decisions should be taken at the lowest possible level, closest to the people affected — is being weakened. As these new governance structures are implemented, I would value your response on the following points: 1. How will you ensure that decision-making remains genuinely local in practice, rather than being absorbed into larger unitary or strategic authorities that feel distant from residents? 2. How will the direct voices of individual residents continue to be meaningfully heard and acted upon as power shifts to bigger regional bodies? 3. How will transparency, effective scrutiny, and easy public access be maintained and protected during this transition and in the long term? 4. How will you use the new powers created by the 2026 Act to genuinely strengthen local influence, rather than allowing them to further centralise control and weaken the connection between councils and the people they serve? I am following these issues closely not because I oppose local government, but because I strongly believe in accountable, participatory, community-rooted democracy. At a time of such significant change, the Nolan Principles of Public Life — especially accountability, openness and leadership — are more vital than ever. As a councillor, you are first and foremost an elected representative of the local people, not simply an administrator of centrally-driven reforms. I hope you will use your position to push back against any further erosion of local democracy and to ensure these changes do not result in less influence for the communities you represent. Thank you again for your service. I look forward to your thoughts on these important matters. Yours sincerely, [Your Name]