Winchester Independents

In May 2016, an unusual event will be happening in Winchester City Council’s electoral cycle: all seats on the Council will be up for re-election because of ward boundary changes*.

This presents a unique opportunity to change the face of local democracy. There is mounting public concern about how Winchester City Council has been doing the job that it is elected to do, and that change is desperately needed.

Winchester Independents is a group of Winchester residents from across the community who want change. The group believes that the corrosive and divisive nature of national party politics has no place in local government, and wants to shift the control of local decision-making over to fresh-thinking, independent-minded, local people.

It’s a growing trend. People all over the country are taking back control of their own towns and districts from distant national bodies by electing councillors who think independently. If Frome, in Somerset, can achieve the seemingly impossible – a clean sweep of the old Council replaced completely by independents – then we should try in Winchester.

(*Download new ward boundaries map here)

More information:
Winchester Independents
is campaigning for a Council that:

turns its back on party politics, which can be corrosive and divisive

reverts to a committee system of governance, which ensures a fairer, more democratic, way of working

elects its Councillors every four years to ensure greater stability for Councillors and Officers alike

understands the character of Winchester and its District, and with a vision and planning policies that respect it

is managed by Officers who share that vision, respect and support elected Councillors, and accept their full accountability to them

is Councillor-led, and engages with - and listens to - the people it represents and keeps them informed in return

attracts candidates for election with a wider range of age, background experience and knowledge

A more detailed description of our Aims and Ways of Working is set out in our interim Constitution, which can be downloaded here

Winchester Independents is about real democracy and about ensuring that our city and district develops in a way that benefits its people. It’s not about being concerned with what parties say or do but having, instead, a new type of Councillor who can think and act independently to deliver what you – the residents, voters and taxpayers – want for the future.

There’s a wind of change in local democracy; please support us in our aims.

LATEST

The inaugural public meeting of the Winchester Independents took place on Thursday March 17th 2016, at St Peter’s Church Hall in Jewry Street.
The packed hall listened to speakers from across the south talk about their experience of bringing about change in local government, followed by questions and lively debate. Several people put themselves forward as potential candidates; many more offered help and support - and we raised over £400 in donations. Read more about the meeting via this link to The Hampshire Chronicle website:
Hampshire Chronicle Article

Press links

http://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/14302817.Independents_to_take_on_council_with__new_vision__for_city/

http://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/14314253.Independents_campaign___City_people_should_make_city_decisions_/

http://www.hampshirechronicle.co.uk/news/14322129.Chronicle_leader__Local_decisions_by_local_people_/