Havering councillors are mostly male, elderly, wealthy property owners.1 Their biases are revealed when setting the council’s budget. The classic example is the 30 minutes free parking policy, privileging motorists above other, non-statutory, priorities. It isn’t hard to imagine what a council with a majority of young mothers, would prioritise. Council tax payers are paying for the biases of councillors, which is the price of the democratic deficit.
Home-owners
Havering’s councillors are relatively old, with a third being 60+, which implies they are home-owners.2 Home-ownership is revealed by Register of Interests statements.3 Additionally sixteen councillors (29%) own two or more houses, making them very wealthy.4
Religion
Inexplicably Council meeting begin with Christian prayers. 30% of British people say they’re atheist, with only half claiming to be Christian.5 It’s probable most councillors are token Christians, atheist, or, of other faiths. Prayers are said by a priest offering Divine Guidance.
Diversity
A fifth of Havering’s residents weren’t born in Britain.6 They aren’t represented in the council chamber. Neither are the under 35s or the disabled.
Allowances
Astonishingly councillors receive an ‘allowance,’ which they qualify for by attending one meeting every six months.8 Nine cabinet members are paid £35,000, which is just below the average wage of Havering’s residents. Two get more. Five cabinet members work and their £35,000 is for a part-time role.9
Discussion
This is the outcome of Havering’s democratic deficit. No-one is to blame.Very low turnout at local elections is grim proof of the deficit. Active politics is a minority ‘sport’ with few willing to participate, even marginally. Democracy is about who can be bothered. Havering’s council accurately reflects the democratic will of the people.
Like it or not.
Notes
1 Your Councillors | The London Borough Of Havering Councillors don’t reveal their age but the Register of Interests points to 32% being retired. Five female councillors are retired. Collectively 42% of Havering’s councillors are retired. This isn’t definitive and it’s possible the figure is larger, and very unlikely to be smaller.
2 Chapter7olderpeoplechapter7v21.pdf (haveringdata.net)
3 The Register of Interests is a legal document, which is treated with contempt by some councillors. Classically there is Ray Best’s ‘statement’. mgConvert2PDF.aspx (havering.gov.uk) Most councillors fill in their Register statements diligently
4 Housing prices in Havering (ons.gov.uk)
5 How life has changed in Havering: Census 2021 (ons.gov.uk) see also The Church is losing an entire generation. Here’s what you can do about it | Magazine Features | Premier Christianity The other 20% belong to various non-Christian religious faiths
6 loc.cit
7 *Young* is ambiguous and will become more so when the voting age is reduced to 16 years old.
8 Councillors attendance summary, 15 January 2024 – 9 July 2024 | The London Borough Of Havering
9 For the list of principal allowances which are in addition to the basic £10,412 for all councillors Issue – items at meetings – MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES SCHEME | The London Borough Of Havering Councillors set the amounts they receive through a vote.
Politics in Havering 