A message from campaign leader, Cllr. Christopher Groome

"If, like me, you care about the way Kettering Borough is run, you too will be worried about the concentration of power in the hands of one person and five of his 'buddies' from the same party on the Council.  

The traditional committee system involving all 45 councillors has just been scrapped by a narrow 21/20 vote. Yes it was cumbersome, but it had the merit of including all shades of opinion and all areas of the Borough in decision-making.   Now, important decisions are being made by six people from one party (the Labour Party) and the areas represented by other councillors, even from the Labour Party, are left out.

The system needed to be changed but reversion to a one-party clique, made illegal in the 1980s, does not marry up with the advertised slogan of "democratic and accountable".

What most people tell me they want in local government is less party politics, more direct choice, more respect for their views and less waste.

Over the next year we shall be seeking public support for a complete re-think based on:

• A mayor directly elected by all the people of Kettering to lead the Council
• Halving of the number of councillors - saving at least £100,000 of Council Tax payers' money a year.
• Abolition of political assistants paid by the Council rather than the political parties saving £60,000 a year.
• Involvement of all shades of opinion, balancing speed and quality of decision-making."