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After the malaise in Westminster, Nicola Bulbeck offers a good dose of common sense to cure the problems of MPs The national expenses humiliation has left more than a sour taste in the mouths of local politicians, with much of the public backlash felt during the usual ‘pressing the flesh-baby-kissing' door-stepping action which precedes elections. Barraged by negative public disapproval and disappointment, and tarnished with the same brush at a local level, campaigning councillors faced a challenge overcoming the problems of their national party members. As one leading South Devon politician put it: ‘The public feel like disappointed parents, with a child who has taken money from a purse or wallet'. With day-to-day living costs so high, negative equity on ‘first' – and usually only – homes, and falling incomes for many, the offenders couldn't have chosen a better way to disengage with their public. However, timing is everything, and the public had the power of the local ballot box, just when they needed it – if they felt motivated enough to get to it. The South West was in pole position to observe the swing – or was it a ‘flip' – to UKIP and Conservatives at first hand through combined county and European elections. And with local politicians feeling the national burn, it's clear that a local looking glass might be a very useful commodity for national government right now. So, just how did national politicians and civil servants manage to get it so wrong, while the majority of local councillors continue to balance ever-decreasing budgets, deliver cost-conscious and improving services, absorb relentless assessments, and claim allowances that their public find fair? One answer lies in the integrity of the council body, and in Teignbridge, members of all political colours are united in asking the question: ‘Can we afford to freeze allowances again?' rather than, ‘How much can I cream off taxpayers this time?' Of course, the back-drop of checks, including Standards committee, general declaration of interest notice, code of conduct, independent panel recommended expenses, publication of all expenses annually, and the Encyclopedia Britannica of details released via Freedom of Information requests, certainly help deter greed. But anyone determined to do well from inappropriate use and abuse of the public's money could still find a way. Given that I believe that many local politicians are excellent role models for their national counter-parts, how might local learning be shared? National and local politicians all serve the same term, so how about a boot camp training session for the most errant among the offenders, and those who would value the experience of the shop floor. A bit of a session spent balancing expectations against competing priorities, a deluge of national initiatives, partnership hand-me-downs from police and PCT – we'll hum it, you do it – and the need to be re-elected, would offer a sharp reality check. And if that fails, how about one of the ever-popular government toolkits, perhaps first aid for Parliamentary de-tox, to include: Diagnose and prescribe: Fix the damage with checks and balances similar to those which already exist for local government and some other national governments. After all, how does the Mother of Parliaments fail to establish a system, already long-adopted by her New World descendants, which protects taxpayers against financial abuse? Test temperature: Assess spending on personal allowances and expenses against budgeting demands. If there isn't a clear justification and/or direct service/public benefit, don't allow it. A three-year freeze on Teignbridge allowances has seen lap-tops funded for all councillors to reduce paper use, and much-needed extra cash injected into vital local credit crunch projects at a time of real need. Monitor pulse: Carry out spot checks to ensure the rules are being observed, in spirit as well as in fact, expose any proven offenders and apply strict sanctions, including expulsion. Apply balm: Taxpayers and voters throughout the country feel aggrieved and in need of proof that politicians, especially MPs, are worthy of respect and support. Invest in first-class customer relations, walk the talk, beat Freedom of Information Act relapses with comprehensive websites, and carry out work which makes a difference to constituents to rebuild reputations. Adopt a healthier diet: Ensure the slimmed-down lifestyle changes are real and permanent, and make certain that there is no room for the pounds to creep back on. Could you justify what you have consumed to the constituent on the Clapham Bendy bus? With evidence of key changes, rigorous checks and a more transparent system, taxpayer support may return and the UK Parliament will once more complement, rather than cause catastrophe to its local counterparts. Nicola Bulbeck is chief executive of Teignbridge DC

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WHITEHALL

Curing Parliament's ills

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