Elmbridge 50 ⁺ - Our Ways and Means

Elmbridge as a community has al least its fair share of individuals who take an active interest in local affairs, who if sufficiently motivated for a variety of reasons are prepared to try to understand what is - and equally importantly what is not - happening that might affect the quality of life here. Such people may prefer to work alone, but to have any impact, their work does need to be promoted and taken up by a wider circle of concerned residents. How this can be done, against a general background of apathy (“What’s the use? No-one ever takes any notice of what we say, anyway”), presents quite a challenge.

Perhaps a good staring-point is to consider the groups whose members may include those who have real concerns, but have come to the conclusion that nothing much can be done by the general public to address them. Such groups might include the University of the Third Age (U3A), and the many local Residents’ Associations (RAs).

The Elmbridge College of U3A has an active membership of enthusiastic and eager students. Community affairs is not one of the courses offered, but many of its members do take a keen interest in local affairs. They may find the over-arching approach of 50 ⁺ a venture that appeals.

Elmbridge Borough Council has a database of 20 RAs. These are organised with a geographical or horizontal structure. Some of these are rather localised, promoting a limited vision perspective. Eight are representative of a wider area and hence cover a range of issues. Most of these are linked as the Elmbridge Residents Group, whose members nominate candidates to stand for election as Borough and County Councillors, independent of national party allegiance. Nevertheless, local politics do enter into the arena and affect their actions and decisions within the Borough and County Councils.

The Weybridge Society is exceptional, whose constitution does not permit election candidates to stand under the banner of the Society. It is also organised with sub-groups to focus on particular aspects of their community, such as transport and planning. Such wide issues affect not only their members, but often transcend the boundaries of any one Association.

This is where a Borough-wide 50 ⁺ can provide a valuable coordination role. Elmbridge 50 ⁺ takes a wider, functional, vertical, and strictly non-political view across the whole Borough. It aims to draw together the work and experience of all residents, including those in U3A and sub-groups in the various RAs; and so working together in Focus Groups.

The intention is that like-minded individuals whether or not so organised will be able to take an active role these groups. These groups will have to be self-motivated and essentially autonomous, with the 50 ⁺ network providing only a limited facilitating role.

It remains to be seen if our Borough and County Councillors will appreciate the benefit of, and so support, the specialised and well-informed back-up work available from the Focus groups. The attitude of the Elmbridge Residents Group, electing their own Councillors, will be alos interesting to see. Will they support the 50 ⁺ venture; or will see this as somewhat of a distraction from, or even a threat to, their own activities?

An important benefit to all residents, regardless of their membership or not of the U3A or an RA, will be the 50 ⁺ website. This will enable the work of the Focus Groups to be published for a Borough-wide circulation.

So much for the theory. How this can be applied in practice is considered in Influencing People. Specific procedures are given in the (draft) Rules of Elmbridge 50 ⁺.

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