Opinion : Let’s have more elected ‘Commissioners’

Last Thursday, 5th May 2016, we all had the opportunity to vote for the Police and Crime Commissioner.

My good self made the trek to the polling station and cast my vote, after all being able to vote in a democratic election is a freedom that my ancestors fought for so I view it as my duty to use my vote.

When the role of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) was first created, back in 2012, some said that it was a ‘token’ role and not much would change. However I took a different view.

At least with a PCC in post there is someone to hold the police to account. We know who the person is who being tasked with cutting crime and delivering an effective and efficient police service in our area. What’s more we can elect that person so, as in a true democracy we, the people, can say who is in charge.

Personally I would like to see more elected ‘Commissioners’.

How about a Health Commissioner to look after the hospitals and heath care in our region? Maybe they may even take the obvious decision to restore full A&E services to Wycombe Hospital?

A Transport Commissioner would be able to get to grips with the roads and eliminate the potholes that blight so many roads in Wycombe. They might also have influence to rebuild the railway line from Wycombe to Marlow so people could travel easily between the two towns.

Perhaps if we had a Town Commissioner they could install a fountain on Frogmoor and start to tackle the problem of empty shop units in the town?

A Housing Commissioner could make sure there are enough houses for people living in the town and that large areas are not swallowed up by moneymaking landlords who create houses of multiple occupancy in buy-to-let accommodation instead of the houses being available for families to live in.

When you think about it having someone that we can elect who is directly accountable is an excellent idea. Of course for the powers that be to create such posts it would be a bold step forward.

The questions is why stop with a crime commissioner and leave other major areas of society ‘non-commissioned’ so to speak?

If the role of Police and Crime Commissioner is working on a national scale then surely it makes sense to create similar posts for the other areas of society?

What do you think?

*My blogs are published every Tuesday and Friday evening around 8.00pm here on the WycombeToday.com website.

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