@hicksy2 @mike @pikesley @jon @Thebratdragon @anon_opin and the right to spend that on providing a public service
(whilst one might be inclined to expect that local councils, bodies elected to provide local services, are allowed to provide services, the reality is …thatcher'd)
@purple @hicksy2 @mike @pikesley @Thebratdragon @anon_opin you all realise parliament can pass laws right? If they really wanted to they could just pass one that says all the bus companies belong to councils now, but everyone is so absorbed in the idea that we can’t upset businesses or The Market we refuse to do anything good.
@jon @pikesley @mike @Thebratdragon @anon_opin @hicksy2 Parliament certainly can pass laws, indeed there is a Bus Services Bill in progress at the moment which seems broadly positive, we also have a centuries long history of compulsory purchase and nationalisation, forgotten in more recent times, and I for one would welcome renewed use of such measures — I'd also really like our democratically elected local bodies to be allowed to carry out local wishes!
Locals want a public pool? The council should be allowed to do that. A development is against peoples wishes? The council should have real power to block it!
The point I beleive @hicksy2 and I were making is: Councils, as-is, can't simply go out and become a bus operator, largely no matter how much they or local people wish it.
Laws would in fact need to be changed, not to mention councils returned to a semblance of financial viability.
This isn't any kind of ‘oh it can't be done’ or ‘think of the markets’, it's a statement of realities to be overcome.
