Elbert Westerbeek wants residents in Drenthe to have codecision rights and is seeking support for two proposals that he is trying to get on the agenda of the Provincial Council of Drenthe.
On 13 July, the proposal for a Referendum on the agenda was voted down by the Provincial Council of Drenthe. There is, however, some support for a citizens’ council. But the question is also whether this will give residents real influence and participation.
I understand that it is difficult for States members to lose ‘power’ or ‘prestige’ because they no longer have the exclusive right to decision-making or to be corrected by a corrective referendum if a decision does not match the wishes and/or interests of the inhabitants.
The States members are simply elected to represent the inhabitants. The only question is whether they actually still do this and whether this is also experienced by residents!
Not transparent
The policy, the rules and the underlying intentions and agendas are often too complex and impenetrable and therefore not transparent. We as residents sometimes have no idea what is being decided about our backs behind and in front of the scenes. Sometimes the rules can no longer be followed.
There are also many organizations, interest groups, banks, investment funds and companies, whether or not subsidized by the government, that sometimes contribute visibly and more often invisibly co-determine policy through lobbying. The residents are sidelined in this and because of this.
Participation procedures often turn out to be a fake, the province ultimately decides what it wants. At least that is the image that remains. See the recent cases around the N34. The distance between the administrative reality and the reality of residents is often quite different.
Limited view
Poverty, the sometimes stifling zoning plans, the perhaps too limited definition of nature, the limited view of the energy supply, the many accidents due to unresolved traffic bottlenecks or design errors, the stagnant (youth) care, the one-sided approach to mental health care, the right to exist of Farmers, etc.
These all require a broader view from the point of view of feeling and common sense. The point is that there will be less treatment of symptoms and fewer policy memorandums and (mandatory) regulations, but more solutions supported by residents. Policy choices are now often based on too limited a number of options, while often many more solutions can be devised.
I would like to offer a solution for this with a number of proposals. That is why I have submitted two proposals for agenda-setting to the Province of Drenthe, to ensure that the voice and intentions of the Drenthe are reflected in the underlying agendas and policy.
Two agenda proposals
This concerns:
1. Vision Center Province of Drenthe: In a Vision Center residents can develop a vision together and arrive at solutions and decisions in a complementary manner. The center can guide vision and decision-making processes and can deal with all possible local and/or provincial subjects and themes that residents or organizations put forward.
2. Permanent Residents Council of the Province of Drenthe. A Provincial Residents’ Council must be established by drawing lots, which itself can propose scenarios, themes and subjects and can provide solicited and unsolicited advice. The residents are paid (part-time) so that the turnout is high and all layers of the population also have the opportunity, opportunity and motivation to participate. The Residents Council can submit its proposals to the other residents of Drenthe through local meetings, polls and/or internal binding referenda to review and/or decide on their proposals.
I ask all Drenthe who wish to support these proposals via drentsparlement.nl/agenderingsrecht . 400 votes are needed for these proposals to be discussed by the Drenthe Parliament.
Residents should be given co-decision rights to devise and possibly implement policies that in turn really serve the residents and actually solve problems that are experienced.
Elbert Westerbeek was involved in Yellow Vests from Emmen and initiator of Local Interest Southeast