‘Let’s measure committee attendance and contribution’

I’m writing as a local political observer and someone who has actually been a member of government via four and a half years as a non-voting member of ESS on the frustration I feel of some deputies who worked hard to gain a seat but seemingly not grasping the opportunity to make the most of it for us.

We are only six months in but already I’m tired of hearing some deputies blame the ‘system of government’, or the lack of government key performance indicators, or the code of conduct holding them back, for why nothing gets done.

It’s like a bad builder blaming their tools but the problem is, some of us are swallowing it.

Why is it only government that should be measured? Lets measure these deputies via KPIs too.

Some won’t go on committees. Others apparently aren’t turning up to meetings when they are on committees.

That’s not a broken system, that’s a lack of effort. Let’s measure committee attendance and contribution. The same with constituency work.

How many people have they actually helped? How many people were able to get past the out-of-office email reply. Not just ‘raised issues’, not just Facebook posts – actual outcomes and resolutions for people.

And if they want to change how government works and make a contribution, let’s measure deputies against successful amendments they’ve laid and got through.

Where’s the rolling the sleeves up, getting stuck in, hard graft, taking some of the burden, instead of constant whining and complaining?

Being a people’s deputy should be more than just asking questions and posting online to keep engagement up – but with no substance to the posts. It’s supposed to be a proper job.

Roll your sleeves up, get stuck in and stop pretending the tools are the problem.

Or, leave and let those of us with real drive to do the job and make positive change have the opportunity.

Ross Le Brun