"When Councillor Greenwood first introduced us to his brave new world of the 2020 vision he likened his feelings to those of a person watching men walk on the moon. A new dawn, a new era.
I have to admit that I was also quite taken in by it all, I came along to the special sessions for councillors, have to admit was a bit sceptical when the facilitator would only accept warm words not actual activities. But nevertheless I have to confess to being one of those families who filled in the card and sent it in with our contribution to the vision for the future.
I am sure that I will like this world promised in the document, there is not a lot in it you could object to.
I am concerned that there is little mention of communities, very little that people could identify and own.
I am very concerned that of the 9 "quality of life" indicators, only 3 are local indicators, the other 6 being imposed nationally. The explanation for this is that they are the ones that are there on prescription for measuring our health, not what we think is good for us.
But then this is not a vision that is owned by us and there is the problem.
Any organisation which has undergone any major change which involved first producing a vision has to keep the vision alive and relevant and owned by the people.
After much public involvement, the creation of interest and excitement, the engagement of people in creating a vision for their Bradford - then we hand it over to Bradford Congress because they own it.
Well it was news to me, I've gone back and looked at the documents, no mention of Bradford Congress owning anything, not on the papers, not on the pens, not on the postcards and not on the placards hauled around the town.
Not in Councillor Greenwood's passion for his brave new world as he launched Bradford into the new millennium with amendment E. Lots of mentions of partners and audiences but not one mention that the people's vision of Bradford was to be owned by a quango.
Would the people of Bradford joined in so readily if they had known is was a vision to be owned by a private group, who meet in private and keep private notes.
I've been looking for Bradford Congress - funnily enough for an organisation dedicated to a vision that has at its heart: "Building an international reputation as a centre for the development, production and use of Information and Communication Technologies", a quick search of the web will take you to Bradford Congress in Florida and to the KDIS website which has a short but not so flattering account of who runs Bradford.
I also found Bradford Congress in "Briefing Bradford" - thanks to the voluntary sector. I am informed that Bradford Congress is to be restructured, renamed and relaunched in order to adopt and develop the 2020 vision. Like the council, it is to have a small executive group, a chairman group, special interest groups and executive plan priority groups. With a removal of faith communities, trade unions and the voluntary sector from the senior tiers. Oh and by the way Margaret, the opposition has been removed from it entirely.
I'm also grateful to Briefing Bradford for the news that we have a new lead member for the voluntary sector, a new lead member for Youth Services and in a surprise move community safety has moved to community development.
All prepared to be contacted, that's if you knew who they were and welcoming the clarity that single councillor responsibility brings and presumably welcoming the lack of accountability that being anonymous brings.
I welcome the fact that Bradford has at least some clarity of vision and purpose given that political direction under Labour has been barely discernible. We are however extremely concerned that the ownership is now with a private quango.
Central government has placed a duty on us to ensure the social, economic and environmental wellbeing and sustainability of Bradford. One of the guiding principals for a better quality of life is transparency, information, participation and access. I think we have a long way to go!"
Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, March 1, 2000