The Town that shaped its world: Pam Barrett on FlatPack/DIY Democracy and taking charge of politics

We all know national politics is in chaos. But local governance can be a place of enlivening, inspiring, radical change. Pam Barrett speaks of her work to change the nature of her local town council - what she achieved - and how we can do the same.

Pam Barrett worked at the heart of the Westminster government's civil service. Then she moved to picturesque Buckfastleigh, a mill town on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon, and began to see how badly the town was served by the town and regional councils. She started a group to preserve the town's only swimming pool. That grew, and the pool was saved, and she moved on, in time, to stand as an independent for the town council. A group of others stood with her, and they gained 9 seats on a 12 seat council. Which meant they could do things, make things happen... discover the freedom that local democracy gives if it truly serves the local people.

With the newly independent group on the local council, the concept of 'of the people, by the people, for the people' took on new meaning. They moved the council to a bigger room and made the proceedings far more transparent. They asked local people what they wanted to do - and then worked out how much it would cost.. .23p per household per week to really keep the swimming pool open, other bits for other things, amounting to an extra 97p per household per week. And then they let local people decide if they wanted that...

and, like almost all participatory budgeting, when people have a chance to really see what their money goes towards - they did want it, and they were happy to pay. So that four years later, when the council came up for re-election, 10 independent councillors stood and 10 were elected.

Pam's story is one of agency, and local empowerment and it can play out pretty much anywhere in the world where democracy is still alive. Listen in and be inspired - then go out and see what you can do in your local area.

FlatPack Democracy: https://www.flatpackdemocracy.co.uk

Trust the People online Training: https://actionnetwork.org/events/trust-the-people-online-course-spring-2021

Be Buckfastleigh: https://bebuckfastleigh.co.uk

Positive News on Pam Barrett and Buckfastleigh: https://www.positive.news/uk/the-devonshire-town-that-transformed-local-democracy/

Handforth Parish Council Zoom call (full) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsalmnyed7k

Handforth Parish Council Zoom (highlights) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgGmYeAm0jk