10 signatures reached
To: Paul Mackings, Leader of South Tyneside Council.
Time for transparency in South Tyneside Council decision-making.
Decisions which impact every South Tyneside resident have little or no public scrutiny - we’re calling on the Leader of South Tyneside Council to support greater transparency in decision-making inside and outside of the authority.
We the signatories support the proposal by Citizens Assembly South Tyneside (CAST) for a full scrutiny of STC’s proposals and decisions which impact on the well-being of the community - including an audit of STC financial resources - by an independent panel sitting in public, with all findings published.
We the signatories support the proposal by Citizens Assembly South Tyneside (CAST) for a full scrutiny of STC’s proposals and decisions which impact on the well-being of the community - including an audit of STC financial resources - by an independent panel sitting in public, with all findings published.
Why is this important?
Decisions made in a borough with a huge debt burden, can be immensely contentious.
Decision-making with little to no scrutiny is not helping the situation.
This lack of transparency about how/why decisions are made is damaging public confidence in our local institutions and not the way to build a healthy, democratic system.
CAST was formed in 2019 by local people who felt that our 'ordinary' voices were seldom heard, even less often acted on, by those taking the decisions on our behalf. Since then, we've aimed to redress that balance by engaging the very people who live with the consequences - those whose lives are affected the most yet who seem to be consulted the least - YOU!
Now is the time for 'Community-Driven, People-Powered Change' in South Tyneside!
Statement updated for clarity (22/06/2026):
The aim of this petition is NOT to attack any one political party.
On the contrary, an independent and transparent decision-making process will eliminate accusations of cronyism, nepotism and corruption - something which has ravaged our borough for decades.
CAST is a local grassroots organisation. We are completely independent and non-party political. We have NO political affiliations and our democratic projects are fully funded by our members.
Decision-making with little to no scrutiny is not helping the situation.
This lack of transparency about how/why decisions are made is damaging public confidence in our local institutions and not the way to build a healthy, democratic system.
CAST was formed in 2019 by local people who felt that our 'ordinary' voices were seldom heard, even less often acted on, by those taking the decisions on our behalf. Since then, we've aimed to redress that balance by engaging the very people who live with the consequences - those whose lives are affected the most yet who seem to be consulted the least - YOU!
Now is the time for 'Community-Driven, People-Powered Change' in South Tyneside!
Statement updated for clarity (22/06/2026):
The aim of this petition is NOT to attack any one political party.
On the contrary, an independent and transparent decision-making process will eliminate accusations of cronyism, nepotism and corruption - something which has ravaged our borough for decades.
CAST is a local grassroots organisation. We are completely independent and non-party political. We have NO political affiliations and our democratic projects are fully funded by our members.
