0003230
G.F. 323
CONFIDENTIAL
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political policy which has surely proved its value over and over
again during the last twenty years. Even if the next specific
step proposed involves no such substantial modifications we must
surely be looking ahead another twenty years and considering whether
a policy of raising the status of the Council can be safely sustained
in the long run.
13. I think the time has come to call a halt. It is not clear to
me to what extent we are already committed to the devolution of some
degree of financial autonomy to the Council, but if this is to be
done I believe it is important to do it in a manner which can be fitted
into some coherent policy. I can see no case for the arbitrary
earmarking of funds from one particular source, for example rates,
for the services with which the Council happens to be concerned,
although good arguments could probably be developed for allowing the
Council more freedom to decide upon questions of priority and emphasis
within the limited field with which it is concerned. This really
amounts to no more than accepting its advice rather than rejecting it.
14. It seems to me that if we are to aim at a prolonged period
of internal political stability we must devise means whereby such pressure for public participation in administration as develops, can be found safe and constructive outlets as far as possible within the framework of the present policy and organisation. What is required
is not a specific act of reform or constitutional change but a flexible policy which can be sustained for years and which can provide for a coherent and continuing series of small reforms or changes to
meet legitimate pressures as they develop.
A New Approach
15. I would like to propose a new approach involving two parallel
developments.
a) The development of existing consultative
bodies into more formal or statutory bodies
/with