Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
has normally been represented by a formally constituted sub-committee of the town
council. The members of this committee would typically include the town coun-
cillors supporting the Cittaslow membership, together with representatives of key
public, commercial and voluntary organisations. Pink provides an outline of the
Cittaslow Committee in Aylsham, U.K.
(It is) Chaired by … a Town Councillor … and a leader in the Citt¢slow process, its mem-
bership consisted of representatives of a wide range of agencies in the town, including the
Traders' Association, the Felllowship of Churches, the Aylsham Partnership, the County
Council, Slow Food Aylsham and the Aylsham Guides. The Committee also divided some
aspects of its work into two further sub-committees, the Carnival Committee and the Arts
Committee, later (in April 2006) amalgamated into one committee, the Citt¢slow Commu-
nity Events Committee. (Pink
2008
, p. 173)
As a legally constituted element of local government, members of Cittaslow Com-
mittees act in order to initiate policies in line with the goals they have agreed with
the International Cittaslow movement.
Cittaslow's formalized position within the structure of local government led Pink
to observe that it provides a further example of the trend identified by Mayer (
2006
,
p. 203), namely closer relationships between urban social movements and the state
(Pink
2009
, p. 457). This relation may also be considered as a form of corporat-
ism (Simmie
1981
), in which social and environmental interests align with small
businesses and the state at the local level. Although Cittaslow's incorporation into
local government may point to a closer relation between the local state and social
movements, it is nevertheless a delicate relation that may be broken. In April 2011,
Ludlow Town Council—the first member of Cittaslow in the UK—took the deci-
sion not to re-apply for membership of the organization in 2011/2012. The minutes
of the meeting of Ludlow Town Council on 18th April 2011 stated:
Members discussed the Town Council's continuing membership of Cittaslow. Each mem-
ber expressed their views regarding the benefits to the town and how controversial the issue
had become within the town and Council. Resolved: That Ludlow Town Council does not
apply for membership of Cittalow when the CIC (Community Interest Company) ends.
(Ludlow City Council 2011)
Furthermore, it is worth noting that the longevity of a town's relationship is often
based upon the electoral fortunes of the persons supporting Cittaslow within each
town. This may be a weakness, since if the members supporting the organization
lose their seats it should not be assumed that new councillors will continue to sup-
port membership of the movement. However, in some cases this problem may be
resolved when a town council's Cittaslow sub-committee is comprised of council-
lors and non-councillors. For example, Cittaslow U.K.'s website notes that Ludlow,
a former member, provided a more open form of participation in local democracy:
Ludlow operates as a part of the Town Council but includes non-councillors in the demo-
cratic process. Indeed, non-councillors have so far been in the majority in Cittaslow Ludlow
meetings, which are attended by representatives of a wide range of Ludlow organisations…
and representatives of South Shropshire District Council. Individuals who represent a par-
ticular concern or interest are also welcomed. …Participation in local democracy is wid-
ened, and the Cittaslow Goals provide a set of ambitions that local organisations find it easy
to sign up to, and work towards. (Cittaslow Ludlow
2006
)