The following writings have been "borrowed" (or unashamedly plagiarised, depending on your point of view) from Local Edition, The social enterprise newspaper for communities in and around Burslem, Tunstall, Cobridge and Middleport (http://www.localedition.org.uk Copyright Social Media CIC).

In May, the Governance Commission, appointed by the minister for Local Government, reported on a serious failure in the political life of Stoke-on-Trent. Calling it a "last chance saloon", the Commission expressed their "excitement and dismay" and handed the report back to the people of Stoke-on-Trent. Political engagement touches on so many parts of our lives. The victims of its failure are the most vulnerable people in society. Whether it's a petition that doesn't even get acknowledged or a family who end up homeless because support hasn't been put in place, the results have damaged our communities. From the perspective of a local newspaper, we see the similarities in ideas that come up all the time, whether you're talking to a council portfolio holder, a school group or a residents' association member. Decades of suspicion, division and mistakes have destroyed trust between those in power and those without. The current generation of leaders and many consultants - not just within the council - have an unfortunate tendency to assume that they have a monopoly on hard work and ideas, that they know best and that people are just standing in the way of progress. This was never the case, but if you ignore people for long enough it's easier to pretend they're not there. There is no longer any excuse for this kind of attitude by those who are paid to serve our communities. There is no vacuum here, full of people waiting to be saved; there are vibrant communities who, with better governance, more opportunities and well-used resources, can turn this place back into an exciting, industrious and world-famous place. Let's just imagine for a minute that nobody is to blame. Or that everybody is. What if we assume that while there may have been a complete breakdown in the relationship, a fresh start is possible. That isnt to say people shouldn't still feel angry and seek redress for failure, but that en­ergy should be focussed on creating a fair, clear system where frustration is not left to fester and where ideas can blossom. So, sick of politics though you may be - and we know, oh we know, how that feels - we urge everyone reading this issue to give a little attention and time to making a difference, however small. A combination of factors - unprecedented national attention by a government that wants to finally shake off the poverty indicators that blacken our city, millions of pounds of regeneration money, a more diverse local media that we have ever had before and a new wave of grassroots organisations and small businesses adding to the quiet hard work put in by people over decades - mean that participation is no longer a nice buzzword for consultants, it is the vital component of improving the city. We all have a part