IN governance, change is often heralded as progress. Yet when change is pursued without clear rationale, consultation, or strategic foresight it risks becoming a hollow exercise that undermines public trust and institutional integrity.

Governments are custodians of continuity as much as they are agents of reform. When policies, structures, or personnel are altered simply to signal dynamism or to distance themselves from their predecessors, the result is often unnecessary disruption. This kind of change is rooted in optics rather than outcomes, which can erode the very systems it aims to improve.

One of the most damaging consequences is the loss of institutional memory. Civil servants like myself, and local authorities rely on accumulated knowledge, relationships, and procedural clarity to deliver services effectively. In cities like Truro, where regeneration projects and transport strategies require sustained collaboration, whimsical shifts in direction can jeopardise years of groundwork.

Moreover, unnecessary reform and change for its own sake, justified by high taxation often lacks democratic legitimacy, and alienates communities. In an era of constrained budgets and rising demand for new initiatives without clarity resources are diverted from frontline services, which is wrong. This reinforces cynicism and citizens begin to see politics as performative, where decisions are made to satisfy headlines rather than solve problems. Taxes should not be overly tinkered with but should reflect change in circumstances. How is a nation to know where to go otherwise?

There is a bond between governments and the people. True leadership lies not in constant reinvention, but in thoughtful stewardship. Change should be rooted in evidence, guided by values, and responsive to the lived realities of citizens. It should build on what works, acknowledge complexity, and resist the allure of change for change's sake.

James Tucker, Conservative, Truro City Council – Tregolls Ward