Issue - meetings

Report number DEM039 by the Access and Engagement Portfolio Holder.

                                                                                                (Enclosure)

DECISION:

(1)    That the Council carries out the statutory consultation with electors and other interested persons on the new executive arrangements using its website and SKToday;

(2)    To approve the proposed timetable as appended to report DEM039 for the consultation period and implementation of the new executive arrangements;

(3)    That a letter be sent on behalf of the Council to the Local Government Association to express this authority’s frustration at the amount of legislation passed by central government controlling the way local councils operate.

The Access and Engagement Portfolio Holder presented report number DEM039 which referred to the new statutory requirement upon the council to consult on and implement new executive arrangements under Part 3 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.  The portfolio holder moved the recommendations contained in the report that the council’s website and its SKToday publication be used for consulting residents and other interested parties and the timetable for implementation be that as appended to the report.  The motion was seconded.

A member expressed concern that the proposed methods of consultation were not wide enough and should include direct consultation with all town and parish councils.  It was suggested that members could refer to the issue in their own newsletters and it could also be discussed at the summer round of Local Forums.  The member asked for clarification on what was meant by the public’s views being “taken into account” and requested that all group leaders be kept informed of the feedback received from the consultation.  The Monitoring Officer advised that the consultation was an opportunity for the public to comment on either of the two permissible models of executive arrangements; it was not a matter on which they could vote.  She also stated that copies of SKToday were sent to every household within the district thereby ensuring a wide coverage.

Further concerns were then expressed at what was seen as a further bureaucratic imposition by central government which would inevitably have cost implications.  It was questioned whether a six week consultation period would be sufficient for people to take in the detail of this new legislation.  Noting that the new executive arrangements provided for a Leader to be elected for a four year term of office, officers were asked what would happen if the political balance of a council was to change during that term of office.  The Monitoring Officer advised that constitutional provision could be made to remove a Leader by resolution of the council.

The Leader stated that although she agreed with the proposed consultation methods she was extremely frustrated at yet further intervention by central government over what local government could do for its communities.  She made the point that ten years ago local authorities were able to make far more local choices but a constant stream of legislation now fettered that choice.  Local councils’ time would be far better spent on doing what their communities wanted them to do.

In support of the Leader’s comments, another member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18