Agenda item

Feedback  from Working Group

Two Members of the Working Group began the discussion by giving their personal view of what they thought should happen with regard to the Cabinet verses Committee systems.  One Member felt that after speaking to various people there was not a problem with the current system perse it was just that Members had a feeling of non ownership, that they weren’t making decisions, only seven people made those decisions.  He felt that the Cabinet should have a shake up and be more transparent and fair.  If a committee structure was followed each should be quasi judicial, able to make their own decisions.  The second Member felt that by changing to a Committee system Members would feel more involved in decision making and although this may be costly in the short term in the long run there would be savings, Members he felt would feel more involved in a committee system based on the old system.  As the Cabinet was made up of one party he felt that other party’s views were ignored.

The Chairman informed the group that any committee system would have to be a new system and could not be based on the old committee system. PDG’s did not make decisions they were Policy Development Groups and made recommendations to Cabinet.  He then spoke about information that he had received from the Local Government Association LGA concerning governance.

-        Committees were autocratic

-        A determination had to be made on the number of committees required

-        The committees would have to be sub judicial in order to make their own decisions

-        The councillors on each committee would all be accountable for the decisions made.

-        If the Council was sued following a decision made, councillors maybe liable for the financial penalty

-        All decisions would have to go to Council and therefore a meeting of all chairmen of committees would have to be held before a council meeting

-        Chairmen of committees tended to be members of the ruling party

Using a version similar to the old committee system of governance:

-        Committees were democratic

-        All decisions had to go to Council to be ratified and could be amended by Council which would require the decision to go back to the original Committee to be re discussed and then back again to Council.

-        A meeting would have to be held with all Chairmen before the Council meeting.

-        Again all Chairman would in majority be in the ruling party (mini cabinet)

The Chairman made it clear to the Group that the LGA were not biased on either side.  He then spoke of the findings to date of the Working Group and why he felt that the remit of the Working Group should be amended to look at how the current Cabinet system could be improved.

A discussion followed with views being put forward about increasing the number of Members on PDG’s and the Working Group inviting Members from other parties to make presentations.  A remark was made about the Chairmanship of committees and it was stated that in reality whoever the majority party was had the right to choose the chairmanships.  One Member felt disenfranchised about being a Councillor and felt that she was not involved in the decision making process and would like a return to a committee structure.  She felt that Councillor Wood should have attended the meeting to put his case, however it was stated that he had been to a previous meeting and documentation that he had collected had been circulated to Members. Ms Drury confirmed that he had been invited to attend the Working Group but due to commitments had been unable to attend.

 It was commented that a Members level of involvement was a personal choice, Members could attend all meetings and with the permission of the Chairman in most cases could present their view on an issue.

The Chairman again put the proposal forward that the remit of the Working Group be changed to look at how the current Cabinet system could be improved.  The proposal was seconded and on being put to the vote carried. 

Councillor Woolley asked if she could be included on the Working Group and it was agreed that the Working Group going forward would comprise of Councillors Bisnauthsing, Robins and Woolley, Councillor Cook would step down.

(4.15pm Councillor Bisnauthsing left the meeting)

It was agreed that a letter be drafted to those who had originally signed the letter requesting that a return to the Committee system be looked at informing them that the remit of the Working Group had been changed.

>Action Note

A letter to be sent to those Members who had signed the letter requesting a return to the Committee system informing them of the change of remit of the Working Group