Issue - meetings

Cabinet resolved on the 10 July 2019 that the Overview Committee “carry out a review of the Council’s governance arrangements and options for change and reports its findings and recommendations back to Cabinet in due course.  The Overview Committee to set the terms of reference for carrying out the review and consideration of the alternative models”.

The report presented to Cabinet is included in the agenda papers.  The committee are asked to consider scoping this issue.  The Portfolio Holder for Transformation is invited to attend for this item.

At their meeting of 10 July, Cabinet resolved to instruct the Overview Committee to carry out a review of the Councils governance arrangements and options for change, and report back on its findings.  The Portfolio Holder for Transformation was also instructed to establish a Think Tank for the purpose of investigating the options for change.

The Chairman outlined the need for the committee to scope the project, and focus on why the change was sought.  This work would then lead to weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of the models of governance available.

Members of the committee and other councillors present put forward their views, including:

·         Councils with no overall control tend to have a Cabinet system and offer intense briefing to all councillors;

·         The culture of the council and the officer roles need to be examined as part of the process, including how staffing levels are determined;

·         Hybrid forms of models had been put in place in other authorities and should be examined;

·         No effective scrutiny function was currently in place, referenced by several councillors giving examples of previous work undertaken.  Scrutiny had been done of external bodies who were not obliged to take action on any recommendations made; but little of value of the work of the Cabinet;

·         More effective scrutiny in current Cabinet model could mean that no change of model is required;

·         Set up a shadow cabinet to closely follow the work of the Portfolio Holders;

·         Need to draw up scope and progress the work to look to have a new model in place from May 2020;

·         Report directly to Council with findings;

·         Time was needed for newly elected councillors to understand the processes of the current system and therefore any review of changing the model should wait until after May 2020;

·         Weighing up better engagement of a committee model against quicker decision process of Cabinet model;

·         Need to have a decision process that can act swiftly on financial decision, for example under Commercial Investment strategy;

·         Time and money impact of visiting other authorities to seek evidence;

·         Public have asked for change, evidenced by the outcome of the May 2019 election;

·         Members feel excluded and unable to influence decisions - Cabinet decisions seem agreed before discussion at Cabinet meetings;

·         Need to gather evidence and option, including on what decisions had already been made;

·         Strong leadership is key for any governance model;

·         Seek examples of authorities that have reverted back to a committee system;

·         LGiU document “Changing to a new committee system in a new era” was recommended to the committee.

The Portfolio Holder for Transformation welcomed any views from councillors, including those that had experience of both committee and Cabinet models.  He would be operating a think tank on a neutral approach, looking to build and evidence base to recommend a model before the next Annual Council.  He would look to provide an update report on his work at the next meeting of the committee.

Advice to the committee from the Strategic Lead for Governance and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15

At Annual Council it was confirmed by the Leader that the Council would have the opportunity of considering the alternative arrangements of a committee structure in place of the current Cabinet / Leader model. This report gives a brief background to the existing position and options for change and recommends that Members lead on the review of whether or not to adopt alternative arrangements. 

At Annual Council it was confirmed by the Leader that the Council would have the opportunity of considering the alternative arrangements of a committee structure in place of the current Cabinet / Leader model. The report by the Strategic Lead Governance & Licensing & Monitoring Officer, gave a brief background to the existing position and options for change and recommended that Members lead on the review of whether or not to adopt alternative arrangements. 

The Portfolio Holder Transformation suggested the need to start from the basics and look into other councils committee structures. He stated that any think tanks would have cross party membership.

Discussions included the following:

·       This had excellent potential with a strong scrutiny function element

·       Cross party working could be conducive and working with others grew mutual respect

RESOLVED:

1.     that Cabinet ask the Overview Committee to carry out a review of the Council’s governance arrangements and options for change and reports its findings and recommendations back to Cabinet in due course. The Overview Committee to set the terms of reference for carrying out the review and consideration of the alternative models,

2.     that the Portfolio Holder for Transformation establishes a Think Tank for the purpose of investigating the options for change and to enable engagement with the wider membership of the Council on the necessity for and objective of change.

REASON:

To enable the Council Membership to fully consider and engage on the review of the Council’s governance arrangements and whether or not they should be changed.