Agenda item

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 Licensing was to take the necessary time to firstly establish the purpose of change, and then fully evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of governance models, which realistically may not be possible to then deliver a change in governance by May 2020.  Further work could be undertaken by the committee at their 29 August meeting, and if required, an additional meeting could be called if required by the Chairman to add to the scheduled dates.

In response to concern about some overlap or duplication of work with both Overview Committee and a Think Tank considering the same issue, the Chairman commented that there would be a balance between the two.  The Overview Committee may reach a different conclusion to that of the Portfolio Holder for Transformation, but both would be put forward.  The Portfolio Holder confirmed that the intention was not to duplicate, but to compliment each other.  Ultimately, he commented, the model was about democracy, and if a new model would be more democratic whilst still delivering decisions at a speed felt acceptable.

The Chairman concluded the debate for that meeting, summing up that it was a positive step to evaluate how decisions were made.  There was also a need to address the public concern about a lack of openness and transparency.  He also recommended a document by the LGA and the Centre for Public Scrutiny entitled “Rethinking governance: Practical steps for councils considering changes to their governance arrangements”.  The issue would be debated further at the next meeting of the committee.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the request from Cabinet to carry out a review of the Councils governance arrangements and options for change, and report back on its findings, be accepted;

2.     That at the 29 August 2019 meeting, Members put forward and agree the reasons for change to the current governance arrangements and the objectives for the Council’s governance arrangements going forward;

3.     That at the 29 August 2019 meeting, Members consider, discuss and agree the method and process to be followed for undertaking a review of options;

4.     That additional meetings of the committee be considered specifically to debate this item.