Cabinet Government Directlyelected mayors Committee system only for councils with fewer than 85000 residents Local Government Act 2000 Why change Opague and unclear decisiontaking weakens the link between the people and their democraticallyelected representatives ID: 749327
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How councils are run – and who runs them
Cabinet Government
Directly-elected mayors
Committee system (only for councils with fewer than 85,000 residents)
(Local Government Act 2000)Slide3Slide4
Why change?
“Opague and unclear decision-taking weakens the link between the people and their democratically-elected representatives.”
John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister, 2000Slide5
Why change ii?
Greater clarity over who does what – role of decision-makers better understood
Meaning…
Greater accountability
Improved efficiency
Antidote to voter apathy - more engagement/interest of public Slide6
Cabinet Government
Council cabinets are:
Made up of
councillors
and are the key
political
decision-making body
Led by
majority
political party or
ruling coalition,
headed by
leader of the council
Made up of up to
ten
leading councillors
Within cabinet, individual councillors responsible for services
(
“portfolio holder”
or
“executive member
”
)
Need not reflect overall political balance of council
Cabinet decisions can be collective or individualSlide7
Cabinet powers
Sets council’s over-arching policy framework
Takes all the
significant/key decisions
on policy/services
Determines spending priorities and recommends budgets
Publishes
Forward Plan
– document setting broad details of decisions coming up in next three monthsSlide8
Cabinets
But:
Full council
(ie all councillors) must set
budget and council tax levels
Full council
must agree decisions which represent
departure from agreed policy frameworkSlide9
Cabinets
Must meet
in public
for
key decisions
Must publish records of decisions taken by individual cabinet members
Must publish agendas and reports five working days before meetingSlide10
Cabinet “pluses”
More efficient
Improved accountability
Lines of responsibility clearer
In other words - public know who is doing what – where the buck stopsSlide11
Cabinet “minuses”
Backbenchers
sidelined - not part of decision-making process
Decisions taken by small one-party “cabals” – less democratic?
Potential for views of local community to be ignored
Lack of accountability – decisions by individuals
Checks and balances weakSlide12
Scrutiny – the checks & balances
All councils (under LGA 2000) have
all-party
scrutiny committees:
Powers:
“Call in”
cabinet decisions
Summon councillors, officers and others to explain/answer questions about decisions/policy
Request
review
of cabinet decisions (“
refer back”
)
Carry out independent investigations & make reports on any aspect of council business and any issue affecting local authority – eg health, transport, drugs, policing
Cannot overturn cabinet decisions – only make recommendationsSlide13Slide14Slide15
Scrutiny committees - minuses
Have
influence
but
not
power – cannot overturn decisions
Refer back process comes after decisions made
Can become “political” (eg may be chaired by majority party; meetings used to score points)
Can slow down decision-making process – also a plus
Lack political/back-up support; easily ignored by executive/cabinetSlide16
Scrutiny – the pluses
Although limited, decision makers can be called to account in public
Recommendations can influence and sometimes change council policy
Ability to examine issues outside direct remit of councilSlide17Slide18
Directly-elected mayors
Councils led by
single political leader
after an election with wide-ranging powers to run the authority
Before a mayoral election, voters must first show support for idea in
public referendum
Voters can call for referendum (must be 5% of electorate)
Simple majority determines referendum
In election, electors vote for 1
st
and 2
nd
preference candidate Slide19
Why?
"Elected mayors provide cities with the strong, visible leadership that can help them prosper nationally and internationally This is an opportunity for each city to transform itself for the better.” Cities minister Greg ClarkSlide20
More elected mayors?
Govt. vote on plans for 11 cities to consider mayors held May 2011
Voters rejected plan in all apart from Bristol (election Nov 15)Slide21
Directly-elected mayors
Appoint their own cabinet from other councillors
Other councillors have backbench and scrutiny role
Elected for four-year cycle
Candidates need not be from political partiesSlide22
From football mascot “H’Angus The Monkey” to respectable mayor – Stuart Dummond, elected mayor of Hartlepool three times and once voted Best Mayor In The World Slide23Slide24Slide25Slide26Slide27Slide28
Mayors – the pluses
Can build profile/re-invigorate area
Candidates can come from outside mainstream politics – independent/mavericks with no party allegiance
Can encourage greater public interest
Speedy decision making
Accountability – people know who’s in charge
Strong community leadership (eg Ray Mallon)Slide29
Mayors – the minuses
Scope for abuse of power/corruption/pursuing vested interests
Greater potential for “maverick” candidates could to bring local government into disrepute
Potential for more decisions to be taken behind closed doors rather than at open meetings
Backbench councillors may feel alienated or sidelined (similar problem to cabinet)
Too much power vested in one individualSlide30
When things go wrong...Slide31Slide32Slide33
The committee systemLocalism Act
permits councils to adopt all-party committee system
Decisions taken by committees rather than cabinet (eg education, social care, housing)
Officers make recommendations that are voted on
Parties may be “whipped”Slide34
The committee system iiPluses:
Councillors feel more involved
More genuine debate
Local knowledge of councillors
Minuses:
Potentially longer process
Less efficient
The influence of the party whipSlide35
Cabinets – open or shut and our right to know
Cabinet meetings must be
open
to press and public:
For all
key
decisions
For
discussions
on key decisions
Optional for other “non key” decisions
Where meetings are open:
Press and public entitled to agendas and reports five working days before meeting
Urgent items (those not on agenda) only allowed if relevant scrutiny committee chairman agreesSlide36
Cabinet meetings – open or shut?
Closed
(Local Govt. Act Access To Information)
Decisions which are
not
“key”
For “early collective discussions to narrow options under debate”
For “political debate” without officers
For cabinet members to clarify matters with officers
Decisions involving exempt or confidential informationSlide37
What is a key decision?
A
key decision
(under Local Government Act 2000) is one likely:
To result in authority
spending or saving
a “significant” sum of money
Is “significant” in terms of its effects on communities living or working in
two
or more wards
It is for each council to define what it is significant – usually through financial thresholds! Slide38
Rights of Press and public
All
committee meetings of councils are open to the Press and the public
Except…
Where the item is considered either
exempt
or
confidential,
in which case it is considered in private
Local Government Access to Information Act 1985Slide39
Rights of Press and public
Where councils hold meetings, they must:
Give five working days notice
Publish
agendas and reports
listing items for discussion + minutes of previous meeting(s)
Including any items to be considered in private session (without background papers) Slide40
Rights of Press and public
If meeting goes into
private
session:
Reason for doing so must be explained at meeting, citing the law
A vote must be taken
A minute of the item should be published Slide41
In addition – cabinet decisions
Individual
cabinet members can take decisions on their own
No need for “public” meeting BUT…
Must publish a record of decision
Provide any background reports or papers
Detail any alternative options considered but rejectedSlide42
What is confidential/exempt?
Issues about care of individual vulnerable children where disclosure may pose risk
Issues involving named employees, such as disciplinary action
Issues about commercial contracts where council’s position may be compromised
Issues about pay negotiations with staffSlide43
Citizen Journalism…
Government encouraging councils to be be more open (the transparency revolution)
Eric Pickles (communities secretary) issued new rules to open up meetings to bloggers + citizen journalists as well as Press
New rights to film meetings (Local Audit + Accountability Bill) and use social mediaSlide44