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How councils are run –   and who runs them How councils are run –   and who runs them

How councils are run – and who runs them - PowerPoint Presentation

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Uploaded On 2019-02-01

How councils are run – and who runs them - PPT Presentation

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

cabinet decisions council public decisions cabinet public council decision councillors meetings local open mayors elected councils government party press political key meeting

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Slide1
Slide2

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)Slide3
Slide4

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 recommendationsSlide13
Slide14
Slide15

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 councilSlide17
Slide18

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 Slide23
Slide24
Slide25
Slide26
Slide27
Slide28

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...Slide31
Slide32
Slide33

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