Agenda item

The Chief Executive to submit a report which provides the Committee with the Local Government Association’s Governance Review report and recommendations, enabling Members to consider initial next steps.

The Chief Executive

(a)  submitted a report (copies of which had previously been circulated to Members) providing the Committee with the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Governance Review report and recommendations, enabling Members to consider initial next steps;

(b)  advised that following the LGA Peer Challenge in December 2017, a report with a list of recommendations and Action Plan had been accepted by Full Council.  One of the recommendations was to improve this Council’s governance and decision making arrangements and the LGA were invited to assist in this work;

(c)  confirmed that a review of this Council’s current arrangements was held on 12 to 14 March 2018.  The remit of the review was to explore where the Council could improve, streamline and clarify its policy development, Committee system and decision making arrangements;

(d)  Highlighted

                      i.        that having already provided some initial verbal feedback, the LGA’s report was attached as Appendix A of the report.  He noted that this was a challenging report for Members and officers.

                    ii.        the recommendations at paragraphs 2.1, 2.2 and 2.3, which provided the opportunity for this Committee to receive the report and establish an informal development group, consisting of a small group of Members and officers to work together to develop proposals to improve, streamline and clarify the Committees and associated structures.  Their proposals would be presented at a future ad hoc meeting of this Committee in April 2018 and the report proposed that any recommended changes would then be considered at the Council Annual General Meeting in May 2018.  This would set clarity of direction and focus for the new municipal year.  It was also proposed that this group undertake further research on the other recommendations within the report, which would take more time to consider.

The Chair highlighted recommendation 2.4 that the Leader be asked to nominate up to four Members to be part of the informal governanace development group.

A Member commented that there was very little within the LGA’s report that they did not agree with.  Systems needed to be strengthened and there was a vast amount that could be actioned quickly.  They cautioned against moving towards a Leader and Cabinet model of governance.

A Member stated that they did not agree that the Leader nominate which Members would form part of the group.  The small group should be a proportionate representation of this Council.

Another Member highlighted that if the small group was to include an independent representative, it would not be a proportionate representation of this Council, which was made up of 90% Conservative Councillors.

The Leader urged Members to approve the recommendations commenting that there had been considerable overlap on this Council’s Committees in recent years.  This needed to stop, in order for the Council to improve.  He confirmed that his nominations would reflect the nature of this Council as far as possible and that all Members would have the opportunity to consider the recommendations at the Council meeting.

The Chief Executive advised that this would be an informal group and did not require political balance.  He highlighted that the findings of the informal group would be submitted to this politically balanced Committee for formal consideration. 

A Member added that they would like to think that the Leader would nominate to the small group appropriately.

Another Member stated that they did not feel it appropriate that the proposals from the small group be presented at the Annual General Meeting in May 2018 and it was suggested that a meeting of Extraordinary Council to be held prior to the Annual General Meeting, to enable Member to consider this.

RESOLVED that

(1)  the report and recommendations from the Local Government Association’s Governance Review be received and noted;

(2)  the establishment of an informal Member and officer development group to review the findings and develop proposals to improve, streamline and clarify the Committee and related group structures be supported.  These proposals to be considered by an ad hoc meeting of this Committee in April with a view to any agreed changes being recommended to an Extraordinary Council in May;

(3)  the development group be asked to undertake further research in relation to the other findings and recommendation set out in the Local Government Association’s report;

(4)  the Leader of the Council be asked to nominate up to four Members to work with him and officers within the development group.