Issue - meetings

Councillor K Churchill, Executive Councillor for Resources & Policy to present a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services.

Having regard to a report by the Head of Democratic & Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), Councillor K Churchill, Executive Councillor for Resources & Policy reminded the Council of the requirement, under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, to consider a new form of executive arrangement with effect from May 2011.

Councillor Churchill explained that the District Council had consulted on two options – an executive leader or an elected mayor and that under both formats, the person elected or appointed would become responsible for the discharge of the Council’s executive functions.  In accordance with the requirements of the Act, an extensive consultation exercise had been undertaken using a variety of measures from mid-May to the end of July.  Whilst this had not attracted much interest, those who had responded had indicated a clear preference for an executive leader. 

The Executive Councillor reminded the Council that it had previously accepted a recommendation from the Working Party not to hold a referendum on the choice of executive on the basis that this would lengthen the timescale for the consultation exercise and in the absence of any interest locally for an elected mayor, not justify the estimated cost of a referendum of approximately £125,000.

Having been satisfied that the consultation arrangements had been sufficient despite the poor response from the public, the Council

RESOLVED

  that the proposals for a change in governance arrangements in accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 as set out in Appendix B attached to the report now submitted be approved and a formal resolution to change the governance arrangements submitted to a Special Meeting of the Council convened for the purpose.

To receive a report from the Head of Democratic and Central Services on the outcome of a consultation on the format of the Council’s Executive.

The Panel considered a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) concerning the choice of executive arrangements for the District Council for implementation by May 2011.

By way of background, Members were advised that the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 had introduced significant changes to the Leader and Cabinet system and had narrowed the choice of executive arrangements open to local authorities to –

• an elected Mayor and Cabinet appointed by him; or
• an Executive Leader appointed by the Council from its membership and a Cabinet appointed by that Leader.

Having been advised of the outcome of a consultation exercise on the choice of Leader or Mayor which indicated a clear preference for an Executive Leader, Members were advised that the consultation exercise had been a legislative requirement and had been conducted at minimum cost yet managed to reach a wide audience.

Following clarification as to the roles of Mayor / Council Chairman and having noted that the Cabinet had already endorsed the proposals, the Corporate Governance Panel

RECOMMEND

that Council approves the proposals for a change in governance arrangements to an Executive Leader and Cabinet Executive as set out in Appendix B of the report now submitted and in accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

To consider a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services proposing a change in governance arrangements in accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement Act 2007.

Recommended to Council, the change in governance arrangements to an Executive Leader and Cabinet Executive in accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Head of Democratic and Central Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) concerning the choice of executive arrangements for the District Council.

By way of background, Members were advised that the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 had introduced significant changes to the Leader and Cabinet system and had narrowed the choice of executive arrangements open to local authorities to -

¨  an elected Mayor and Cabinet appointed by him; or

¨  an Executive Leader appointed by the Council from its membership and a Cabinet appointed by that Leader.

Having been advised of the outcome of a consultation exercise on the choice of Leader or Mayor, which indicated a clear preference for an Executive Leader and in noting the views of the Democratic Structure Working Party on the matter, the Cabinet

RECOMMEND

  that Council approves the proposals for a change in governance arrangements to an Executive Leader and Cabinet Executive, as set out in Appendix B of the report now submitted and in accordance with the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.