[Martyn Harris]

Good Afternoon all

As with everyone, we're looking at the implications of the Localism Act in Warwickshire.

I've been asked to look at which LA's are looking to move to the Committee System (or a variation thereof). I'm also interested in the Scrutiny arrangements under this system, and any public reports anyone can share.

As far as I'm aware, Solihull MBC and Nottinghamshire CC are looking at this - can anyone else share any knowledge on this topic?

Thanks

Martyn
Warks CC

[Tom Hook]

We'll be changing to a committee system in May 2012, details currently being agreed.

http://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgCo...x?ID=36375

[Martyn Harris]

(10-01-2012 02:32 PM)Tom Hook Wrote:  We'll be changing to a committee system in May 2012, details currently being agreed.

http://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/mgCo...x?ID=36375

Thanks Tom - that's really useful. Will post back here anything that comes up in Warwickshire on this!

Thanks again

Martyn

[Ed Hammond]

Hi Martyn,

I keep hearing rumours but it's difficult to confirm things - although I expect that over the next few weeks everything will begin to accelerate.

At the moment, I am aware that the following non-districts have expressed a firm interest, or a commitment, to "going back":

Kingston
Kensington and Chelsea
Sutton
Barnet
Wandsworth
Brighton and Hove
Solihull
Nottinghamshire
Hertfordshire

I know that there are more than this - eg a couple of the councils that are being forced to have mayoral referendums actually want to adopt the committee system.

It's very difficult to draw accurate information together, but it's something that I hope to do as I gather evidence for our further research on this issue. As I hear more, I'll let you all know.

[Martyn Harris]

Thanks Ed - that's handy. Will cross-post anything I find on this thread.

(16-01-2012 12:48 PM)Ed Hammond Wrote:  Hi Martyn,

I keep hearing rumours but it's difficult to confirm things - although I expect that over the next few weeks everything will begin to accelerate.

At the moment, I am aware that the following non-districts have expressed a firm interest, or a commitment, to "going back":

Kingston
Kensington and Chelsea
Sutton
Barnet
Wandsworth
Brighton and Hove
Solihull
Nottinghamshire
Hertfordshire

I know that there are more than this - eg a couple of the councils that are being forced to have mayoral referendums actually want to adopt the committee system.

It's very difficult to draw accurate information together, but it's something that I hope to do as I gather evidence for our further research on this issue. As I hear more, I'll let you all know.

[Josh Mynott]

Just bumping this back up to the top to see if we know any more.

Particularly interested in anyone who can direct me to the reports at authorities where formal decisions have been made - either actual full council resolution to switch or cabinet decisions to propose it etc. I've seen Nottinghamshire's and Brighton & Hove's.

Being really nosy, I'd welcome anything on the resource implications.

In the spirit of transparency, I should make it clear that my authority, Lancashire, is not actively considering a switch away from leader & cabinet (or at least, if we are, no-one has told me...)

[Ed Hammond]

Hi Josh - some of your questions will be answered by our new publications, here:

http://www.cfps.org.uk/publications?item=7090&offset=0

You should be able to find information available on the websites of Kent, Kingston and Sutton. South Gloucestershire are making the change too, but not sure how much they have up online.

[Josh Mynott]

Thanks - I've already read your Musical Chairs thing this morning. Basically, I'm like those Harry Potter fans who queue up all night waiting for the publication of the latest book, except with in depth academic niche studies of local government constitutional arrangements instead of thrilling tales of magic, adventure and the redemptive power of love over evil. And with no-one else in the queue...
Anyway, I thoroughly agree that culture is far more important than structure. Perhaps those authorities that choose to go to a committee system will find it works better for them because it is something they instinctively feel comfortable in -the current system has forced them into a culture they don't like and so do not use to its full potential. In other words, the change of culture could follow the structural change. Just a thought.
Another thought is whether the apparent south east bias is anything to do with politics. Is it that Conservative run authorities are more prevalent in the south east, and that Conservatives tend to be, well, more conservative? And possibly that the Leader & Cabinet is seen as a Labour / Blair thing (despite it having a longer history than that) that has always worked against it being accepted in some parts? Or do the facts simply not bear that out, and the authorities looking at it are a broader political mix?
Finally, you argue that money is a red herring. Well, possibly in purely theoretical terms it is, but I think you'd struggle to find an authority where that wasn't the first question.
But to conclude my book review - another piece of very useful CfPS material, so many thanks. Does this site allow me to award it stars?

[Ed Hammond]

Josh, I'm delighted you enjoyed it, of course I fully expect that people would have been queuing up to take a look, given the subject matter. You may think that our repeatedly delaying publishing it wasn't intentional - in fact, it was a deliberate ploy to generate a feverish level of anticipation. And clearly in your instance it worked.

Conservative authorities are everywhere now, not just the south east, so not sure this has much to do with it - besides, there are several Labour councils thinking seriously about this. Interestingly, it doesn't seem to be limited to single parties; there are plenty on all sides of the political spectrum who like leader-cabinet, and plenty who prefer committees. Only two parties with a majority on English councils - Lib Dem and Green - have a confirmed national "pro committee system" policy for local government.

Cost is indeed always the first question that's asked, but the experience of those doing it this year does bear out the conclusion that this is, to all intents and purposes, cost-neutral. Of course, this does rather depend on what you include within the calculation, as ever.

Sadly there is no facility to award stars, if only because that might risk some of our publications not getting many and us potentially looking a bit red-faced - always dangerous being a hostage to fortune.

[Tom Hook]

What our new committee structure will look like...

http://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/Publ...x4.ppt.pdf

All other info available under item 8 here

http://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/ieLi...3925&Ver=4