Agenda item - Localism Act 2011 - Changing Governance Arrangements

Report of the Monitoring Officer (copy attached).

48.1         Councillor J. Kitcat introduced the report which outlined the options and timescales available to the council for changing its governance arrangements following the Royal Assent of the Localism Act on the 15^th November.  He noted that it had been the will of the council for sometime to have the ability to move to a committee system for decision-making and he hoped that this could be taken forward by a cross-party working group with a view to new governance arrangements coming into operation with effect from Annual Council in May 2012.

48.2          Councillor Mitchell welcomed the report and the ability to move to a more inclusive approach for decision-making, which would be more democratic.  She also hoped that the success of the overview and scrutiny process would be retained within the new governance arrangements.

48.3         Councillor Peltzer Dunn stated that he fully supported the proposed change to a committee system and welcomed the excellent report from officers.

48.4         Councillor Randall stated that he welcomed the report and fully supported Councillor Mitchell in her comments regarding overview and scrutiny and trusted that it would be maintained in a new committee system as it had served the council well over the years.

48.5         The Mayor noted that the recommendations had been moved and put them to the vote.

48.6         RESOLVED:

(1)   That the provisions of the Localism Act which enable the Council to change its governance arrangements either in May 2012 or at a later Annual General Meeting be noted;

(2)   That it be agreed in principle to change the governance arrangements from Leader and Cabinet to a Committee System with effect from Annual Council in May 2012;

(3)   That officers be instructed to prepare detailed proposals for a committee system and to bring the proposals for a Committee System to the Governance Committee and Full Council for approval; and

(4)   That officers undertake the necessary preparation including, as appropriate, briefings, training and modifications to ways of working.