30.05.17
Basildon Council switches to ‘more democratic’ committee model
A council in Essex has this week voted to switch to a committee system in order to make the authority “more democratic and effective”.
This will mean that instead of having a leader and Cabinet system, Basildon Council’s elected members will be appointed to committees to take decisions for the authority.
The decision was announced at the council’s annual general meeting, where it was also stated which committee each Basildon councillor would be assigned to.
Though the change was only announced this week, the decision to switch the system was decided a year ago. In committee systems, no councillor can use the title of leader of the council, but the chairman of the policy resources committee will assume the responsibilities of leader.
Since 2011, the Localism Act gave principal authorities the option to switch to a committee style of governance, although it is a model that is not adopted by a large number of councils in England.
“We have taken a very important step to change the way that decisions are made because we believe it will make the council more democratic and more effective,” said Cllr Gavin Callaghan, policy and resources committee chairman. “It is now down to us to prove it.
“All of us need to commit ourselves to listening to what our constituents and our communities are saying and to making sound decisions based on good evidence and careful consideration. We will need to work together and listen to each other too.”
Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become a PSE columnist? If so, click here.