How councils are run – and who runs them

1. How councils are run – and who runs them Cabinet Government Directly-elected mayors Committee system (only for councils with fewer than 85,000 residents) (Local Government Act 2000)

2. Why change? • “Opague and unclear decision-taking weakens the link between the people and their democratically-elected representatives.” • John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister, 2000

3. Why change ii? • Greater clarity over who does what – role of decision-makers better understood Meaning… • Greater accountability • Improved efficiency • Antidote to voter apathy - more engagement/interest of public

4. Cabinet Government Council cabinets are: • Made up of councillors and are the key political decision-making body • Led by majority political party or ruling coalition, headed by leader of the council • Made up of up to ten leading councillors • Within cabinet, individual councillors responsible for services (“portfolio holder” or “executive member”) • Need not reflect overall political balance of council • Cabinet decisions can be collective or individual

5. Cabinet powers • Sets council’s over-arching policy framework • Takes all the significant/key decisions on policy/services • Determines spending priorities and recommends budgets • Publishes Forward Plan – document setting broad details of decisions coming up in next three months

6. Cabinets But: • Full council (ie all councillors) must set budget and council tax levels • Full council must agree decisions which represent departure from agreed policy framework

7. Cabinets • Can delegate limited powers to area committees • Must meet in public for key decisions (but can meet in private, too) • Have partnerships with other bodies

8. Cabinet “pluses” • More efficient • Improved accountability • Lines of responsibility clearer • In other words - public know who is doing what – where the buck stops

9. Cabinet “minuses” • Backbenchers sidelined - not part of decision-making process • Decisions taken by small one-party “cabals” – less democratic? • Potential for views of local community to be ignored • Lack of accountability – decisions by individuals • Checks and balances weak

10. Scrutiny – the checks & balances • All councils (under LGA 2000) have all-partyscrutiny committees: These have powers to: • “Call in” cabinet decisions • Summon councillors, officers and others to explain/answer questions about decisions/policy • Request review of cabinet decisions (“refer back”) • Carry out independent investigations & make reports on any aspect of council business and any issue affecting local authority – eg health, transport, drugs, policing • Cannot overturn cabinet decisions – only make recommendations

11. NHS Scrutiny Committees • Each council area must have an NHS Scrutiny Committee. • Can review any aspect of health care affecting its area, eg hospital closures; health scandals • In two-tier areas, this will have representatives of county council & district council, plus lay representatives

12. Scrutiny committees - minuses • Have influence but not power – cannot overturn decisions • Refer back process comes after decisions made • Can become “political” (eg may be chaired by majority party; meetings used to score points) • Can slow down decision-making process – also a plus • Lack political/back-up support; easily ignored by executive/cabinet

13. Scrutiny – the pluses • Although limited, decision makers can be called to account in public • Recommendations can influence and sometimes change council policy • Ability to examine issues outside direct remit of council

14. Directly-elected mayors • Councils led by single political leader after an election with wide-ranging powers to run the authority • Before a mayoral election, voters must first show support for idea in public referendum • Voters can call for referendum (must be 5% of electorate) • Simple majority determines referendum • In election, electors vote for 1st and 2nd preference candidate

15. More elected mayors? • Govt. wants 11 cities to consider mayors • Referendum to take place in May • If ‘yes’ elections for mayors to take place in November ‘Super Thursday’ • Include: Birmingham, Liverpool, Bristol, Bradford, Nottingham, Sheffield, Leeds Newcastle

16. Why? • "Elected mayors provide cities with the strong, visible leadership that can help them prosper nationally and internationally This is an opportunity for each city to transform itself for the better.” Cities minister Greg Clark • "The world's great cities have mayors who lead for their city on the national and international stage, attracting investment and jobs. We believe that mayors can help English cities achieve their full potential too."

17. From football mascot “H’Angus The Monkey” to respectable mayor – Stuart Dummond, elected mayor of Hartlepool three times and once voted Best Mayor In The World

18. Mayoral elections • 2001 - First voter-initiated election for mayor – Berwick on Tweed, 2001 with 64% turnout • 2002 – 11 elections; 5 won by independents (inc. Ray Mallon – ex-policeman in Middlesborough; Stuart Drummond, Hartlepool; Dorothy Thornhill, former teacher; Watford) • Turnout mixed – 40% to 19% • 2005-06: Several re-elected

19. Mayoral elections 2009 • Three elections took place in June: • Doncaster: Won by English Democrats’ candidate Peter Davies from Labour • Hartlepool: Stuart Drummond won third term (with UKIP and BNP candidates beating Conservatives and Lib Dem candidates) • North Tyneside: Won by Conservative Lynda Arkley

20. Directly-elected mayors • Appoint their own cabinet from other councillors • Other councillors have backbench and scrutiny role • Elected for four-year cycle • Candidates need not be from political parties • Also option under LGA 2000 for directly-elected mayor + council manager – not common

21. Mayors – the pluses • Can build profile/re-invigorate area • Candidates can come from outside mainstream politics – independent/mavericks with no party allegiance • Can encourage greater public interest • Speedy decision making • Accountability – people know who’s in charge • Strong community leadership (eg Ray Mallon)

22. Mayors – the minuses • Scope for abuse of power/corruption/pursuing vested interests • Greater potential for “maverick” candidates could to bring local government into disrepute • Potential for more decisions to be taken behind closed doors rather than at open meetings • Backbench councillors may feel alienated or sidelined (similar problem to cabinet) • Too much power vested in one individual

24. How elections work • Voters have two votes – first and second preference • If candidate has more than 50% of votes in first count, they are elected • If no candidate has more than 50% of the vote, all candidates apart from those in the first and second place are eliminated. • The votes showing a first preference for one of the eliminated candidates are checked for their second preference. • Any second preference votes for the two remaining candidates are then added to their first preference votes and the candidate with the most votes wins.

25. Alternative arrangements – another option • Councils with populations of less than 85,000 can opt for a modified committee system under the LGA 2000 • Policy and decisions on services/funding taken by all-party committees (proportionate to overall political make-up) rather than cabinet (eg housing; transport, regeneration, environment +waste etc) • Where introduced, councils must also have scrutiny committees (as under cabinet/mayoral model) • Councils usually have a Policy and Resources Committee, chaired by council leader – this will take all the important decisions

26. Cabinets – open or shut and our right to know Cabinet meetings must be open to press and public: For all key decisions For discussions on key decisions Optional for other “non key” decisions Where meetings are open: Press and public entitled to agendas and reports five working days before meeting Urgent items (those not on agenda) only allowed if relevant scrutiny committee chairman agrees

27. Cabinet meetings – open or shut? Closed (Local Govt. Act Access To Information) Decisions which are not “key” For “early collective discussions to narrow options under debate” For “political debate” without officers For cabinet members to clarify matters with officers Decisions involving exempt or confidential information

28. What is a key decision? A key decision (under Local Government Act 2000) is one likely: To result in authority spending or saving a “significant” sum of money Is “significant” in terms of its effects on communities living or working in two or more wards It is for each council to define what it is significant – usually through financial thresholds!