COUNCIL ONE STEP CLOSER TO CHANGING WAY MEMBERS MAKE DECISIONS

The Isle of Wight Council has moved closer to changing the way its members consider issues and make decisions. Work has been ongoing to investigate a move from the current cabinet-and-leader model to a series of committees, which could see more councillors from all political backgrounds, playing a part in decision-making. In principle, recommendations will be put to the full council in the new year. A working group has considered the views of senior officers, as well as possible replacement structures, and looked at other local authorities which have made the change. Councillor Geoff Brodie suggested the switch at a meeting in July. He argued that 8 councillors out of a possible 39 made the majority of decisions, calling it ‘hardly democratic or stable.’ However, Councillor Jonathan Bacon, the cabinet member for children’s services, raised concerns at Monday’s audit and governance meeting, saying detail was inadequate and that would mean councillors would not have enough information to make a meaningful decision. The authority would operate under a council leader and deputy, with ten committees and 3 sub-committees, covering the range of council services. It is proposed there would be 100 places for councillors across the new committees, compared to 95 under the current system.