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| Somerset West and Taunton Council was formed in a forced merger WITHOUT a Referendum |
We are pleased to report a positive development in our campaign for Somerset's councils to change to a committee system.
There is good news (woo!).
There is bad news (boo!).
The Good News is that Somerset West and Taunton Council has backed changing to a committee system and ditching the failed "Strong Leader" model where around 10 councillors decide everything. In a committee system, more councillors are involved in making decisions, making it more democratic.
The Bad News is that SWT Council will not change to a committee system now. It has been postponed to May 2022. Even worse than this is that they have not actually committed to it at all, only upon a condition. Councillors voted to bring in the committee system only if the council is not scrapped and replaced with a unitary authority. All they are doing now is changing some of the committees - see the decisions below, at the bottom of this article.
There was a huge number of votes and several very long meetings, showing how the "Strong Leader" model has failed, especially now that the Liberal Democrats have lost the majority they won in the 2019 elections. The Leader of the Council has remained the Leader of the Lib Dems and the Council, but has recently suffered a sequence of resignations and defections. Cabinet Members have been changed.
We understand that some councillors supported bringing in the
committee system now, to set an example to any future council. But they
were outvoted by other councillors.
Cabinet Member Councillor Chris Booth told us:
"You might have seen that at Full Council this issue very much split the political divides as others believed that changing over regardless could be a good precedent for a unitary council. However Full Council decided to maintain the view of the working group to include the backstop. Unfortunately Cllr Stone was deeply unhappy with this and so this plus his deep dislike of the national planning system ( he has my sympathies on that one) meant he felt he could no longer do the role. "
This is a missed opportunity.
It just shows that councillors cannot be trusted to act for Somerset residents, and that the "Strong Leader" model has broken down.
SWT Full Council resolved (full votes at the bottom of this article):
"2.1 The Council moves to a Committee system of governance from the Council AGM on 10 May 2022, unless a decision is made to set up a Unitary Council for the area from 2023.
2.2 The Council proposes to the Unitary Shadow Authority that a committee system of governance is adopted, if set up as the principal council for the area.
2.3 The Council writes to the Chief Executives and Leaders of the County and Districts to request ask that they consider that the Shadow Authority governance arrangements are set up as a Committee system"
The full decisions are below, at the bottom of this article.
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| Denise Wyatt |
Denise Wyatt asked the councillors at Somerset West and Taunton directly at the virtual Full Council meeting to ensure that a Modern Committee System was on the ballot paper in the upcoming Referendum on how Somerset was governed, as well as a "No Change" option.
They refused to do that, although we did ask the councillors nicely. And more than once. The three other district councils also stuck with their "two buckets of manure" vote. The Lib Dems and other councillors patted themselves on the back, as if it was them that led the campaign for a Referendum.
In fact, they were opposed to a Referendum throughout 2020.
It was Somerset Independents that led the campaign. We were formed to stand up for Somerset residents and we have. But we are not happy with this half-baked Referendum.
As Denise told councillors, the ballot paper in their "choice of manure" public vote will be a Hobson's Choice.
A Hobson's Choice where residents have to choose which bucket of manure to pour over their heads - the Stronger Somerset bucket of manure or the One Somerset bucket of manure.
So whilst Somerset Independents is pleased that a committee system is being discussed, it is not Somerset residents who will decide. That is what we have consistently said and campaigned for.
These decisions are being made by politicians in Westminster and Taunton.
We will continue our campaign for a Modern Committee System for the current councils and any future councils in our great County.
And for residents - not politicians - to decide.
Recommendations were voted on 2.1-2.3, 2.4-2.5 and 2.6-2.11 and were all carried (3h 5m into the recording):-
Relating to the 2022 Municipal Year
2.1 The Council moves to a Committee system of governance from the Council AGM on 10 May 2022, unless a decision is made to set up a Unitary Council for the area from 2023.
2.2 The Council proposes to the Unitary Shadow Authority that a committee system of governance is adopted, if set up as the principal council for the area.
2.3 The Council writes to the Chief Executives and Leaders of the County and Districts to request ask that they consider that the Shadow Authority governance arrangements are set up as a Committee system
Relating to the 2021 Municipal Year
2.4 That a second Scrutiny Committee is introduced from the AGM in 2021, with the focus being Corporate Scrutiny Committee and Community Scrutiny Committee. The split of workload for the two Scrutiny Committees (see Annex A at the end of this report) is approved
2.5 That the number of seats on both Scrutiny Committees is 15 from the start of the 2021/2022 Municipal Year
2.6 The Audit, Governance and Standards Committee is split into two separate Committees from the AGM in 2021, for the 2021/22 Municipal Year and becomes Audit and Governance Committee and Standards Committee. The Terms of Reference for both Committees (see Annex B and Annex C at the end of this report) is approved.
2.7 That the number of seats on the Audit and Governance Committee is 11 from the start of the 2021/2022 Municipal Year
2.8 That the number of seats on the Standards Committee is 9 from the start of the 2021/2022 Municipal Year
2.9 The role of Shadow Portfolio Holders is included within the Constitution as per the wording in Annex D to this report
2.10 Officers and Portfolio Holders are reminded of requirements to provide information and notifications to Ward Councillors as per the Member Officer Protocol
2.11 The Corporate Scrutiny Committee are asked to work with officers to consider a system for communicating reports to Members from representatives from outside bodies
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