There are two governance models available to councils: the committee based system and the Leader and Cabinet system. Over the years most councils have now adopted the Leader and Cabinet system for practical reasons. Councillor Brazil is calling for a new way of doing politics but seem to want to attempt this under the Leader and Cabinet system. This will be challenging.
From the Devon County web site Councillor Julian Brazil, Lib Dem Leader, is quoted as saying:
“The mood music I’m getting from our group is that we don’t want a formal sharing agreement among parties, and I support that. If we’re making the right decisions members should vote with us. It’s a new way of doing politics, but it’s a much more mature and developed way of doing things. If we have compromise among 60 members we will make better decisions for the Council.”
This is a sentiment that probably chimes with most people, but how is he going to make these compromises work in a council whose members have markedly different political philosophies and values?
It is difficult to make collective group decisions unless the members hold a set of common beliefs about the best way to reach their objectives. For example over expanding services or cutting them.
Julian Brazil is leader of South Hams, a small 31 seat district district council with a Lib Dem majority. Devon County has twice the number of seats divided roughly 3:2 left to right leaning political groups.
From the last paragraph it appears that there is no proposal to return to a committee based governance model but stay with the Leader and Cabinet model.
In the committee based model the council establishes a number of committees, each with a specific area of responsibility. The political groups appoint elected members to those committees. More councillors are actively involved in decision-making, but it can take longer to reach decisions. For this reason most councils have adopted the Leader and Cabinet model.
Should we be expecting a “rainbow” cabinet with a deputy leader drawn from the next largest party Reform?
This is a bold and brave start to the new council. – Owl
Councillor Julian Brazil, Leader of the Liberal Democrat (Lib Dems) group at Devon County Council, wants all of the Councillors at the authority to have a voice.
Following last Thursday’s local elections, Devon County Council was left under no single party control. Of the 60 seats, the Lib Dems won the most with 27, but that left them just short of the 31 seats needed to gain overall control.
Reform UK, new to the council, won 18 seats; the Conservative Party – seven seats; Green Party – six; Independents – two; with the Labour Party now having no seats on the council.
The results represent a significant change at County Hall, where the Conservatives had been in control since 2009.
Councillor Brazil, who has been voted as group Leader by the newly elected Lib Dem councillors at Devon County Council, also wants to see change in the services provided by the authority.
He said: “The mood music I’m getting from our group is that we don’t want a formal sharing agreement among parties, and I support that. If we’re making the right decisions members should vote with us. It’s a new way of doing politics, but it’s a much more mature and developed way of doing things. If we have compromise among 60 members we will make better decisions for the Council.
“I want councillors to vote for what’s best for their community; that leads to better decisions and a better council. Everyone should feel they have a voice and have the opportunity to be influential – that’s the culture I want to engender here at the County Council. It’s good to have a mix of views and beliefs to be truly representative of the communities we serve.
“The County Council needs to be more outward looking and work more closely with partners. Children in Devon have been failed for too long, we have got to get that right, and potholes affect us all, we need to find a better way to repair roads but for less.”
Councillor Michael Fife Cook, speaking on behalf of the Reform UK group, agreed that cooperation among councillors is vital for the county. He said: “I don’t see us as opposition. We have been elected and people will expect us to work together for the good of the county. We can’t force through change, it will have to be by compromise, but good ideas can come from anywhere and that’s how we have a constructive council. Councillors aren’t just representing those who voted for them but their whole community so we are representing Devon.”
Councillor Jacqi Hodgson, Leader of the Green and Independent group, said: “We are delighted that our group of Green Councillors has grown to six and we expect to have the opportunity to drive a stronger greener agenda through cooperation with fellow Councillors from all parties and Independents. We hope for better democracy and a brighter future for all our residents.”
Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Leader of the Conservative group, said: “I welcome the comments made by Councillor Brazil, after all we have been elected to put the interests of the residents of Devon first and to make a difference to people’s lives. If we can all work together for the good of Devon that has to be a good thing. Rural counties like Devon face unique issues that need to be recognised nationally, and we must all work together to ensure we receive adequate funding to address them.”
(Clockwise from top left) Councillor Brazil, Councillor Hodgson, Councillor Leadbetter, Councillor Fife Cook.
At the Full Council meeting on Thursday 22 May, Councillors will decide who takes up the positions of Leader, Deputy Leader, Cabinet Members, appointments to committees, as well as the roles of Chairman and Vice Chairman.
East Devon Watch 