Ravenstonedale Parish Council
Appendix 1 to Ravenstonedale PC Agenda for 13th March 2008. From Eden District Council – 8th March 2008
Eden District Council - Options for New Political Arrangements
At its meeting on 21 February 2008, Eden District Council indicated that it was 'minded to change' the way it conducts its political business by moving from a Modernised Committee System to a Cabinet with Leader Model.
The reasons for the proposed change are to speed up decision making, to provide clearer and greater accountability for Councillors and Officers and better scrutiny of decisions.
In order to make this change, the Council is undertaking formal consultation with local residents, key partners and other interested parties including Parish Councils and Parish Meetings within the District. A response can be made by individuals and/or on behalf of Parish Councils using the methods as detailed at the end of this letter. Parishes also have the opportunity to ask questions at the annual District/Parish liaison meeting on Wednesday 12 March at 7.30pm in the Town Hall, Penrith (you should have already received an agenda for this meeting from CALC)
In responding there are four options from which you can choose. Each of the options is listed below with some facts that underpin the options. Please consider each one and choose the one you feel would be your preference. You may wish to comment upon the reasons for your choice. The deadline for responses is 14 April 2008.
Option 1 A Cabinet with Leader, Elected By the Council
One of the existing Councillors would be elected as Leader by the Council.
A Cabinet of up to seven members would be appointed by the Leader.
The Cabinet members would have responsibility for specific activities such as the environment.
The Cabinet could be drawn from a single party or coalition - it would not necessarily have to reflect the political make-up of the Council.
Decisions would be made by the Cabinet or the Cabinet Members.
Overview and Scrutiny Committees would monitor decisions and help with policy formulation and development.
These committees could also include co-opted advisor
There would also be 'regulatory' committees for Planning and Licensing, and a 'Standards Committee.
The Leader would serve for a four year term.
Option 2 A Directly-Elected Mayor with Cabinet
A Mayor would be elected by Eden voters for a four-year term.
The Mayor would be a political leader for the community, proposing policy for approval by the Council.
He or she would select a Cabinet of no more than seven members from among the Councillors.
The Cabinet could be drawn from a single party or a coalition - it would not have to reflect the political make-up of the Council.
The Mayor would decide how the Cabinet would take decisions - decisions could be taken either by the Cabinet as a whole, or the Mayor could give individual Cabinet members responsibility for particular services.
Overview and Scrutiny committees would monitor Cabinet decisions and help with policy formulation and development.
There would also be 'regulatory' committees for Planning and Licensing, and a Standards Committee.
This option will require a referendum.
Option 3 Elected Executive
This option arises under the new 2007 Local Government Act.
There would be seven members of the Executive who would be directly elected as Cabinet members.
In most respects this option is the same as Option 1.
Option 4 'Stay the Same'
A Modernised Committee System with Joint Leaders (the current system)
Decisions are taken in Committees. Individual councillors have no powers to act or take decisions.
There will continue to be four decision-making committees.
There is a Scrutiny Committee which monitors decisions and helps with policy formulation and development.
There are also 'regulatory' committees for Planning and Licensing, and a Standards Committee which is concerned with probity issues.
All Committees would have to reflect the political make-up of the Council.