County Tories defer decision

Despite a call by Lib Dem county councillor Colin Taylor for a quick decision in principle, SCC Tories have voted to defer any decision on the Lib Dem proposal to return to the more democratic Committee System at County Hall. Instead the proposal will be referred to a Select Committee.

The County Council was forced to adopt "Executive Arrangements" in 2001 by New Labour, abandoning well over a hundred years of the tried and tested Committee System. In 2009 they had to change again to the Strong Leader and Cabinet model. Both of these involve restricting decision-making powers to just 10 Executive or Cabinet members, with back bench members limited to appointing the chairman and approving the budget.

Recalling that both systems were adopted reluctantly at the time, Colin seized upon the announcement by the Coalition that councils will now be free to return to the Committee System if they wish. He proposed that the county council agree in principle to do this as soon as the necessary legislation is available.

Colin said "The considerable powers and responsibilities of Cabinet members mean they are over-loaded by voluminous reports. I don't think this is the most effective way to ensure thorough detailed review before policies are approved. At the same time back bench members feel under-valued."

"With the Committee System, instead of the same 10 people deciding everything, different committees deal with different subjects. Alternative options and concerns can be discussed by members from different parties, leading to better decisions. There is still plenty of scope for Leadership, exercised by Committee Chairmen. The possibility of amending the initial proposal used to be seen as one of the pillars of democracy."

The Committee System has continued to be used in Epsom & Ewell thanks to an amendment to the New Labour legislation, proposed by Lib Dem peer Baroness Seear.