Australia's National Local Government Newspaper Online

Separating the executive and scrutiny functions

The Blair Government's recent White Paper, 'Modern Local Government: In Touch with the People,' proposes changes to the traditional 'committee' decision making structure used by Councils in the United Kingdom.

Advocating a move to a 'cabinet approach', with elected members holding specific portfolios, the aim is to separate the executive and scrutiny functions of a Council. Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council will be one of the first UK Councils to introduce such a decision making structure.

One of five urban Councils in the Liverpool/Merseyside conurbation, Knowsley has 66 elected members representing 154,000 people.

In January, Knowsley commenced a review, involving all its elected members, of its decision making processes. Through a series of seminars the Blair Government's proposed models of governance, including the separation of the executive and representational roles of elected Councillors, were examined.

By the end of this year, Knowsley proposes to introduce a single party cabinet comprising specific elected members each holding a 'portfolio'. A 'call-in' facility will be available for non Cabinet members to allow for scrutiny of Cabinet decisions before they become effective.

Scrutiny committees will also be established to deal with issues based on policy review and performance review. The Cabinet will be presided over by the 'Council Leader' who heads the Party with the majority of elected members.

The Mayor, who is separately elected by the Council, performs a ceremonial role, as distinct from the political role carried out by the Council Leader. In Knowsley, 64 of the current 66 elected members represent the Labour Party.

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