Issue - meetings

The Leader presented the report outlining proposals to establish a Governance Review Working Group to evaluate the various governance options open to the Council, and to make recommendations as to which system would best suit the council’s needs. He said the crux of the issue was the way in which the Council made decisions, with the Cabinet system placing too much power in too few hands. He said his Administration had already dispersed power by appointing more Cabinet Members and Topic Leads.

In response to a question from Councillor Loughlin, the Leader said the review would take time but a new system could be implemented at the Annual Council meeting in May 2020.

Councillor Fairhurst said the purpose of the review was to understand how the Administration could make the structure more democratic by engaging with as many members as possible throughout the decision making process.

RESOLVED that the Council appoints Councillors Coote (Chair), Criscione, Evans, Freeman, Gregory, Isham, Khan, Lees and Sell to a Governance Working Group to review the current governance model for Uttlesford District Council and to make recommendations to Full Council.