Motion submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 14 as to Political Governance in Kirklees
To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors Pattison, Crook and Sokhal;
“This Council notes:
- That within the last 2 years, following extensive and thorough cross-party work by the Democracy Commission and supported by the LGA, a finding and recommendation was made that a move to a committee system was not in the interests of this Council nor of the residents of Kirklees
- That the above recommendation along with further recommendations to strengthen our scrutiny function was subsequently endorsed by Corporate Governance and Audit Committee and then by a democratic majority of members in full Council in January 2023
- That a report on progress made against these recommendations was brought to the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee in April 2024 and that no further change was recommended
- That the recent statement made by representatives of three of the smaller parties on this Council stating an intention to petition the public for a referendum, overruling the decision of both Corporate Governance and Audit Committee and this Council, to decide on our future political governance structure, is counter to the established will of this Council.
This Council believes:
- That the time and resources required in the administration of a petition and referendum, which would cost the taxpayers of Kirklees in excess of £300,000, and the costs of any subsequent reorganisation which would be far higher, would be an unnecessary drain on our already pressured financial position.
- Any reorganisation would not be complete for several years which would lead to a protracted period of confusion and distraction, preventing the council from supporting the residents of this borough effectively.
- That a committee system of governance is less transparent that a Cabinet model and requires a significantly higher commitment of time from both members and officers.
- That a committee system does not ensure that smaller parties or independent councillors have any more say in decision making than they do currently through our robust scrutiny function.
Therefore, this Council reaffirms its decision to remain a Council run by a Leader and Cabinet system.”
Decision:
RESOLVED – Motion Approved.