To consider the following Motion in the names of Councillors J C Lawson, Davies, J D Lawson, Cooper, Scott and H Zaman;
“This Council notes:
1) The statement by the former Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon MP, on the 24th June 2025 which outlined the Government’s plan to introduce legislation which will ‘simplify governance arrangements’ for local authorities in England and abolish the committee system, requiring all councils to adopt the leader and cabinet system;
2)
Councils in the UK typically operate under one of
three governance structures: leader and cabinet, committee or
mayoral systems;
3)
Most councils currently operate under a leader and
cabinet model. The committee system was the way that councils were
governed up until 2000. The Local Government Act 2000 changed the
models of governance, introducing the leader and executive
(cabinet) and elected mayor and executive models. The Local
Government Act 2000 also resulted in the abolition of the committee
system in England everywhere (except shire authorities with a
population under 85,000). However, as part of the Localism Act
2011, the committee system was re-introduced as an option for all
local authorities to adopt;
4)
Typically, under the leader and cabinet model, the
full council elects a leader, who then appoints a cabinet
(executive), with cabinet members responsible for specific areas of
service and the cabinet being the primary decision-making body.
Under the committee system model, power is exercised, alongside
full council, by a number of politically balanced committees, each
with a specific area of responsibility. Under the executive mayor
and cabinet model, a directly-elected mayor leads the executive and
is accountable to the electorate;
5)
Currently, councils in England can change their
governance arrangements and local residents can have a say on the
governance model adopted by their local authority via a
referendum;
6)
As part of the Government’s plans, councils
currently using the committee model, including councils which have
recently transitioned to the committee model following a
referendum, will be required to transition to the leader and
cabinet model;
7) The Government has argued that the changes are needed in order to improve clarity and accountability in decision-making, enhance efficiency by streamlining governance structures and preventing unnecessary expenditure on governance transitions.
This Council believes that:
1)
Councils across the country use various governance
systems, with some favouring the committee system and others
preferring executive systems. Councils should have the choice to
choose which model of governance best suits the needs of its
residents. The details of councils’ internal arrangement
should be a matter for local discretion. Although Kirklees Council
currently operates a leader and cabinet model, it should be given
the opportunity to transition to the committee system if Kirklees
residents support this. Local people should be given the power to
make the best choice for themselves;
2)
The Government’s plans are at odds with the
devolved powers that the Labour party advocates. It should not be a
one-size fits all approach. Fundamentally, the Government’s
plans to change the way that councils operate is top-down and heavy
handed, ignores local choice and undermines local democracy. It is
centralisation by stealth;
3)
The committee system offers a number of benefits and
abolishing it is a huge opportunity lost. As part of a committee
system, councils are not run by a small group of councillors;
instead, the committee system supports cross-party collaboration,
and councils are often run in a more inclusive manner. Council
committee systems can also increase accountability, reduce top-down
decision making, provide a platform for diverse perspectives and
provide greater opportunities for participation;
This Council, therefore, resolves to:
Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Minister of
State for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern MP, to
express concern about the Government’s plans to standardise
local government structures and express concern that local
authorities have not been consulted. The Government should abandon
its plans for reform, since the measures will undermine local
empowerment and local decision-making.”
Decision:
RESOLVED – Motion not carried.
Minutes:
It was moved by Councillor J C Lawson and seconded by Councillor Cooper that
“This Council notes:
1) The statement by the former Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution, Jim McMahon MP, on the 24th June 2025 which outlined the Government’s plan to introduce legislation which will ‘simplify governance arrangements’ for local authorities in England and abolish the committee system, requiring all councils to adopt the leader and cabinet system;
2)
Councils in the UK typically operate under one of
three governance structures: leader and cabinet, committee or
mayoral systems;
3)
Most councils currently operate under a leader and
cabinet model. The committee system was the way that councils were
governed up until 2000. The Local Government Act 2000 changed the
models of governance, introducing the leader and executive
(cabinet) and elected mayor and executive models. The Local
Government Act 2000 also resulted in the abolition of the committee
system in England everywhere (except shire authorities with a
population under 85,000). However, as part of the Localism Act
2011, the committee system was re-introduced as an option for all
local authorities to adopt;
4)
Typically, under the leader and cabinet model, the
full council elects a leader, who then appoints a cabinet
(executive), with cabinet members responsible for specific areas of
service and the cabinet being the primary decision-making body.
Under the committee system model, power is exercised, alongside
full council, by a number of politically balanced committees, each
with a specific area of responsibility. Under the executive mayor
and cabinet model, a directly-elected mayor leads the executive and
is accountable to the electorate;
5)
Currently, councils in England can change their
governance arrangements and local residents can have a say on the
governance model adopted by their local authority via a
referendum;
6)
As part of the Government’s plans, councils
currently using the committee model, including councils which have
recently transitioned to the committee model following a
referendum, will be required to transition to the leader and
cabinet model;
7)
The Government has argued that the changes are
needed in order to improve clarity and accountability in
decision-making, enhance efficiency by streamlining governance
structures and preventing unnecessary expenditure on governance
transitions.
This Council believes that:
1)
Councils across the country use various governance
systems, with some favouring the committee system and others
preferring executive systems. Councils should have the choice to
choose which model of governance best suits the needs of its
residents. The details of councils’ internal arrangement
should be a matter for local discretion. Although Kirklees Council
currently operates a leader and cabinet model, it should be given
the opportunity to transition to the committee system if Kirklees
residents support this. Local people should be given the power to
make the best choice for themselves;
2)
The Government’s plans are at odds with the
devolved powers that the Labour party advocates. It should not be a
one-size fits all approach. Fundamentally, the Government’s
plans to change the way that councils operate is top-down and heavy
handed, ignores local choice and undermines local democracy. It is
centralisation by stealth;
3) The committee system offers a number of benefits and abolishing it is a huge opportunity lost. As part of a committee system, councils are not run by a small group of councillors; instead, the committee system supports cross-party collaboration, and councils are often run in a more inclusive manner. Council committee systems can also increase accountability, reduce top-down decision making, provide a platform for diverse perspectives and provide greater opportunities for participation;
This Council, therefore, resolves to:
Instruct the Leader of the Council to write to the Minister of
State for Local Government and Homelessness, Alison McGovern MP, to
express concern about the Government’s plans to standardise
local government structures and express concern that local
authorities have not been consulted. The Government should abandon
its plans for reform, since the measures will undermine local
empowerment and local decision-making.”
The Motion, upon being out to the vote, was not carried.
RESOLVED – That the Motion not be carried.