I AM grateful to the Conservative leader of Wycombe District Council for his response to my letter on the new system of local government.
I remain unconvinced that removal of decision making from committees composed of all political parties to one-party cabinet members is more efficient or more democratic.
The leader is the nominee of the party caucus and he personally appoints his cabinet colleagues. Thirteen of the 14 chairmen and vice-chairmen of the so-called "watchdog" committees also are drawn from the majority party and this must raise doubts about their willingness to bark, never mind to bite.
However, judgement must be suspended. I make a positive suggestion. The new system is more complicated than the old and the Local Government Act 2000 is underpinned by extensive regulations made by the Secretary of State.
This is particularly true concerning the functions of the executive bodies (sections 13, 17, 25, 29); executive arrangements for overview and scrutiny committees (section 21); access to information (section 22); referendums (sections 34-36).
What is lacking in the publications put out by the council is any explanation of how the system works in practice; how the 50 or so back-bench councillors, no longer being part of the decision-making, can hold the cabinet and officers to account; how individual citizens can have any impact on the process.
For example, the cabinet will now be preparing a budget of taxation and expenditure for 2002-3. Will this first be presented as a set of proposals for debate and consultation, or simply as a series of conclusions to be endorsed?
John Griffith
Spinfield Lane
Marlow
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