SCRUTINY CHANGES FURTHER WEAKEN ACCOUNTABILITY AT DISTRICT
Changes to procedures at Breckland Councils Overview and Scrutiny Commission will result in the further weakening of democracy and accountability of the authority according to the District's Labour Councillors.
The new Chairman of the Council's Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Elizabeth Gould, whom until recently was a Cabinet member at the authority, has decided to break with tradition and will now not allow an agenda item at each meeting to receive a report back from members of the Cabinet. For many years previously a different member of the Cabinet has been requested to attend the Commission's meeting on an alternating basis to report to members.
Leader of the Breckland Labour Group and former Vice Chairman of the Scrutiny Commission Councillor Terry Jermy objected at today's (Thursday 9th June 2016) meeting and said afterwards: "Cabinet governance rests a lot of power amongst a very select group of Councillors. It is crucial to have checks and balances in place and the role of the scrutiny commission is very important. Members previously heard about the work of each cabinet member and could question them on progress on key matters - this opportunity has now been removed in a further undermining of democracy and accountability in the district".
Last year Breckland's Conservative Councillors appointed both a Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Committee from the Conservative Group breaking the tradition of having the Leader of the Opposition as either the Chairman or Vice Chairman.
Fellow Labour Councillor Harry Clark said: "Cabinet members in Breckland are paid considerable sums of money to undertake the role, twice the amount of many other similar sized Districts. At the very least I am sure that they can spare the time to present themselves to the committee every so often to explain what work they have been undertaking as part of their portfolio and take questions. This is an important opportunity for opposition party members but also back-bench members of the ruling Conservative group to question and scrutinise - this has now been removed without even the views of commission members sought".
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