Review of council structure

Chief executive Derek Stevens sets out his ideas in a seven-page report.

Behind the move is disquiet by non-cabinet members who feel they are being left out of decision-making and debate.

The chief executive says he is aware of feeling that council meetings are little more than a "rubber-stamping" process.

But he says: "I would remind members that under the executive-style governance, whilst council sets the budget and policy framework within which cabinet makes its decisions, this is effectively the extent of its major functions.

"The validity of council meetings has been raised with me, and whilst members fully understand its role, there is, amongst some a feeling that it has little more now than a rubber stamping job.

"I would disagree with this, since there remain issues on which it must still take decisions, and the introduction of the non-decision making debate has given both a training and a debating opportunity."

He proposes merging the two present overview and scrutiny committees and making greater use of working parties.

If agreed, it would be the first major change since Rother adopted in 2001 the leader-and-cabinet system from a narrow range of options allowed by the Government.

The chief executive says that while he believes the current structure has worked well and evolved into a relatively effective system, the council has undergone many changes and the time is right to look again at the decision-making structure.

At present, Rother has a services overview and scrutiny committee and a resources overview and scrutiny committee.

If Monday's cabinet meeting agrees, the chief executive's proposals will go to both these bodies, which will then report back to the cabinet on October 2.

In putting forward his recommendations, the chief executive says it is right that Rother should have a decision-making structure which is fit for purpose and will give all members an opportunity to have "appropriate involvement" in overall administration.

"I am aware that there have been some concerns in the past, although I do believe these are now fairly minor, from non-executive members who felt that they were not able to be involved as much as they would have liked in the policy making and administration of the council."

He says of his proposals: "I believe these will give all members reassurance and recognition that non-executive members are a key and very fundamental part of the policy-making, review and scrutiny process of the council."

He says both the existing resources and services overview and scrutiny committees have developed over the years. "... and to my mind, the most powerful element of this development has been the increasing use of 'task and finish' working parties.

"It is my belief that members have become fully engaged in these working parties, have developed expertise and indeed become champions for the subjects under consideration.

"I think that the best way in which non-executive members can involve themselves in the development of policy, has been through these working parties and the recent waste management working group has shown the positive impact these can have."

His proposed 20-member single overview and scrutiny committee would have:

*Ability to report direct to cabinet in exceptional circumstances

*Ability to have non-councillors such as youth and ethnic minority representatives as members

*The option for political group leaders to change their members on working parties

It would still be possible for the overview body to "call in" a cabinet decision if it felt it was outside the agreed budget and policy framework.