"A Bright Future For This Council" — Committee System Constitution Approved

Plans to overhaul the Isle of Wight Council’s governance model, described as a “bright future” for County Hall, were given the go ahead yesterday.

Full council voted to approve a new committee system constitution, replacing the local authority’s cabinet decision-making structure.

The new constitution received near unanimous support, with the exception of Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox and Cllr Ian Stephens, who abstained.

Councillors agreed to move to a committee system at an extraordinary full council meeting on May 1, 2024.

A committee system will bring greater democracy, transparency and accountability, Cllr Andrew Garratt, the leader of the Liberal Democrat group told the chamber.

“I think it is a bright future for this council; I very much look forward to it. However you feel about it, do take part – you will have much more say.”

The Conservatives’ Cllr Clare Mosdell urged members of future committees to “read the papers” and give “intelligent and thoughtful” answers.

She said:

“It will work but it will only work as long as everybody in this chamber puts the effort into it to make it work.”

The previously-used cabinet system, where full council elects a leader who appoints and chairs a panel of executive councillors who meet regularly and can rapidly make decisions, is used by most local authorities, according to national body the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Councillor Hub.

The cabinet model also includes a system of overview and scrutiny where councillors not part of the cabinet can closely examine decision-making.

Councils that operate under a committee model, for example Bristol City Council and Sheffield City Council, have a variety of committees which look after different areas of policy.

Under this system, more councillors are actively involved in making decisions, but decision-making can take longer, the LGA has said.