PROPOSALS to ditch council cabinets for a return to the old committee system are “a waste of time”, says a council leader.
Opposition members at Rochford District Council labelled the current cabinet arrangement “undemocratic”.
They requested the council considers going back to the previous system, in which all elected members get more of a say on issues.
Rochford, like most other councils, has a cabinet and leader which involves five to ten councillors making key executive decisions.
In its manifesto, the Tory-Lib Dem Coalition Government said it would allow councils to return to the committee system if they wanted.
At a full council meeting, Lib Dem councillors Chris Black (Downhall & Rawreth) and Ron Oatham (Downhall & Rawreth) put forward a motion saying the council welcomes this statement.
However, Tory leader Terry Cutmore (Ashingdon & Canewdon) said: “It’s an interesting motion, but it’s a waste of time.
“Our system works well. It’s led by members not officers.”
The motion was defeated by 22 votes to seven.
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