Issue - meetings

It was noted that the Council would be required to select a new Leadership Model in Spring 2010 and the second phase of consultation with respect to this would commence on 22 July. Further information was available on the Council’s website.

The legislation provides for only two alternatives:

(a)       A directly elected Executive Mayor, (ie elected by all voters at a direct election) who will have wide executive powers over the authority’s operations (including appointing and dismissing Cabinet members at will) for 4 years, or

(b)       an indirectly elected Executive Leader of the Council (ie elected by all the councillors) who will also have wide executive powers over the authority’s operations (including appointing and dismissing Cabinet members at will) for 4 years

With respect to comments made that a vote should be have been held with regard to the new Leadership Model during the recent European Election, the meeting was advised that there were strict regulations around what could be included within a ballot paper that prohibited this. The Chair suggested that local residents should raise this with the local MP.

It was agreed that further details of where the consultation exercise would be publicised would be circulated to those present.