A guide to the background and system that leads us to the Cutenhoe Road Dome situation.
Background
a) The ruling Labour party has 32 Councillors and has a clear majority in the town.
b) The Councillors are the Ruling Labour Group that dictate policy.
c) The Ruling Labour Group is controlled by a Whip.
The road to the Dome.
2020 Developments Ltd submit a planning application for the Dome on land behind Cutenhoe Road.
It is considered by the Planning Development Control Committee which comprises of Councillors from all parties and approved.
As the land is being leased from the Council the question of whether the lease should be granted is referred to the Ruling Labour Party Group. They recommend to the Executive Committee not to lease the land to 2020 Developments Ltd. It is Council owned land and there is no obligation to lease it.
Meanwhile, the Senior Director, Property & Construction who is employed by the Council (not a councillor) and is a professional expert on commercial leases and property, agrees beneficial terms for the Council.
The Executive Committee comprises 10 Labour Councillors and generally look at issues such as national Government policy legislation affecting local Councils. They also consider matters of a financial nature such as this lease. The Executive Committee is within its rights to hold meetings behind closed doors when it is discussing financial matters.
Decisions that the Ruling Labour Group have proposed and agreed will be rubber stamped by the Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee meeting to consider the Dome lease was held on 9 January were faced with these two scenarios:
- The Ruling Group have decided to reject any lease at all.
- The Senior Director, Property & Construction recommends approval.
The Executive Committee are obliged to follow the ruling group’s recommendations and the lease is rejected.
The future
There is a Call-In procedure whereby 2 or more Councillors can question the Executive Committee decision.
If certain criteria for the Call-In request are met the matter is referred to the Oversight Scrutiny Board (OSB) which is a cross party group.
The OSB have no power to overturn or change the Executive Committee decision. They will refer it back to the ruling Labour Group for further discussion if necessary. The Ruling group will then send its decision back to the Executive Committee who will rubber stamp it again!
Unless there is a massive change of decision, we are back to square 1 again.
Hamsters on a wheel springs to mind.
That’s democracy!