Uttlesford District Council adopts cabinet style of governance
UTTLESFORD District councillors have voted in favour of adopting a cabinet system of governance – despite not having all the details.
At a meeting of the full council on Tuesday it was decided to bring in the changes which will take effect from May 8, three days after the council elections.
The majority of members voted in favour of the move – 19 – although there were 11 who voiced their concerns over the change without knowing exactly what would happen.
Liberal Democrat Cllr Peter Wilcock said: “We’re heading towards a cliff and we’re not sure whether it’s a small step or a massive drop.
“The devil is in the detail and we do not have any more detail than we did at the meeting in September.”
Cllr Alan Dean (LD) added: “It shouldn’t matter which system we use as long as we can trust it and everyone knows what they’re doing.
“This proposal has not been properly documented so I cannot trust it. The constitution should have been amended and approved by the working group before it even reached the council, which it hasn’t.”
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Council leader Cllr Jim Ketteridge (Con) rubbished those claims, insisting that the working group will amend the new constitution in February, three months before the cabinet system is implemented.
He admitted that the council does not know how much the system will cost to implement, but said it is the right move.
“When people think of the council they think about the cabinet style so we should move forward towards that now,” he said.
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