The South Glos Post

South Gloucestershire Council has tonight voted to abolish the undemocratic Cabinet, and to return to a Committee system of governance, where all members are involved in decision-making processes.

Councils were forced to disband their committees by the Labour government, but new powers in the Localism Act allowed them to return to collective decision-making. South Gloucestershire is one of the first authorities in the country to take advantage of this new power to return decision-making closer to the people.

Cllr Ruth Davis, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on South Gloucestershire Council, said:

“Residents of South Gloucestershire voted for a balanced council – they didn’t want any one party to be in complete control. The concentration of all decision-making in a seven-member cabinet doesn’t have to be bad – but it’s better to have it dispersed. Involving, more members means that more points of view are represented, which is vital in a diverse area like South Gloucestershire where no one party and opinion dominates.”

“All Councils will need to decide what model works for them – we’ve always been consensual and co-operative on South Gloucestershire. Now, for the first time in ten years, the law allows us to operate a system of governance which reflects that.”

Cllr Claire Young (Liberal Democrat, Westerleigh) added:

“This is a chance for all 70 members of the authority to get involved – every front and back bencher on all sides. It’s an exciting opportunity to move this council forward, moving power closer to the people, and all of their elected representatives – of all three parties.”

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council Liberal Democrat Group

South Gloucestershire residents have been denied a say on a major constitutional change in what has been labelled a “Black Day for local democracy” in the district.

Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors voted down a Conservative proposal to consult with the public at tonight’s Full Council meeting (Wednesday 21st March), even though Bristol residents have the chance to vote in a referendum on how their council is run.

They then used their combined majority to force through the scrapping of the Cabinet system and a return to the slow and ineffectual old-style Committee system.

Cllr John Calway (Con, Longwell Green), Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said:

“Over the years, we have built up a proud record of engaging with and listening to our residents.”

“But, thanks to opposition councillors, my fear is that we’ve now thrown that away.”

“There is no other way of looking at it – this has become a Black Day for local democracy in South Gloucestershire.”

Cllr Matthew Riddle (Con, Severn) added:

“There’s nothing more important than how the council is run and how decisions are made that affect the lives of all our residents – yet such a decision has been made without asking them.”

“Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors are simply not able to look any of their constituents in the eye and say that they asked them what their views were before forcing through such a significant constitutional change.”

“Any South Gloucestershire councillor who truly believes in transparency, accountability and democracy would not deny their residents a say on this issue, particularly when residents just down the road in Bristol are being given a referendum on how their council is run.”

Source: Conservative Group on South Gloucestershire Council

Labour councillors in South Gloucestershire have heralded the Council’s decision this evening to scrap its ruling Cabinet and move to a Committee system of decision making which will involve all 70 councillors as great for democracy and transparency.

From mid-May, politically proportional committees will make the authority’s key decisions instead of just seven Conservative ‘Executive’ councillors. The decision was made by the narrow margin of 36-34, with Labour and Liberal Democrat councillors backing the change and the ruling minority Conservatives resisting.

After the vote, Labour Leader Cllr Andy Perkins (Labour, Woodstock) said:

“This is a great decision for democracy and transparency in South Gloucestershire. Now all 70 councillors will have a stake in making decisions. The decisions will be made at meetings in public, and as we are a hung council there will probably be a fair amount of debate beforehand, which has been entirely lacking here.”

“Under the old system, which will disappear on 23rd May, an elite of seven ‘Executive’ councillors made all the key decisions and many were made by individual councillors with the stroke of a pen. These decisions could not be overturned by the remaining 90% of councillors. Although the Conservatives do not have a majority of council seats and did not get a majority of votes last year, they controlled the Executive.”

Cllr Perkins added:

“We recognise that the Conservatives had a vested interest in maintaining the status quo and were bound to oppose the change. But the deficiencies in the current system in terms of accountability, transparency, democracy and cost are so self-evident that the Council is absolutely right to make this change as soon as it can.”

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Source: South Gloucestershire Labour

The London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) has today (Monday 19th) announced the street level route of the Olympic Torch Relay which will travel through the streets of Bitton, Longwell Green and Hanham on Tuesday 22nd May.

Torchbearer Daniel Munden, from Bristol, will carry the Olympic Flame along one stretch of the route through South Gloucestershire when he takes part in the relay during its 70-day national tour. Residents are encouraged to line the streets and cheer Daniel on at this exciting event which helps to put the area on the map.

Arriving at 5pm in Bitton, the convoy will travel along the Bath Road A431 (High Street) from the Aubrey Meads lay-by, passing (on the left hand side) The Meadows Primary School, Bitton Football Club and crossing the Cherry Gardens roundabout before travelling under the Avon Valley railway bridge.

Avon Valley Railway plan to welcome the Olympic Torch with the aid of a traditional British steam locomotive, built by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns at their Newcastle works in 1944.

Crossing the Keynsham Road roundabout, the Torch will carry on up Willsbridge Hill into Longwell Green passing Willsbridge Mill, then over the roundabout onto Stonehill and Hanham High Street where it is hoped Maypole dancers will be among the cheering crowds. The convoy will leave our district around 6pm and continue its journey into Bristol.

The following day, Wednesday 23rd May, the Torch will pass through part of Filton before continuing its journey by convoy towards Chippenham.

A detailed map of the route is available on South Gloucestershire Council’s website at www.southglos.gov.uk/2012olympictorch and www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay.

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Source: South Gloucestershire Council