THE FIRST meeting of the new-look ‘hung’ Bromsgrove District Council will take place on Wednesday, May 24, when councillors will thrash out a deal for the best way forward for the authority.
At the end of last week, the town’s Labour Group said it would be proposing a committee system.
The model – in contrast to the current leader and cabinet system – sees a number of different committees formed comprising members from the various parties and cross-party chairmen.
Labour leader Coun Peter McDonald said he felt the proposal would be widely backed by the other parties on the authority.
“We don’t believe the current cabinet system would work long-term – the people of Bromsgrove voted for change and we need full change, not partial.
“The committee system is more open and democratic with all decisions made in public and, rather than being run by few cabinet members, every councillor would be involved in decision making.”
His words were echoed by the Liberal Democrats and the party’s leader Coun Rob Hunter has written to all the other parties urging them to back the committee system.
He said the people of Bromsgrove had given no party an overall mandate and wanted change – he said a system which ensured all councillors had a voice on behalf of the people they represented was key to moving forward, adding the group felt the committee model would deliver this.
Independent Charles Hotham said: “We do need to come to some agreement but we cannot pre-empt anything before it has been decided.
“Personally, as someone who has long thought a committee system an effective way to run a council, it is definitely an option and not one I would disagree with.”
Conservative leader Coun Karen May was due to meet with her group this week and said it was important to do what was best for the people of Bromsgrove.
After the election, the Conservatives finished on 11 seats, Labour had eight, the Independents seven and Lib Dems had five.
