A Green Party motion to Sheffield City Council on 9th July calling on the Government to abandon their plans to abolish the Committee System has been passed with all party support.
In June, Jim MacMahon MP, the Labour Local Government Minister announced that the Government was planning to end the Committee system governance model, which involves all Councillors in decision making leaving only the less democratic Cabinet system where only a few Councillors have a vote on most Council decisions.
The Lowcock Report into the Street Tree Scandal highlighted the deficiencies of the Cabinet system saying
“While a Strong Leader cabinet model with fewer checks and balances arguably gives authority to get things done, it can also, as in this case, enable the wrong things to be done without serious challenge”
Green Party Councillors submitted a motion in response reaffirming the Council’s support for the Committee System
Councillor Paul Turpin who proposed the motion said,
“The move to a Committee system was not a Council decision alone. It was the result of a successful campaign and referendum by local people, where, in 2021, 65% of voters called for an end to the Cabinet system and for the introduction of a much more democratic Committee System.
“Sheffield was nominated as ‘Most Improved Council’ at the Local Government Chronicle Awards this year. That would not have happened if the council had poor governance or was failing. It is the Committee System and the improved culture of the Council. Councillors from across political divides work together in a less tribal way and that has played a large part in making the Council more effective.
“It benefits nobody in Sheffield to return to this autocratic top down Cabinet model of decision making. We have asked for the support of all Sheffield’s MPs and the Local Government Association to get the Government to abandon this proposal.”
