Councillors at Cumbria County Council have decided to adopt a 'Leader and Cabinet Executive' model to govern the organisation after the next local elections, which are expected in May or June next year.
A meeting of Full Council yesterday (September 10) resolved to adopt the so-called 'leader model' rather than having a mayor and Cabinet Executive running the council.
The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 requires all local authorities to adopt one of the two decision-making arrangements and consult with the public. The public consultation in Cumbria attracted 295 votes, less than 0.1% of the electorate, and did not reveal any strong preference either way: 149 people voted for a mayoral model and 146 voted for the leader model.
Under the Leader and Cabinet Executive option, the whole council will elect the Leader for a four-year term. He/she will then appoint between two and eight members to form a Cabinet to take decisions. The Leader can be removed by the council on a vote of no confidence. This is similar to existing arrangements at the county council.
A Mayor and Cabinet Executive option would have meant that the Mayor would have been directly elected by the public and he/she would then appoint their Cabinet. Once elected, the Mayor would not have been able to be removed from office by the council and would have served for a full four-year term. Generally speaking a Mayor would have had stronger powers than a Leader - for example, a higher majority of members voting in full council would have been required to overturn the Mayor's proposals in relation to the budget and council tax levels.
The county council's constitution will be amended at the next full council meeting on November 20.
ENDS
Please note: Cumbria County Council's media team telephone numbers have now changed.
Media enquiries to Gareth Cosslett, News Manager on 01228 226332