Powys Council is shaking things up! Changes are being scrutinised as new proposals were introduced by Clive Pinney, the Head of Legal Services. One big change on the table is a requirement for senior councillors to pen a written response to guidance from scrutiny committees before jumping to Cabinet decisions.
This tweak aims to address a notable gap in the current process, where crucial feedback from scrutiny often gets left in the dust due to tight timelines. As it stands, a whopping two months can pass before scrutiny committees find out if their input made any dent in Cabinet decisions.
The scrutiny committee chairs have been vocal about the need for reform. They’ve highlighted how their observations sometimes don’t receive formal acknowledgment before the Cabinet makes its call. This often leaves significant, and sometimes critical, feedback hanging.
Councillor Graham Breeze believes it’s a recurring issue in scrutiny committees and supports getting it resolved. Meanwhile, Cllr Iain McIntosh raised a valid point about any tweaks made during Cabinet meetings. He’s asking for clear flags on any such changes to ensure transparency and clarity.
Clive Pinney, backing this sentiment, suggested creating a protocol for publishing changes, and the idea received widespread support from councillors. However, these proposed changes to the Council’s constitution will need the green light from all councillors at an upcoming full council meeting before getting the go-ahead.
Stay tuned as Powys Council navigates through these exciting developments! 🏛️