Pledge DONE - Accountability and Transparency under committee system at Spelthorne

We asked people to support us in 2019 to see this done, in 2021, we have made that happen. Spelthorne needed to improve the way it works.

Spelthorne Liberal Democrats are delighted that Spelthorne Borough Council have overwhelmingly supported the adoption of the Committee System. It will come into effect on 27 May 2021

This system change brings an end to the strong leader model, something supported by Leader only appointments to a Cabinet, meaning that key decisions were being made by a small select group of Councillors from one Party This new way of working means Councillors will now be required to work together to develop policies and ideas and thus bring about an end to the divisive nature of the Council, under the old system.

Residents when consulted agreed with us that the current system gave neither accountability or transparency. Introduction of the Committee System way of working should allow residents to feel confident in the way decisions are made at Spelthorne and be clear for all to see..

Commenting, Group Leader Cllr Sandra Dunn said: "This decision for change has come at the end of a long consultative process and marks hopefully a new era for the Council that works better for the interests of residents. The Strong Leader model had many flaws, very obvious when opposition members struggled to make their voices heard "

Deputy Lib Dem Group Leader, Cllr Chris Bateson added : "For all of us the reputation and standing of the Council is critical. In consulting with residents on this matter they overwhelmingly supported this initiative. Our Group always believed this change was necessary and have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to convince others to support it. We have now achieved this and made it become a reality "

Final more details on the change can be found here