Council Broadcast Exec Board 5th Aug 2014

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  • #68722

    Rob
    Participant

    It would be interesting to know from anyone who has viewed the webcast to hear if they think any debate was worthwhile and what views and outcomes changed?

    Although it seems the Exec Board is being filmed, it does not appear yet that other meetings will – and even if that does happen there will still be the private ‘pre’ meetings and the like.

    #68742

    99DylanJones
    Participant

    Rob your reference to pre meetings is very interesting as each ‘Political Party/Group’ have their pre meetings. There is also a pre meeting of the Executive with officers. The actual Executive meetings are almost a public re run of what has already been decided.
    Councilors are effectively ‘made’ to toe the party/group line despite their own convictions- the Party Whip system operates even at this level. Councilors become masters of the Party/Group rather than representatives of their community – the people who voted them into the position.
    Officers often have to attend multiple meetings to clarify points as each Group can seek clarification.
    It is interesting howver that there does nit seem to be much Coalition type politics with each respective party only prepared to support the main grouping (in Wrexhams case Labour). There are no negotiations that have resulted in any Group other than Labour getting over their views.
    The other meeting behind ‘closed doors’ are those with the Unions to ensure any cuts in service/staffing are effectively ‘endorsed’ prior to public announcements.
    Regarding the actual broadcast any debate is stiffed because any Councillor wishing to ask questions has to move t the ‘camera table’. This stifles any impromptu discussion . I also have no idea how many Councilors were resent as there is no overall view or listing if those in attendance. Also the comments that are made as art of the Live Chat disappear once the broadcast is complete– at the end of the broadcast it also stated that people could still contribute yet as soon as the cameras went off the Live Chat facility ceased as well.
    The current system is a start but I would hope that the Council learn from the use and discuss with other Councils about their experience.

    #68728

    wrexview
    Participant

    There was no meaningful debate in the meeting broadcast.

    #68735

    wxm
    Participant

    A few of us have watched this and compared notes. We did not see any meaningful debate or value. It was good to see a member of the public asking pressing questions at the start.

    The consensus we came to was that this is an outdated way of doing business, and access to the real discussions and debate that goes on in the background is needed, and should be published openly on the webcast.

    It was disturbing to hear that premeetings go on.

    One suggestion that came up was that the paid officers meetings should be webcast, and that the meetings of councillors reviewing those officers recommendations and decisions should then be webcast. The question that kept coming up was why do we have a ‘lead member’ when an expert officer is actually paid to do the job, and address how a department is running and performing.

    #68731

    BenjaminM
    Participant

    I can hardly believe how naive some people can be.
    Pre meetings go on all the time in virtually every committee type forum.
    For Lead Member read Chairperson.
    If Gilbert Harding and Isobel Barnett were alive today, I am sure they wouldn’t have any fear of losing their jobs if that is the best collective opinion has to offer.

    #68743

    99DylanJones
    Participant

    Clearly ore meeting are essential for any organisation/planning to be done. The problem with an Executive structure based on party politics is that you know in advance that if all 10 are present the vote will be 7 – 3 therefore it is right to assume the pre debates are as important if not more so than the actual meetings as that is where the real decisions are made

    #68736

    wxm
    Participant

    Premeetings might have been affordable twenty years ago when councillors were not paid, and tight knit communities (who did not readily commute or have mobile communications devices), attended local town halls and listened to debate.

    Councillor costs £1m per year, the officers that support them £2m, plus no doubt much more money. Can we afford more £3m a year, and much more, for this type of arrangement, or should we have much simpler and transparent Council procedures, and the money be put to those people who need it?

    #68732

    BenjaminM
    Participant

    Wxm, please try reading what some of the other contributors to the forum are writing.
    As Dylan says, pre meetings are essential, where both or all sides give some ground and take something from those meetings, ie a compromise.
    If I am ever unfortunate to be in a meeting that we both attend, please give me advance warning so that I can pack a suitcase. I have a feeling it would be a long drawn out affair that failed to reach any conclusion.

    #68729

    wrexview
    Participant

    The real problem is the Executive Board structure that was introduced under Tony Blair’s administration. This structure gives a small number of Councillors all the power. The full Council Meetings used to be the main debating chamber with matters being hotly debated in public view. Even the minutes of meetings are not as detailed as they once were. Gone are the days when car parking and the Monday Market income were openly included for all to see.

    #68744

    99DylanJones
    Participant

    The current style of the Executive Board with all reports being presented by Lead Council Members rater than officers is relatively new 2/3 years and had nothing to do with Tony Blair’s (incidentally did you know that he once applied to be the Labor MP candidate for Wrexham some years ago) era in Westminster.
    The current system of a Lead Member presenting a report that they know will be past on a 7 / 3 majority even before any discussion has taken place clearly shows what the behind closed door meetings are actually achieving. No member of the Executive coalition will ever vote against a report that is presented by one of their Lead Member colleagues.
    To have a public meeting with decisions that are already made is really an insult to those that attend.
    Wrexham.com could pre write all of the results of reports that go to the Executuve Board.

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