Wrexham Council To Remove Requirement For Executive Political Balance

Significant changes are being put forward to how Wrexham Council is democratically run with a proposed move away from a current ‘politically balanced’ Executive Board makeup.

The change proposed in this report before the Full Council next week would see the council fall into line with other authorities in how it is run – with some arguing that the current relatively unique method of business has historically worked well enough for Wrexham and should stay.

Currently there is an element of balance across the various political alignments represented on the Executive Board, with those many would see as ‘in opposition’ being on the Board itself. Under the current Welsh Government rules these are not formally seen as the opposition, as they are part of the Executive Board and due to this, issues are created elsewhere. The new proposed system would do away with the guaranteed politically balanced method which is unique in Wales to Wrexham, and go down a more unpredictable route.

Currently there are six independents (four Independent and two Wrexham Independents – more here), one Conservative, two Labour and one Liberal Democrat on the Executive Board creating the often seen 7 v 3 votes seen on our reporting of meetings, with debate occurring at the ‘top table’ as well as input from the floor.

One Councillor expressed their issue with the change saying: “When you switch from the current politically balanced Executive Board model to a cabinet model, you can lose the opportunity for a dialogue and challenge to take place in public.”

The changes could cost up to £63,000 a year extra in extra salary payments.

The Councillor went on to say: “The extra costs involved are being proposed in a context of large cuts elsewhere, so you have to ask questions of the plans”.

The change is due to a Welsh Government Measure that requires ‘councils to allocate the Chairs of certain committees to “opposition groups”. These groups are defined as groups which are not represented on the council’s executive.’ Due to changes politically on Wrexham Council the compliance with the Measure was raised as a possible issue by the Wales Audit Office as there are rules regarding who is able to Chair some committees. To ensure there is oversight from the opposition the Chair of the Audit Committee (for example) must not be part of the Executive, which has created an issue for Wrexham Council as there is currently a grouping too small to be represented on the Executive Board, therefore coming under the only ‘opposition’ definition.

The report gives the Council’s legal viewpoint: “Counsel’s advice has been sought on these issues and he has confirmed that it is perfectly legal for the Council to choose to balance its executive but that its allocation of the Chairs of Democratic Services and Audit Committees is not currently compliant with the Measure. Accordingly this must be addressed at this meeting of the Council to ensure the Council is fully compliant with relevant legislation.”

The report is being presented by the Council Leader Mark Pritchard under his role as Lead Member for Governance, Corporate Support, Finance & Planning. Wrexham.com was told of disquiet, possibly related to these proposed changes, potentially as serious as threatening his position as Council Leader, but this was outright dismissed by one Councillor as “entirely duff information”, saying they believed he “has the required support”.

The election of a new, or continuing Leader of Wrexham Executive Board, or as its more commonly known the Council Leader also takes place at the same meeting.

Another change of how the Council has traditionally conducted business is a move away from evening meetings, with a proposal that meetings start no later than 4pm.

Meetings would start earlier, with the Executive Board meetings commencing at 10am rather than the current 2pm, in a move to save £1500 a year and help stop staff ‘working long, unsociable hours to support evening meetings‘. Health and safety is also cited, with other Councils also being used as an example that Wrexham should take a lead from.

One long standing stalwart of the Wrexham Council scene told us: “This measure appears to cover all meetings and I have great concern specifically over Planning. Applicants and objectors like to turn up, and it is the one committee you get a lot of people attending who are none council people. There has been no consultation on this with the public, but Councillors have expressed concerns on its impact in workshops”.

Another Councillor told us: “It is not ideal to attract new blood and I believe is contrary to a recent Welsh Government consultation.

“For example, if we are looking to attract woman with children as Councillors, I can’t think of a worse time for a meeting to start than 4pm.”

“It will certainly make it more difficult for people to stand from different sectors of society.”

The meeting considering the above is next Wednesday, and with its usual quirk starts the day before with the Mayor Making on the 19th. The meeting is then adjourned, with formal business taking place the following day.