News / Politics
Bristol could become the ‘laughing stock of democracy’
The leader of the Lib Dem group at City Hall has warned that Bristol could become the “laughing stock of democracy” if councillors are not given enough time to scrutinise decisions.
Anthony Negus made the comments during an audit committee meeting while discussing the details of a governance tracking report which was being presented to the committee.
The Cotham councillor said that issues of governance had been one of the key items in the Bundred Review – which investigated shortfalls under the previous mayor George Ferguson and his administration.
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Among its findings, Bundred said there had been a “collective failure of leadership” and “over optimistic” reports which “misled” councillors.
One of the key recommendations was to keep opposition councillors better informed so they are able to fully scrutinise decisions.
But during Tuesday’s meeting, Negus said he still felt that the governance of the council was “failing”.
His main issue was with the Forward Plan, and how nearly every item on the plan would be decided at the following cabinet meeting just four weeks later.
The Forward Plan is a list of forthcoming key decisions which is published monthly. It outlines when the decision will be taken by the cabinet and details of any planned consultations.
Negus said: “The governance is failing in that respect and will continue to fail if, as happened last month, 16 out of the 17 items on the forward plan were brought to the cabinet meeting four weeks later.
“This was done with scarce opportunity for any scrutiny by the overview, scrutiny and management board, let alone from the commissions.
“And this month we have 14 out of the 14 items on the forward plan, no others in front no others behind, and those 14 items are all coming to cabinet to be heard four weeks later.
“Again no opportunity for scrutiny. This is a major, major fault in governance and if this gap isn’t plugged this council will quite rightly be the laughing stock in terms of democracy.”
Chairman of the audit committee, Labour councillor Olly Mead, told the meeting that issues with Forward Plans was an ongoing one.
He said: “It was a problem when George was mayor as well. That’s not to excuse that it’s still happening but I know there have been a lot of conversations going on behind the scenes about it.”
Mead, who represents Horfield ward, also said in many cases scrutiny played a vital role in determining whether a programme worked out or not.
He encouraged members of the audit committee to lobby their individual party groups about the issue.
Denise Murray, director of finance at the council, said the management of the Forward Plan was “not an officer decision, but a mayoral one”.
She added: “The key point in terms of the Forward Plan, whilst we recognise it isn’t in officers gift at this stage to make the changes, I think it’s worthwhile saying it’s being managed in line with the published requirements.
“There are things that we do know in advance but at the moment it is being managed in that way and it is not an officer decision, it’s a mayoral decision.”
Kate Wilson is a local democracy reporter in Bristol
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