Scrutinising council decision making
Ihave previously written about district councillors’ decision making with regard to their regulatory and statutory duties. One of their key responsibilities is to scrutinise decisions taken by councillors on the cabinet. If there was real scrutiny, then why was there not a challenge to the decision by the leader of the council not to fill the vacant position for cabinet member for Horsham Town?
Peter Burgess has stood down from this role, and will be retained only as an advisor for ‘matters pertinent to the town’. This is wholly unsatisfactory. The loss of a permanent cabinet member for Horsham Town does not properly serve the very large, and ever-growing, number of town residents.
Surrounding villages are represented by their parish councils, funded through an element of council tax. They are able to make decisions and plan expenditure on behalf of their residents. Horsham itself, represented by the combination of a parish council in the north, and three neighbourhood councils representing the town, is somewhat different.
Neighbourhood councils have no legal voice or money to spend on projects. Surely, a person is required to have an overview of these four councils.
The town cabinet member’s role is clearly laid out in Horsham District Council’s Articles of Constitution. The responsibility is limited to the areas covered by Horsham Denne, Trafalgar and Forest neighbourhood councils, as well as North Horsham Parish Council. The role has:
Overall responsibility for the development and review of areas and policies defined in the Horsham Town Vision.
Responsibility for liaison with the parish and neighbourhood councils within the defined area.
Responsibility for liaison with relevant external groups specifically affecting Horsham Town.
Responsibility for liaison and working with the relevant cabinet members and officers for a number of areas:
Planning and major projects in the town.
Car parking, community safety (including police, local wardens, and joint safety groups).
Local transport facilities including walking, cycling, bus, rail and road providers.
Development of existing and future employment, furthering a strong local economy including sustaining the retail experience and tourism within the town.
The key amenities in Horsham Town including parks, The Capitol, leisure areas etc
Any other matters which particularly affect Horsham Town.
The cabinet member for Horsham, representing nearly 60,000 people, would be expected to have a very clear overview of, and be heavily involved in, all that is planned for our town.
At a time of so many important decisions being made, such as those regarding Rookwood, Drill Hall, Public Realm Strategy, Novartis and the North of Horsham Development, it is essential that a councillor is appointed to this position.
In Horsham, the district council is already proposing to flout its own District Planning Framework, are ignoring its own Green Space Strategy and directly countering the National Planning Policy Framework.
If we are not to have a cabinet member with responsibility for Horsham Town how can the responsibilities clearly laid out in HDC’s constitution be met? Or is this yet another document to be ignored?