Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People NORTH MONTGOMERYSHIRE LOCAL COUNCIL FORUM

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People INTRODUCTION What we need to look at The Bill and the White Paper Reform not re-organisation Programme for all of this

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People THE BILL The purpose of the Bill The purpose of the White Paper Timescales Powers to the Minister

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People THE WHITE PAPER The last chance to really comment on the bill that will follow which brings in wide ranging changes to local government.

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People SECTIONS Balancing the responsibilities of Welsh Government & Local Authorities Renewing democracy Connecting to communities Corporate governance and improvement Performance in local government Strengthening the role of review Reforming local government finance Impact Assessments

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Balancing the responsibilities of Welsh Government & Local Authorities What is this section about? Clarity 2.1Do you think Local Authorities in Wales should be called Counties? 2.2Do you think Local Authorities should be able to nominate their chair as Mayor? 2.4Should Local Authorities in Wales be granted a general power of competence? 2.6Should the provisions of the Deregulation and Contacting Out Act 1994 as they apply to Local Authorities be reviewed? 2.8Official Procedure – timing and how it is done 2.9Should local authorities issue information in ‘plain language’?

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Renewing democracy – County Councils What is this all about? Standardisation 3.1How long should a Council term be? 3.2Should Councils elect on a rolling basis? 3.4Should leaders be required to have a manifesto on which to be elected? 3.6Should leaders be required to issue an annual report on their achievements? 3.7Should leaders or Mayors responsibilities be set out in legislation? 3.8Should leaders set objectives for Cabinet and or Chief Executives? 3.13Should the roles of cabinet members be set in legislation?

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Renewing democracy RUNNING THE COUNTY COUNCIL 3.16Should the number of members in the cabinet be reduced from the current 10? 3.17 How many cabinet members do you think there should be? 3.19Should there be junior cabinet positions to allow for progression? 3.21Should there be a training and development programme for Councilors? 3.23Should duties of elected members be set in legislation? 3.24 What should those duties be? 3.25 Should elected members be required to give an annual report?

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Renewing democracy – County Councils Set Standards 3.31Standards Committees – enhancing powers 3.37Recall of County Councilor provoking an election 3.39Cabinet appointments and diversity 3.44Youth Councils 3.46 Release of employees to be Councilors 3.47 County Councilors remuneration

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Renewing democracy – County Councils How long should terms of office be? 3.5County Councilor terms of office. 3.52Cabinet and leaders terms of office Serving both County and Welsh Government. 3.55Staff standing for election Role definitions in law 3.65Term limits of Chief Executives 3.70Renumeration of Senior Officers 3.75Consistancy of Senior Officers

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Connecting with communities What is this all about? 4.1Neighbourhood Management 4.4Community governance – set by County Council 4.12Review structure and role of Town and Community Councils 4.13Review by County Councils of Town/Community Council roles (by 2022) 4.15Size of Town and Community Councils – how many?

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Connecting with communities 4.19Tests for Town and Community Councils – Democracy – Town Clerk qualifications – Minimum budget of £200,000 – Financial management – ? Welsh Language – ? Members of representative bodies (i.e. OVW or N&MWALC)

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Connecting with communities What is this all about? Roles and Responsibilities 4.28Public questions and recording of meetings. 4.29Reporting by Chair of Council each year. 4.30Chair setting objectives for Town Clerk. 4.32Being a Town/Community and County Councilor? 4.33Serving more than one Town or Community Council Clerks serving more than one Town or Community Council 5.1Standards of Town and Community Councils Power of Competence to Town/Community Councils

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Connecting with communities What is this all about? Standards for Community Bodies (3 rd Sector)

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Corporate governance and improvement What is this all about? Audit Committee 6.2Chair of Audit Committee 6.3Make up of Audit Committee 6.29Intervention by Ministers of Welsh Government 6.39Local Government Wales Measure 2009 (Fire Service etc)

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Performance in local government What is this all about? 7.1Corporate and strategic plans Performance reports and a single information portal Minimum standards Digital, social media and web sites

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Performance in local government Council meetings 7.31Right of public to record proceedings 7.32Right of public to twitter or social media information 7.33Public views on main Council agenda

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Strengthening the role of review What is this all about 8.1Democratic Services 8.6Scrutiny 8.28Review periods Public accounts committee External reviews

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Reforming local government finance What is this all about? 9.8Consultations 9.9How information is offered 9.11Financial transparency

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People Impact Assessments What is this all about? What impact if any will this have on: Welsh Language Impact on Children Equalities Other issues

Reforming Local Government: Power to Local People NORTH MONTGOMERYSHIRE LOCAL COUNCIL FORUM