Councils to be allowed to return to committee system, says minister

The coalition government has announced plans to allow councils to return to the committee system if that is their preferred system of governance.

Communities Minister Andrew Stunell said: “For the last decade councils have been forced to implement a one-size fits all model of government. This government will let councils and communities decide how to organise themselves. We don’t presume to know more than local people about how their area should be run.

“The coalition government is committed to localism and pushing power away from Westminster and back to local communities.”

The committee system was abolished by the Local Government Act 2000, which required all councils with a population of 85,000 or more to choose either an elected mayor and cabinet or a leader and cabinet.

Prior to the 2000 Act, local authorities could take all decisions in council or delegate decision-making to committees, sub-committees, other authorities or officers.