CEG – Governance Workshop

CEG – Governance Workshop

21/07/16

Each group was tasked with creating a governance model which dealt with two specific principles as set out by LGA’s principles of good governance.

This was in the context of a hypothetical scenario laid out in the task sheet on pages 2 and 3.

Workshop Task Sheet

GROUP 1

Attendee / Organisation
Caroline Court / Cornwall Council – Public Health
Ian Smith / VSF
Dr Robin Kirby / Falmouth University
Jane Cashmore / Truro/Penwith College
Kate Kennally / Cornwall Council
Philippa Dowling / Cornwall Council
Richard Williams / Cornwall Council
Cath Robinson / Cornwall Council
Principles of good governance / Questions to consider
Civic Leadership / Leadership includes the capacity to develop a vision for an area coupled with a governance arrangement that can ensure effective and accountable delivery of this vision. / Who makes the decisions, at a strategic level and at a local level? How do you ensure decisions are made effectively?
Transparency and efficiency / Transparency is fundamental not only in building trust and confidence in the political process, but also in ensuring efficiency. / How does the model contribute to transparency about who makes decisions, on what issues, when, why and how?

Model

Key discussions

  • One overarching organisation
  • Assembly?
  • Current system complex, therefore hard to access and understand
  • Simple structure required
  • Mayor
  • Would need public buy-in to consider
  • Potential Mayor with expert input from deputy?
  • Voting mechanism
  • Does Cornwall have power over voting system in 2025?
  • Mandatory voting?
  • Reduce voting age?
  • Cultural Catchment
  • Allow local people to establish area they feel culturally affiliated with

Summary

Principle / Details of governance arrangements
Civic Leadership /
  • Highly visible top strata sets direction as hybrid model balancing democracy and expertise
  • Strategic body brings in representatives from functions
  • Community level have devolved budgets, deal with local priorities
  • Both strategic body and community level scrutinized by Councillors

Transparency and efficiency /
  • Simplified structure for easier navigation of public sector
  • Overarching body sets vision, freeing up capacity for strategic leadership
  • Sight lines show decision making chain

GROUP 2

Attendee / Organisation
Allister Young / Coastline Housing
Phil Kennedy / Devon and Cornwall Police
Steve Matthews / JCP
Ian Knight / HCA
Phil Mason / Cornwall Council
CC Paula Dolphin / Councillor
Clare Salmon / Cornwall Council
Oliver Baines / GREG
Adam Birchall / Cornwall Council
Christopher Roy / Cornwall Council
Principles of good governance / Questions to consider
Accountability / Are sound arrangements in place to ensure that there is effective scrutiny of decision-making by those seeking to hold the executive to account (non-executives, the public, other parties)? / Does the governance model ensure that decision-makers are held to account, how?
Business engagement / Does the model provide for the effective involvement of local business interests?
What role will local enterprise partnerships (LEPs) play in governance? / How are local businesses involved?

Model

Key discussions

  • Democracy vs Expertise
  • 70% of budget – need expert input
  • CEOs of public services elected?(Too busy for democratic process)
  • Elected members given direct assistance from appointed experts
  • Inclusion of under-represented
  • Encourage diverse representation through work-friendly model with pay
  • One combined public services organisation with powers/bodies underneath
  • Is Cornwall the right scale?
  • Similar to German models (e.g.Stuttgart > 2 million population)
  • Include Plymouth, due to current draw in East Cornwall?
  • Has to be level of regional co-operation, but not another layer of government
  • Town and Parish Councils
  • Don’t have enough responsibility - double devolution needed?
  • Could Towns have Mayors? Highest voted councillor becomes mayor
  • Will public sector become likea business in 2025?
  • New strands of income likely to be required
  • E.g. European municipality models; single energy company public sector owned
  • LEP
  • Current lack of faith from businesses in CC – branding issue
  • Therefore require LEP
  • Broad strategic basis for governance
  • Can set clear vision + culture
  • E.g. Auckland Model
  • Research is key to business involvement
  • Intelligence hub, with joint access to intel
  • John Lewis Partnership model
  • Citizens have a stake in the business and share in the profits/losses

Summary

Principle / Details of governance arrangements
Accountability /
  • Directly elected, small group of top level decision makers, accountable to the electorate
  • Highly visible decision makers
  • Scrutiny from political opposition
  • Independent audit/scrutiny committee required
  • Evidence-based decision making, through use/investment in intelligence

Business Engagement /
  • One combined public services organisation
  • Set clear vision and culture
  • LEP required
  • Key Principle: Invest in Intelligence and Research
  • Intelligence hub with joint access

GROUP 3

Attendee / Organisation
Ethna McCarthy / RCHT
Paul Walker / CC (CFRS)
Mike Dann / DWP
Jim Pearce / Devon and Cornwall Constabulary
Stephen Marks / Environment Agency
Matthew Barton / CC
Principles of good governance / Questions to consider
Effective decision-making / The importance of creating sound arrangements for the development of deliberative local democracy is essential. / How does the model support high quality decision making?
Public involvement / Does the governance model provide for effective public involvement in decision-making?
The creation of a devolved governance structure should ensure that there is proper public debate about important public policy choices. Do the processes of decision-making ensure the inclusion of citizen voices? / To what extent does your model involve the public and what form does this take?

Key discussions

  • Engagement of all groups
  • Trying to ensure representational democracy that reflects Cornwall demographics
  • Empowering decision-making to others
  • Be less risk averse
  • Balance of democracy
  • Synergy required between the ‘traditional’ representational democracy and ‘newer’ forms of participatory democracy
  • Could introduce new electoral system that allowstop-up of ‘seats’ on council/assembly allocated to under-representedgroups
  • Develop bottom up model of governance
  • Need to recognise communities of influence don’t respect traditional boundaries
  • Incentivised voting
  • Are there any ways in which we can we can incentivise voting?
  • Can we use referendums to determine key decisions – such as the introduction of a tourist tax for Cornwall?
  • How can we engage more effectively with the online community?
  • Take into account that society will become increasingly emotive, reactionary and aggressive, as well asdemographic projections etc.
  • Need to harness that ‘social energy’ by creating a model of governance that balances representational and participatory democracy.
  • E.g. participatory budgeting the norm and not the exception!
  • Opportunity to consider new electoral systems for 2021
  • E.g. proportional representation or the ‘alternative vote’ system, with top-up for underrepresented minority groups
  • Turn governance on its head
  • Get clearer distinction/relationship between local and strategic decision-making
  • Default should be all decisions are made at local level, rather than other way around

Summary

Principle / Details of governance arrangements
Effective Decision-making /
  • Be less risk averse in empowering decision-making to others
  • Define relationship between local and strategic decision-making
  • Default should be locally-made decision making

Public Involvement /
  • Ensure representational democracy of all demographics
  • Balance of representational democracy and new participatory models
  • Introduce ‘top-up’ of seats allocated to underrepresented groups
  • Incentivise voting?
  • Use referendums on key issues e.g. a tourist tax?
  • Develop better ways to engage with online community
  • Consider new electoral systems

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