The Fourth Option

Operated by Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil and Powys Councils

Links

Local Government Act 2000
The Local Authorities (Alternative Arrangements) (Wales) Regulations 2007
WAG decision

Torfaen has a Leader and Cabinet system that many believe to be undemocratic.

Is There A Better Way?

Maybe and the better way might be what is called "The Fourth Option"

IMPORTANT SEE UPDATE HERE!

There are 22 Local Authorities in Wales. Nineteen of them, including Torfaen, operate “Executive Arrangements” under a leader and cabinet model. The remaining 3 (Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil and Powys) operate the fourth option, known as “Alternative Arrangements” which require them to have a politically balanced board (instead of an executive).

These alternative arrangements are according to the Local Government Act 2000 seemingly modified by The Local Authorities (Alternative Arrangements) (Wales) Regulations 2007and later by this decision of WAG.

What is popularly known in Wales as “the Fourth Option” means the leadership of the authority would rest with a politically balanced Board. No one party would dominate executive decisions and the best talents of all political groups could be used. Stability following violent shifts in a party's fortunes (sometimes as a result of national issues) would not mean a total change in those actually running the council, and the likelyhood of everyone in a new cabinet being inexperienced.

The bad organisation and lack of experience of the rainbow coalition hastily assembled after the May 2008 election were the reasons given by the three Plaid members and the two Independents, who supported the labour leader, for their decision. This would not happen if Torfaen had taken up the fourth option.

In practical terms in Torfaen the Leadership has been a job for life, the leader chooses the cabinet, the cabinet make the decisions, labour members support those decisions. Most independents sit and watch, a few of them now ruffle a few feathers but most just sit and watch, knowing they cannot influence decisions. There must be a better way!.

The May 2008 election results of the 3 council operating the "Fourth Option" are as follows ...

If anyone wishes to contribute to this description of the fourth option please get in touch! It could answer a lot of electors doubts about the present system as operated in Torfaen.

UPDATE12th February 2010

The following is copied from the Chatroom. This news may affect peoples opinions on the fourth option.

Merthyr will change back to Cabinet system!
"The Minister for Social Justice and Local Government has agreed to Merthyr Tydfil’s County Borough Council’s request to change to a Leader and Cabinet Structure."

see decision by WAG here

So the use of the fourth option will be left to just two councils in Wales and has been rejected by Liberals, labour and the independents in Merthyr!

The Fourth Option

The Fourth Option may not be as good as it seems. Merthyr, one of the three councils in Wales to operate the system intend to change to the cabinet system, so that the (Independent) leader can choose his own cabinet.
I don't know if it the same with all three, "fourth option" councils but in Merthyr at least one member of each party is guaranteed a place on the cabinet. So with the recent introduction of the UKIP party a UKIP councillor must be on the board? According to the WalesOnline website below a statement written by the authority, detailing why it thinks a change is necessary, states the “previous stability no longer exists despite the best efforts of all concerned,” with the reason why attached to the increasing number of Merthyr political groups.

Does this mean that if just two councillors form a new group one of them must get a place on the board? Or maybe just one NF councillor? If either is the case that is wrong and I hope it is not an essential part of The Fourth Option, as it is open to abuse.

see news item here

return to top

www.torfaen4us.co.uk

Home |  Grumble Sheet |  Information |  BLOG  | Contact Us | Election 2008

Email us at (You will have to type this address into your email program. This is to help reduce spam, sorry!)