A proposal being put forward by the County’s Liberal Democrats to the Council’s Constitution Committee on Monday could see changes to the length of the Council Leader’s tenure.
The Council’s Constitution currently stipulates that the term of office of the Leader starts on the day of his election and ends on the day of the next post election annual meeting.
To reduce the risk of leadership complacency and in order that the incumbent Leader remains effective and accountable to the Council the Liberal Democrats have recommended cutting the current four year term of office to yearly terms.
If approved the present Conservative Leader Cllr. Mark Hawthorne would need to be re-elected at next year’s annual Council meeting or see the election of a new Leader of Council.
Cllr. Jeremy Hilton (LD, Kingsholm & Wotton) said that:
“Electing the Leader of the Council annually at the council’s AGM is good for both democracy and the people of Gloucestershire.
“The Leader of the Council should be accountable to all fifty-three County Councillors who themselves represent the people that live in their own divisions.
“The introduction of annual election for Leader, which is an option introduced in the legislation, would strengthen accountability and reduce any complacency.
“Annual elections are held for the Chairperson and the same can be done for the Leader of the Council. This would give all members of the Council a chance to see what the Leader has done in the previous year and make their own judgments as to whether he or she has done a competent job worthy of re-election.”
The proposal that has been submitted will be debated at the Constitution Committee at Shire Hall for debate on Monday 7th October at 3pm.
ENDS