Published on:
01
June 2012
A major review of the Council's decision making framework was agreed at Council today (Friday).
Three new committees will be established:
The Scrutiny Committee will be re-named Resources and Audit and its remit will be strengthened with a power to call-in any Council business.
The Education, Sport & Leisure Committee will include one member appointed by the Church of Scotland, one member appointed by the Catholic Church and one member appointed by a further denominational body or church.
In addition, the Enterprise & Environment Committee will include four co-opted members, at least two of which will be nominated by Clackmannanshire Business.
Council Leader Gary Womersley said: "We have developed a new structure that is radical, allows for real debate and real involvement from elected members, and true involvement from community stakeholders. This new structure will strengthen the Council's approach to the formulation of policy and the scrutiny of service performance by elected members. We wish to provide more opportunity for members to focus on the development of key policies and strategies and to improve the openness, transparency and accountability of the conduct of Council business.
In addition, the current approach of having portfolio holders is to be replaced with the conveners of the new committees also having responsibility for service performance and policy, as well as associated strategic themes.
Councillor Womersley added: "This is a conscious effort not just to improve how the Council conducts business, but also to make it more transparent. I think the previous portfolio designations were confusing as to who had responsibility for what. I am glad that the remit of committees will now be easily recognisable to the public. In order for local politics to work, it needs to be meaningful to local people."