Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Bill

I have already raised this issue with the Minister. The arrangements that we entered into—a Cabinet system and those for the rest of the council—have changed. Being leader of a large council, I know that, given the complications of the world these days, with CPAs, LAAs, MIAs et cetera, you need a sophisticated cadre of officers supporting you and working with you. Sometimes, the opposition parties, even one’s own back-benchers, are not interested in that side of things. They need a sophisticated group that supports a leader and the Cabinet members. They are growing increasingly distant from the challenges that one faces all the time, whether it is waste or adult social care, and from the bulk of the other members. The other members do scrutiny and need to be involved in policy development. Essex County Council has 75 members—so we have 10 in the Cabinet and 65 others. I increasingly feel that one needs a group of officers that gives more support to the others, helping them to do the scrutiny rather better and understand the policies, rather than a group which helps the Administration. I have mentioned this matter to the Minister. She has mentioned it to the ex-leader of Camden council, whose name I have forgotten.