Authority mulls cutting Cabinet portfolios, scrutiny committees to make savings

The Cabinet at Stockton Council has agreed proposals that:

• There should be seven portfolio holders instead of nine; and
• The number of scrutiny committees should be five instead of seven.

The proposals, aimed at saving more than £40,000, will now go before the full council. The savings will help the authority towards its 15% efficiency target set for April 2015.

The changes would see the portfolios of Corporate Management & Finance and Housing & Community Safety removed and merged with existing portfolios. However, this will not be finalised until after elections in 2015.

A revised scrutiny committee system would, if backed by full council, see the Housing & Community Safety, Arts, Leisure & Culture, Corporate & Social Inclusion, Environment and Regeneration & Transport committees deleted and replaced with People and Place committees.

The changes would be implemented in 2015 at the Annual General Meeting following the local elections.

Cllr Bob Cook, Leader of Stockton Council, said: “[We] have carefully reviewed our Cabinet structure and scrutiny system and believe we can continue to meet the needs and expectations of our residents with a reduction in Cabinet Members and scrutiny committees. 

“What really matters is that we provide excellent front-line services and do all we can to protect the most vulnerable. With these new structures I know we can strive to achieve this, whilst also generating significant savings.”