by Iain Robinson

THE new cabinet running Stoke-on-Trent City Council has banned questions from the floor and switched from evening to daytime meetings.

Council leader Ross Irving wrote to councillors about the changes, saying the aim was to ensure that meetings run more smoothly than the now defunct executive and members' board (EMB).

The 10-member cabinet meets for the first time on Wednesday – six weeks after the last EMB meeting.

But it will begin at 2pm instead of the 5.30pm start time used for EMB meetings.

And anyone wishing to question the items being discussed has to do so in writing at least 26 hours before the meeting.

Mr Irving, pictured, said in the letter: "The deputy leader and I have discussed the arrangements for cabinet meetings and looked at the arrangements operated in neighbouring councils.

"We are keen to ensure that standards of conduct are dignified and appropriate for a formal meeting of this authority."

However, the changes have angered members of the Labour opposition group on the council.

Group leader, Councillor Mike Barnes said: "I am very concerned that right at the beginning, the leader of the council has decided to take such a Draconian step.

"While other councils seems to be opening up to new ways and ideas to engage with the public, such as broadcasting meetings on the internet, Councillor Irving seems to be taking us back to the Dark Ages. This decision will exclude many of the electorate from seeing the decision being made and the discussions councillors had in coming to their conclusion.

"Non-cabinet members will have little alternative, if they cannot contribute in open debate, but to call-in decisions.

"This could have devastating consequences on the speed of decision-making and the effectiveness of the council, as calling in a decision adds two to three weeks to the process."

Deputy council leader Brian Ward said: "This seems to be the way that most other councils' cabinets work.

"We have decided to give the new arrangements a three-month trial, and if they don't work then we will be quite happy to alter them.

"We had the evening start time for the EMB because there were some members who worked full-time who couldn't make it in the day, but that is no longer an issue.

"Putting questions to the cabinet in advance will enable meetings to run more smoothly than the EMB meetings, which I thought were terrible and didn't seem to achieve anything."

Related news:

Council restarts search for chief

MP leads call for free school meals

Village has become a 'rat run', say campaigners

Story filed in: Council | News