Governance Transition Board

According to the latest notes from the Stoke-on-Trent Governance And Performance Transition Board, it appears that they are expanding. Reading the notes, (they don't take minutes, they just publish notes), from the last meeting it appears that: Councillor Ken Taylor, Leader Coventry City Council Trudi Elliott, Regional Director – Government Office for West Midlands Councillor Stephen Houghton, Leader Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Mr Paul Sheehan, Chief Executive Walsall Metropolitan Boro

By Tony Walley. The Governance and Performance Transition Board has made a submission to the Electoral Commission’s Electoral Review of Stoke-on-Trent, responding to the question of council size. The submission, which will be available in full with the evidence to the committee, restates the key recommendations of the Governance Commission and re-affirms the Board's support for them.

By Pits'n'Pots Reporter. There are strong rumours that the Governance Transition Board, which was set up to oversee the implementation of the 14 recommendations of the Governance Commission is to be scrapped. Controversy has surrounded this group at times and many people have questioned how the members of the board were appointed and what selection criteria was used to ensure the right people were approached.

Comment By Tony Walley. [caption id="attachment_1818" align="alignleft" width="75" caption="Tony Walley "][/caption] In recent times we have had the Governance Commission, The Governance Transition Board & The Boundaries Commission positively thrust upon us! But I asked this in all sincerity - have they made a blind bit of difference to our city, our city council or indeed our lives? First we had the Governance Commission who came along and after a considerable period of time, ca

By Pits'n'Pots Reporter. [caption id="attachment_1962" align="alignleft" width="103" caption="2010 Elections"][/caption] Councillors in Stoke-on-Trent are to be asked to support a recommendation to reduce their numbers. A report to a special meeting of the full council on 8 September will suggest cutting the number of councillors from the current figure of 60 to between 52 and 56. Councillors have today (Wednesday) been informed about the proposals, which will be published

Comment By Tony Walley. [caption id="attachment_1818" align="alignleft" width="75" caption="Tony Walley "][/caption] I will be an interested observer at this afternoons urgent full council meeting. As a Stoke-on-Trent resident, I like many others I assume, expect my ward councillor to represent me. I expect my Council Leader to lead this city and to take responsibility for every decision both politically and administratively.

Source: PKB Blog [caption id="attachment_1121" align="alignleft" width="90" caption="Peter Kent-Baguley"][/caption] The first of the Governance Commission's 14 recommendations for Stoke-on-Trent City Council was to move to all-out elections every four years from 2011. I had no problem with that since I had campaigned for re-election in 2007 advocating all-out elections, fewer councillors, single member but smaller wards and therefore more than the present 20 wards.

By Pits'n'Pots Reporter. The Labour Group on Stoke on Trent City Council was plunged into turmoil tonight! [caption id="attachment_2032" align="alignright" width="90" caption="Joy Garner"][/caption] Former Group Leader Joy Garner has resigned from the Labour Party and from the Labour Group. Her resignation takes the number who have walked the walk across the council chamber to three. First to resign was EMB member and Labour stalwart Joan Bell, she left the party because of 'issues wi

By Pits'n'Pots Reporter. [caption id="attachment_4971" align="alignleft" width="80" caption="John Healey"][/caption] Read this statement from the Minister for Local Government Mr John Healey and give him your feedback about the future of Stoke-on-Trent before the 18 June 2009 to john1.healey@communities.gsi.gov.uk Minister for Local Government (Mr.