Southend's most senior councillors could face a Commons-style grilling by backbench members under proposals revealed today.
A shake-up of the controversial cabinet and scrutiny committee system is set to be launched because some councillors feel they are left out of decisions on key issues.
There has been concern among councillors and senior officers that those not in the cabinet now have little to do, compared with the old committee system.
Chief executive and town clerk George Krawiec, in a report to next Thursday's full council, says members have shown an interest in developing scrutiny in a similar way to the workings of Commons select committees.
This proposal would mean they would be able to call senior officers and cabinet members as witnesses to probe their actions.
Also planned is an expansion of the number of scrutiny committees from three to four, with the social scrutiny committee being split in two.
One committee would examine education issues and others involving children and lifelong learning.
The second new committee would look at other aspects of social care, health and housing.
Published Thursday, April 17, 2003
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