Kirklees Council CEO pleads for leadership decision as stalement continues
The chief executive of Kirklees Council has warned the authority “is not designed to operate without a leader” in a letter urging councillors to “continue discussions” to choose one.
Councillors have twice now failed to elect a leader following the local elections in Kirklees last month. Group Leaders Andrew Cooper for the Green Party and Sarah Wood for Reform UK are both standing for the position.
A letter shared anonymously with the Local Democracy Service shows that following the first attempt to elect a leader, CEO Steve Mawson “strongly encouraged” councillors to “continue discussions” in a letter sent to all members on May 22.
The council once again failed to elect a leader when they reconvened on May 28.
As CEO, Mr Mawson has assumed decision-making responsibilities necessary to maintain the safe and lawful operation of the council until a new leader is appointed. A meeting to elect a leader has now been set for July 15, unless a decision can be reached before then.
In the leaked internal document, Mr Mawson explained the consequences of not electing a leader. He said: “With no leader in place, no cabinet can be appointed and, consequently, no cabinet meetings would take place.
“Pre-decision scrutiny would continue where practicable, although officers would not be able to respond to questions relating to political priorities.
“With regard to council meetings, certain items of business would not be able to take place in the absence of a leader and cabinet, including holding the executive to account, public questions to cabinet members and member questions to cabinet members.”
The letter then continued explaining that running the council without a leader was not “designed as a long-term solution” and ended with a stern plea urging for discussions to continue. It read: “In light of the above, members are therefore strongly encouraged to continue discussions – including potential agreements, coalitions, or other arrangements – to secure a leader who can command the confidence of a majority of council.”
This comes as Kirklees faces potentially another month without a leader, with the next full council meeting scheduled for July 15 after the council were unable to reach a decision for a second time at the reconvened meeting on May 28.
Kirklees Council declined to comment.