Runnymede Borough Council will have four co-leaders, and be led by a non Conservative for the first time in 50 years following the May 2024 local elections - but critics argue the move is unconstitutional and has left residents “hoodwinked”. Despite heavy losses, the May poll saw the Conservatives remain the single largest party on the council with 13 seats, but unable to form a coalition. It left the door open for Residents Associations, Greens, Liberal Democrats and Labour to form an alliance and take control.
The new-look council now features Labour as the largest group in the administration with eight councillors, followed by Liberal Democrats, six, Runnymede Independent Residents Group, six, Green, three, and the Englefield Green Independents, two. The Ottershaw Residents with three members take up the remaining seats giving an overall split of 25 councillors in the administration and 16 sitting in opposition.
This new alliance argued that, as they shared 60 per cent of the vote, it was on them to create a new leadership group, and change the council’s constitution in order to do so. The alliance says it is to “fairly represent” residents and ensure “different viewpoints are heard in the new outlook and direction of the council”.
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Others have described the new four-leader model as a “complete farce” that has already failed residents. Councillor Peter Snow, new leader of the Conservative group at Runnymede Borough Council said the constitution was very clear and changes of this magnitude need to go to public consultation if they are to be made.
The key part states: “Changes to the constitution will only usually, unless exceptional circumstances exist, be approved by the full council after consideration of the proposal by corporate management committee, together with the results of any required public consultation.
“The constitution member working party will make recommendations on any changes to corporate management committee.” The Conservatives argue that none of that happened and there were no exceptional circumstances present. Instead, the matter was put to a vote on Thursday May 16' s full council meeting and decided then and there. The vote came after senior officers ruled the election of a leader was a strong enough reason to break with tradition.
Cllr Snow said: “There is a clear procedure on how the constitution can be altered, if it's going to be radically altered it needs to go out to consultation." He said the group was taking advice on the matter and planned to submit a formal statement to the council’s monitoring officer in the coming days.
Cllr Snow added: “We asked the question of how this would work and we got silence. We are deeply unhappy about it. Residents went to the polls thinking they were voting Labour, Lib Dem, Residents Associations, Greens - they didn't think they were voting for a coalition (of co-leaders).
“How does it work? It's a complete and utter farce and we can't let that go. Residents have been hoodwinked. If we ask a question of one of them, do they all have to agree with it, do they all go off and huddle together?"
Runnymede Council was formed in 1974 with the Conservatives holding power through until 1996 when it moved to no overall control for two years, before switching back to Tory in 1998. The council has stayed firmly blue through to 2023 when it shifted again towards no overall control, and was run as a minority administration with support from councillors from Ottershaw.
In all its 50-year history the council has only ever had a Conservative leader - until now. The new alliance shares leadership roles, with Linda Gillham of the Runnymede Independent Residents’ Group and Englefield Green Independents, Robert King of Labour and Co-operative, Don Whyte of the Liberal Democrats and Steve Ringham of the Green Party co-leading the authority in what they have described as a ground-breaking new leadership.
All four groups will have an equal say in the decisions and future direction of the council. This differs from when Guildford ran a co-leadership model. Guildford Borough Council never operated with two leaders at the same time.
They had an agreement where the Liberal Democrat group leader would be head of the council for a set period of time followed by the leader of Residents 4 Guildford and Villages group. Responsibilities were split between the two leaders. When one was leader, the other would be deputy leader and each would have had separate portfolio responsibilities. Any differences or disagreements between them were resolved by discussion and negotiation.
Runnymede Borough Council’s leadership structure, the alliance says, will instead build on their political heritages and share policy making democratically. The co-leaders said “Runnymede residents have clearly been voting for change for some time now.
“This is clearly evidenced by the Conservatives having lost 20 seats since May 2019. However, residents in different areas have also voted for different alternative parties to represent them.
“So, to fairly represent our residents, we must ensure all those different viewpoints are heard in the new outlook and direction of the council. That this will be happening in the year of Runnymede’s 50th anniversary seems somehow appropriate timing for a change of leadership and a change of direction.”
“Our agreement to work together recognises the need for pragmatic and sensible leadership at a time of great importance for the authority. The public has a right to expect cooperation and unity in how their council is run.
“It is public knowledge that Runnymede is facing significant financial issues, caused by the undervaluing of local government by Westminster and decisions by the previous Conservative administration.
“Putting aside our political differences to collectively resolve those challenges means we can best face and resolve these challenges in Runnymede. By building on our political heritages and sharing the policy making democratically between us, we believe we can give both strong leadership and a decision-making process that is more transparent and welcomes public scrutiny, and which our residents will better understand and relate to.”
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