Councillors have disagreed over whether Arun District Council’s committee system has been a success, as it prepares to return to a leader-and-cabinet model.

During a full council meeting on November 11, views were shared on whether the committee system had improved local democracy, with some concerned the new arrangements could reduce councillors’ involvement in decisions.

Councillor Francis Oppler (LibDem), who supported the committee system, said: “I’m proud to have been involved in reintroducing the committee system here at Arun, because I believe then, and I believe now, that it’s fundamental to good local democracy.

“The opportunity for every elected councillor, not just a handful, to have a meaningful voice in the decisions that affect our residents.

placeholder image — Arun Civic Centre Credit: Lily Wells

“And for me, it has been a success.”

He added: “The committee system is about openness, accountability, and proper scrutiny, and allows councillors from across the political spectrum to contribute, challenge, and shape decisions.”

He raised concerns that returning to a cabinet system could mean fewer councillors having a say in decisions.

He said: “Under the cabinet system, we will have a toothless scrutiny committee that has absolutely no real power.

“A leader and cabinet system concentrates power in fewer hands. Whatever its advantages in terms of speed, it risks reducing the involvement of ordinary councillors and weakening the very local democracy that we’re seeking to strengthen.”

Councillor Kier Greenway (Con) disagreed, questioning whether the committee system had delivered the improvements claimed by its supporters.

He said: “I’m sure many members on my side of the chamber will realise that at committee meetings it’s mostly Conservative councillors that actually say anything.

“So, how we can say that there’s been a democratic improvement when only half of the chamber actually says anything anyway?”

Councillor Jacky Pendleton (Con) also challenged the suggestion that scrutiny under a cabinet system would be ineffective.

She said: “The scrutiny committee will definitely be toothless if people don’t, participate properly in it.”

She added that the effectiveness of any scrutiny committee would depend on the powers given to it under the council’s constitution and how councillors chose to use it.

Other councillors questioned why members were being asked to vote on the recommendations when the return to a cabinet system was already required by national legislation.

The monitoring officer clarified that councillors were not being asked to decide whether it should return to a cabinet system, but to approve the arrangements for introducing the changes and how councillors would be involved.

Councillor Freddie Tandy (Lab) said members who had concerns about the new arrangements should take part in the consultation to help shape the new system.

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 requires councils operating committee-based governance systems to move to a leader-and-cabinet model by June 2027.

Arun had originally expected to be exempt because of local government reorganisation in West Sussex, but delays to the process mean it must now make the change.