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Green and Lib Dem councillors join mainly-Conservative cabinet at Folkestone and Hythe District Council
14:34, 05 February 2020
updated: 14:42, 05 February 2020
A "ground-breaking" offer has seen two new members given a seat at Folkestone and Hythe District Council's (FHDC) top table.
In a unique move, Cllr David Monk (Con), leader of the authority, invited leaders of opposition parties a place on his cabinet.
As part of the new rainbow alliance, Cllr Lesley Whybrow (Green) and Cllr Tim Prater (Lib Dem) have accepted positions.
Cllr Connor McConville, leader of Labour, says his joining is still subject to consultation.
But this new power-sharing arrangement - believed to be the first of its kind in the UK - means alternative views and voices will now be heard on the mainly Conservative cabinet.
Cllr Whybrow will hold the portfolio for environment and Cllr Prater will take care of revenue, benefits, anti fraud and corruption.
The announcement was given at the full council meeting last week, when Cllr Monk said the decision followed on from a council resolution to look at whether it stays with a cabinet system or switches to a committee system.
But as this sort of change can not be implemented until at least May 2021, Cllr Monk said this new idea arose instead and he offered each of the leaders a place on his cabinet.
He said: "We recognise the diversity of the groups we have now, and 15 months is a long time to wait before we address that.
"I think this is a very good way forward and I'm very pleased with the way the proposition has been received."
He added that the new set-up "compromises no-one" and said the only rule for new members is that decisions made within the cabinet are then stuck to outside of it.
Cllr Whybrow added the changes do not mean there is a "coalition" and said she saw the situation as "temporary" and is still in favour of the council adopting the committee system in May next year.
The key difference is that in the committee system, committees are represented by different parties in proportion to the membership of the full council, but a cabinet is appointed by the leader and is typically formed only or mostly by members of the majority party, meaning minority parties have far less influence.
Currently FHDC is made up of 30 councillors - 13 Conservative, six Greens, six Labour, two Ukip, two Lib Dems and one independent.
The Conservatives formed an administration at the last general election with the backing of the Ukip councillors and independent and Cllr Monk's cabinet is made up of four Conservatives and the independent, after Ukip's Cllr Ian Meyers resigned this week due to 'personal circumstances'.
But the cabinet now has a dash of green and yellow added to it.
Cllr Whybrow added: "I welcome this radical move to represent the diverse range of opinions on the council and to work collaboratively for the good of our community.
'I welcome this radical move to represent the diverse range of opinions on the council and to work collaboratively for the good of our community...' - Cllr Whybrow
"This presents us with a marvellous opportunity to turn the consensus within council on the need for action to tackle climate change into practical steps, directly and by providing leadership on the issue outside of the council itself.
"The thousands who voted for the Green Party last May can rest assured that I will vote against and speak out on those things I disagree with.
"Power-sharing provides our best opportunity to affect the way in which decisions are taken in the district and to ensure that the Green voice is listened to, as well as giving all the residents of Hythe a bigger say in local politics."
Cllr Tim Prater, who still hopes to see a committee system introduced at the authority in the future, said: "To the offer that has been made, which I would described as ground-breaking and to my knowledge has not been done in this format by any other councils in the UK under these circumstances, it is a genuinely exciting experiment, or innovation, in terms of opening up the council among the groups.
"This is not a coalition. We agree there will be times we disagree. I am fully expecting to make cabinet meetings longer. But obviously where we agree we will work together to pursue those areas.
"And where we disagree we will say so."
Cllr Monk added: "I’m delighted that two of my fellow party leaders have elected to take up my invitation to join cabinet.
"While the Labour group is still in consultation about joining, I am looking forward to all groups forming part of my cabinet and transposing the success of our cross-party working groups to a Cabinet setting.
"We’re all working for a bright and prosperous future for our district and residents. I’m confident that together we can make even better progress towards this goal."
The new arrangement will last until the council's annual general meeting in May next year, when it will either be be renewed or come to an end if the cabinet is replaced by a new system of committee government.
