Cornwall Council's Cabinet this morning fudged the issue of abolishing advisory panels and potentially bringing more backbenchers into government. Councillor Graeme Hicks proposed lifting the axe that had been hanging over the car parking panel, among others, announcing a stay-of-execution for six months to allow time for a "review." Cabinet voted for the new recommendation unanimously.
Council leader Alec Robertson has promised to press ahead with job descriptions, and pay details, for any Cabinet Support Members that might be created - and also suggested their remuneration could be "cost neutral" (implying they'll be funded by savings made eventually on panel abolition.)
The sound of gears crashing into reverse at today's meeting suggested to me that the Independent part of the Conservative-Indie coalition has yet to be convinced.
I wonder if "review" is a euphemism for "won't happen." Six months is a long time for dissident Conservative backbenchers to wait for the sort of "inclusivity" that might find them something to occupy their time. It also takes us to October, a mere 19 months before the next round of Cornwall Council elections, and a period when members start reverting into candidates.
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