8th May 2018 By Anne North Cornwall councillors have been treated to a special presentation about the “Scheme of Delegation” which sets out the discretionary powers already granted to senior…
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Accountability is the essence of democracy. Councillors are answerable to the electorate. Council officials are not.
A similar Unitary Authority (County Durham) has the following in their Constitution of Council. I refer to
https://durham.gov.uk/media/1650/Constitution-of-the-Council/pdf/Constitution2017V6.pdf
Page 98, Table 6, 46 “To approve the principle of acquiring property at a price not exceeding £100,000”
Page 99. Table 6, 56 “To settle compensation claims not exceeding £50,000 …”
The weak statement by Cornwall officers in defence of their already excessive powers of delegation is demonstrated in the example of the bungalow apropos planning as stated above.
Direct authority? Oligarchy!