Agreement between the Liberal Democrat and Conservative Groups

24 May 2006

Preamble

On 4th May 2006, after 35 years, the voters of Camden decisively rejected the Labour party. The Liberal Democrats tripled their number of seats and emerged as the largest party with 20 Councillors. The Conservatives also gained seats and now have 14 Councillors.

Whilst no single party emerged with a majority of seats, the Liberal Democrat and the Conservative groups recognise that the clear message from voters on the 4th May was a rejection of Labour and are therefore entering into a Liberal Democrat-Conservative Partnership Administration to reflect the wishes of the voters of Camden.

This partnership administration therefore commands the support of nearly 60% of the electorate, and a solid majority of council seats. Having examined our manifestos, we have identified a considerable degree of overlap on our key priorities for changing Camden and recognise that we can both implement key elements of our manifesto commitments and deliver real improvements to the residents of Camden. Our key joint priorities are attached to this agreement.

Both of our Groups recognise that a robust scrutiny process will improve Executive decision making in Camden and is in the interests of Camden residents. We will therefore establish five standing scrutiny committees, covering the three service departments (Housing/Adult Social Services/Community Safety; Children, Families and Schools; and Environment and Culture), Resources and Corporate Performance, and Health. We will be looking to our own backbenchers, as well as members of the opposition parties, to provide this robust scrutiny and we will allocate scrutiny chairs in political proportionality to further improve this process.

In entering into this agreement, we are clear that this is not an electoral pact. Each party understands that when any election or by-election occurs, both political parties will stand and campaign for their candidates as they would normally.

This agreement does not cover the mayoralty of Camden, which has been agreed independently from the Partnership Administration. Both parties are committed to the principle of a rotating mayoralty to reflect the non-political nature of the post.

The functioning of the Partnership Administration

1. The Partnership Administration, and any related agreements entered into, are intended be for the lifetime of the present Council (2006-2010) but will cease in the event of any political party achieving an overall majority on the Council.

2. The political groups are entering into a Partnership Administration, not a single administrative group.

3. The aims of the Partnership Administration are to see the implementation of both political groups' key manifesto pledges (as set out in the annexe attached).

4. The Partnership Administration will form an Executive of six Liberal Democrat Councillors and four Conservative Councillors. All Executive Members, except the Leader, will be expected to hold an Executive portfolio.

5. The Liberal Democrat group will nominate the Leader and the Executive members for Resources, Housing, Culture, Children, and Community Safety. The personnel portfolio will also by covered by an existing Liberal Democrat Executive member. The Conservative group will nominate the Deputy Leader and the Executive members for Environment, Regeneration and Equalities, Schools, and Adult Social Services and Health, one of which portfolios will be taken by the Deputy Leader.

6. The political proportionality of the Executive is not subject to change; however, each political group retains the right to nominate different individuals for Executive posts allocated to their group on an annual basis. Neither group has any veto over the other group's nominations.

7. The scope of Executive portfolios is subject to review and re-negotiation on an annual basis or as required. In the event of failure to agree, Executive portfolios will remain as allocated in the previous year.

8. In order to identify and resolve any potential difficulties on the Council Forward Plan, whips of both political groups in the Partnership Administration will be invited to attend the informal Executive briefings.

9. The Executive will take decisions by double majority of those voting. This means that the majority of each party on the Executive and the majority of the total Executive will need to approve a decision.

10. The Executive is bound by collective responsibility.

Council Committee Memberships

11. The Conservative group will nominate the Chairs of the Licensing and Development Control committees. The Liberal Democrats will nominate the Chairs of the General Purposes and Audit Committees.

12. The Liberal Democrats will hold two scrutiny chairs, the Conservatives one scrutiny chair and Labour two scrutiny chairs, as per political proportionality.

13. The council will establish a Sustainability Champion along with a taskforce of councillors and invited stakeholders to drive the Partnership Administration's focus on sustainability and report back regularly to the Executive and full council. The Sustainability Champion will be nominated by the Liberal Democrat Group.

14. Each political group in the Partnership Administration will support all the agreed nominations of the other group for Council Committee positions.

15. Agreement will be reached by on an annual basis regarding each group's representation on particular committees and outside bodies.

Group liaison and relations

16. There will be procedural matters that arise in the next four years that cannot be foreseen when this agreement is entered into. To resolve these matters, the Leaders of both political groups will convene ad hoc negotiation groups comprising of equal numbers of Councillors from each political group.

17. Only additions can be made to this agreement, and only by agreement of both the parties' group leaders.

AGREEMENT ENTERED INTO ON:

SIGNED BY:

Cllr Keith Moffitt Cllr Andrew Marshall

Leader Leader

Camden Liberal Democrat Group Camden Conservative Group

The Liberal Democrat-Conservative Partnership Administration has agreed the following key policy agenda:

Better value for money for Camden's taxpayers

We will

Give Camden's children and young people the best start

We will:

Offer a fair deal on parking for residents

We will:

Improve our environment - locally and globally

We will:

Involve residents in key decisions and protect their interest

We will:

Boost local policing to increase community safety

We will:

Open up the Council and disperse decision-making

Make our street environment attractive and improve local transport

Improve the quality of housing and housing services

Better healthcare and help for our vulnerable residents

More accessible sports and leisure facilities

Work with our partners in the voluntary sector