Without funding or influence - what is the point of "champions?"

Should Powys County Council get rid of member champions?

Before that question is answered, the 10 current member champions will get the opportunity of stating their case for keeping the roles at a future meeting of the Democratic Service committee.

At their meeting on Monday, July 5, the committee was supposed to discuss changes which would allow councillors to apply for these roles.

And also decide whether to take the decision on who gets appointed as a champion, out of the council leader’s hands.

These were the options in front of them following a review of the role which was done during the last year.

Committee chairman, Cllr Elwyn Vaughan who is himself a “champion “pointed out that they have “no resources, budget or support staff ” and are limited to what they can do.

Cllr Linda Corfield said: “I just don’t get this whole champion thing; I just think it’s a labelling exercise.”

She believed that “it would be more appropriate” to appoint as champion a councillor who has expertise in an area.

“But people just putting themselves forward willy nilly to me seems absolute madness,” said Cllr Corfield.

Cllr Roger Williams said: “I think the first stage is to decide whether there should be champions anyway?

“My view is probably not.”

Cllr Sarah Williams recalled a champion going to the Abercraf area and speaking to people about a number of projects in the area.

She explained that her constituents thought the champion had political clout to help them with these projects.

Cllr Williams said: “There’s no money with them or purpose to the role other than a token gesture for the authority.

“I would suggest we have a review and consider whether we need them at all.”

Head of legal and democratic services, Clive Pinney, said: “I don’t believe that today is the right time to answer that question.

“Before this committee decide whether champions are a good thing, we need to give the existing champions a chance to come to Democratic Services to take part in the debate.”

He advised that the issue be adjourned to allow that to happen, and this was agreed by the committee.

The role of member champion exists to provide a voice for traditionally under-represented groups, or issues which the council’s work touches.

The champion is supposed be able to advise on developing council policy and decision and how they would impact their respective sphere.

The council has 10 champions, and they are:

Older People – Cllr Kath Roberts-Jones
Dementia – Cllr Elwyn Vaughan
Children’s – Cllr Rachel Powell (cabinet member)
Welsh Language – Cllr Myfanwy Alexander (cabinet member)
Diversity – Cllr Matthew Dorrance
Armed Forces – Cllr Rosemarie Harris (council leader/cabinet member)
Anti-Poverty – Cllr Joy Jones
Disability – Cllr Ange Williams
Anti-Slavery – Cllr Aled Davies (cabinet member).
Equalities – Cllr James Evans – who was elected as Senedd Member for Brecon and Radnorshire in May.