Basildon BC has switched to a committee system after a vote by councillors. The chair of the policy and resources committee, Gavin Callaghan, will take on the role and responsibilities of the leader, a role that will now become defunct. Basildon's decision to terminate the leader and cabinet model of local governance was made by councillors in December. Cllr Callaghan said: ‘We have taken a very important step to change the way that decisions are made because we believe it will make the council more democratic and more effective. 'It is now down to us to prove it.'