Shadow communities secretary, Caroline Spelman, has called for a return to the old committee system and a cut in officers, if the Conservatives come to power. Ms Spelman told the party conference: ‘We will devolve more power to ward councillors and end the crazy rules which stop them voting on the things they've campaigned on.' There was also a renewed commitment to scrap regional spacial strategies, the Comprehensive Area Assessment and plans for further unitary councils. However, a senior Conservative council leader questioned the wisdom of committees. He told The MJ: ‘The backbench members will want this, no doubt. But to run an organisation in a business-like way – and deliver all the things a future government will want to do – means this wouldn't work. I wouldn't go back to the old committee system for all the world. This works, and there are more important ways of making a mark.' Other proposals included giving councils more power to deliver on benefit and employment. Ms Spelman said: ‘The leadership of local government has changed. There aren't any "loony left" councils any more. We can be confident this is absolutely the right time to devolve power.' Her speech also contained an attack on chief executives, despite shadow chancellor shown chancellor, George Osborne, going on record to say he did not object to the pay of senior managers. Ms Spelman said: ‘Elected mayors will be able take over the powers of local authority chief executives. Under Labour, town hall clerks now command six-figure salaries, with football-style transfers from council to council. So let's have elected mayors who can hire and fire, and really grip spending – without an unelected officer telling them what to do.'
