Just weeks after narrowly surviving a leadership challenge, Wandsworth Council leader Simon Hogg is pushing through an overhaul of the council’s political structure — handing himself new powers to appoint and dismiss a fresh tier of paid political deputies, entirely at his own discretion.
The plan would see the abolition of the council’s existing “Policy Champions” — councillors who focus on advocacy roles — and replace them with up to five “Deputy Cabinet Members”, each paid £9,314 per year. Appointments would be made solely by the Leader, with no requirement for Cabinet or Council approval, and could be rescinded at any time by written notice to the Chief Executive.
The move comes at an additional cost to residents of £23,000 per year, bringing the total cost of these new political roles to £46,570 annually — more than doubling the budget previously allocated for Policy Champions.
Pushing changes through
Adding to concerns about the transparency of the process, the paper [pdf] announcing the structural changes was only published at 10pm on Monday night with the committee meeting today (Wednesday). Agendas and important proposals are typically provided a week in advance. The timing has raised eyebrows, with some privately questioning whether the delay was a case of mismanagement or a deliberate attempt to push through sweeping changes with minimal public scrutiny.
The move comes just a few weeks after Hogg fought off an internal challenge to his leadership from Cabinet Member and ward colleague Kate Stock, who was later sacked from the Cabinet. The introduction of new, Leader-controlled roles is seen as an attempt by Hogg to consolidate control in the aftermath of his political scare.
Unlike Cabinet Members, who are subject to broader consultation and public accountability, Deputy Cabinet Members would operate outside the executive — but with privileged access and a politically sensitive remit. They would support Cabinet Members on defined projects, liaise with council officers, promote policy, and report solely to the Leader. Notably, they will be barred from serving on scrutiny committees that relate to their policy area, insulating their work from oversight. They will also be paid nearly double what they currently make as local councillors.
Observers have pointed to the increasingly stage-managed nature of recent Cabinet meetings, where councillors appear reluctant to ask difficult questions or challenge policy proposals — even amid growing concerns over the council’s performance on housing, SEND services, and the use of public parks for commercial events.
Concentration of power
While roles similar to Deputy Cabinet Members exist in some councils, Wandsworth’s version is distinguished by the complete concentration of power in the Leader’s hands, including the ability to hand out additional pay and prestige to chosen allies without formal accountability.
The plan is due to be discussed by the General Purposes Committee tonight, before heading to a full council vote next week. The proposed changes need several revisions to Article 7 of the Council’s Constitution. If approved, the new positions could be filled immediately, with no obligation to publish what projects the new deputies will be working on — or how their impact will be measured.
In the wake of an internal revolt and a turbulent period for the council, the optics of Hogg’s proposal are unlikely to go unnoticed. Whether this restructuring marks a genuine effort to improve delivery or simply a tightening of political control remains to be seen — but few doubt that the balance of power at Wandsworth Town Hall is shifting further towards the Leader’s office.
Putney.news has sent a series of question to the Leader’s Office asking for clarity on the situation. You can read them here.
