The outcome of a marathon meeting of Mayor Rob Ford's executive committee earlier this week signifies a jumping-off point for change at Toronto City Hall.

Nearly a year into the current mandate, the perception thus far has been one of inevitability and invincibility, that Rob Ford's grip on city governance is such that he is able to hammer through an agenda of austerity over any objections raised.

We hope that perception - and any proof of that practice - has changed.

Some of the more controversial cuts pitched in the city's Core Services Review this week- including those to libraries, subsidized child care and windrow clearing - are now off the table. That is significant.

A number of the Core Service Review cut recommendations were ultimately passed by the executive committee, and will now go to council next week.

It's well-documented that the city's 2012 budget has a significant hole in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Yet the overwhelming majority of the 361 speakers at the meeting urged the committee to reconsider the service cuts that were before them.

And in some cases, that's exactly what happened.

Why is that? Is it a maturing, an understanding that budgetary items are often more complex than their price tag and that a more thorough review is in order?

There's certainly the obvious and public discomfort of some councillors, including those who have regularly sided with the mayor, to carry through on some of these items that will impact their constituents directly.

While the mayor's office has wielded significant clout, it's not absolute.

For example, a number of Ford's hand-picked executive committee members - some citing strong negative reaction within their own wards - have already suggested recently they cannot support a new Port Lands plan. We're seeing now there is a limit to how far that power extends.

But it's not just that. The community came out to speak this week, and appeared to establish a connection with their representatives. Indeed, one alternative to service cuts - a tax hike - was actually preferred by the majority of the deputants.

Hopefully, these developments signal to the community at large that their participation in how their city is run is welcome, necessary, and potentially impactful - that there is now an ongoing discussion.

The people and the representatives they elect do have some leverage in how matters are decided and not all the power at Toronto City Hall is exclusive to the mayor's office.

Internet site reference: http://www.insidetoronto.com/opinion/editorial/article/1108359--editorial-a-jumping-off-point-for-change-at-city-hall