Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)                 to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)               where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)             the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)              if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no Reserve Members in attendance at this meeting.

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Committee, Sub Committee, Panel or Forum;

(b)               all other Members present in any part of the room or chamber.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

To consider whether any of the items listed on the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded on the grounds that it is thought likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that there would be disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence or of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED:  That (1) in accordance with the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the following agenda item be admitted late to the agenda by virtue of the special circumstances and grounds for urgency detailed below:-

(2)  all items be considered with the press and public present.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2007 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

[Note:  The 31 January 2007 minutes are published on the Council's intranet and website].

RESOLVED:  That (1) the minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2007 be taken as read and signed as a correct record;

(2)  a copy of the minutes of the previous meeting be attached with any agenda papers in future.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 16 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were received at this meeting under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 16 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 14 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  (1)  To note the receipt of the following petition which was referred to the relevant officer for action:

Restricted access to women’s toilets at central depot

Representatives of Unison submitted a petition pointing out that security constraints meant that three of four women’s toilets at the depot were not immediately accessible for staff and visitors;

(2)  that Members be informed of the outcome.

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 14 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no deputations were received at this meeting under the provisions of Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

Verbal update from the Corporate HR Manager

Members of the Forum were provided with a verbal update on progress following consultation with Trade Unions on Human Resources (HR) policy which had been requested by Members at the Forum’s last meeting.

Officers had met with representatives of the unions and progress had been made.  Officers had noted the unions’ concern to keep the final stage of the appeal process in disciplinary dismissals, in which an employee could appeal to Members.  A report would be submitted to the Corporate Management Team (CMT) on 25 April 2007, following which the final proposals would be put to the unions for agreement.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the verbal update be noted;

(2)  once available the report on HR Policy (Grievance and Attendance) be circulated to Members of the Forum.

Report from UNISON

The Forum received a report from Unison representatives proposing the introduction of a Staff-Side Secretary post.  The GMB representatives explained that the unions differed constitutionally, and the GMB was not yet in a position to support this proposal. 

RESOLVED:  That the introduction of a Staff-Side Secretary post be the subject of further discussion between the two unions, and that if agreement was not reached, the Forum would consider this item at its next meeting.

The Forum received a report of the Corporate HR Manager on information and consultation arrangements agreed with Harrow Council Black Workers' Group (HCBWG) and the Disability Awareness, Information and Support Group (DAIS).  As a result of concern at delays in communicating annual information on equality issues it had been agreed that raw data would now be supplied to the support groups for their own analysis.  It was anticipated that the first set of data on recruitment would be available on 30 April 2007.  The Trade Unions had also requested the earlier provision of data and this would be supplied to them.

Members raised the issue of the effects of targeted vacancy management, redeployment and mergers of departments on the statistics.  The officer replied that the workforce profile was monitored in its entirety, although more information was available on people starting employment.  Redeployment would be reflected in the figures in future.

Members and the representative of the Black Workers’ Group welcomed the more timely provision of information to the two support groups and the Trade Unions.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Organisational Review

Members requested an update on the Organisational Review at the next meeting of the Forum.  A representative of Unison reported that the union would be submitting a report on the Organisational Review before the next Forum meeting, but agreed to attempt to produce a joint report with officers. 

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted and a report be submitted.