Agenda and minutes

A minute of silence was observed in memory of Councillor Janet Cowan.

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 the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Members:-

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 the following declarations of interest made by Members present relating to the business to be transacted at this meeting:

(i)                 Councillor Bob Currie declared a personal interest in that he was a retired member of UNISON.  Accordingly, he would remain in the room and take part in the discussion and decision-making on all items of the agenda.
 

(ii)               Councillor Graham Henson declared a personal interest in that he was a member of the Communication Workers’ Union and his cousin was a Council employee.  Accordingly, he would remain in the room and take part in the discussion and decision-making on all items of the agenda.

(iii)             Councillor Navin Shah declared a personal interest in that he was a member of Amicus.  Accordingly, he would remain in the room and take part in the discussion and decision-making on all items of the agenda.

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.

RESOLVED:  That (1) all items be considered with the press and public present;

(2)  agenda item 11 – UNISON Report on Front Desk – be considered before agenda item 8 – Equality Monitoring Report 2006-2007.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2007 be taken as read and signed as a correct record;

(2)  the minutes of the special meeting held on 29 August 2007 be deferred until printed in the Council Bound Minute Volume.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2007 be taken as read and signed as a correct record;

(2)  the minutes of the special meeting held on 29 August 2007 be deferred until printed in the Council Bound Minute Volume.

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:  To note that no petitions were received at this meeting under the provisions of the Advisory Panel and Consultative Forum Procedure Rule 14 (Part 4E of the Constitution).

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).

Report of the Interim Divisional Director, Human Resources and Development.

The Forum received a report of the Interim Divisional Director, Human Resources and Development, setting out the annual workforce profile statistics and equalities monitoring data in relation to Harrow Council’s employment practices during 2006/2007.  

Members noted that the information did not cover the Council’s key partners.  The officer agreed to contact Directorates to establish whether workforce profile information was provided through the contract monitoring process.  If this information was not available, the officer would ask that it be requested on a six-monthly basis so that it could be included within Council reports.

Members expressed concern over performance in appointing disabled people and asked officers to investigate this.  Officers also agreed to provide more detailed information on disciplinary cases, the number of which had risen sharply.

Members noted the absence of representatives of the Black Workers’ Group (HCBWG) and the Disability Awareness, Information and Support (DAIS) group.  The Chairman informed the Forum that an email had been received regarding the lack of facility time for HCBWG.  The Chairman referred members of the Forum to paragraph 2.8.17 of the officer’s report, which stated that there was no corporate budget provision to provide release for employees to attend or undertake work on behalf of employee support groups, including HCBWG.  Members asked officers to write to the Groups to find out why they had not attended.  It was also suggested that a representative of Harrow Council for Racial Equality (HCRE) be invited in future when equality issues were being discussed. 

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted.

Report of the Interim Divisional Director, Human Resources and Development.

The Forum received a report of the Interim Divisional Director, Human Resources and Development, providing background information on and setting out the current position in relation to the Organisational Review. 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Report from UNISON.

A representative of UNISON informed the Forum that this item had been withdrawn on the understanding that written responses would be received to the union’s questions.

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted.

Report from UNISON.

The Forum received a report from UNISON, expressing concern at the failure to resolve issues relating to the design of the Access Harrow front desk.  The Director of Business Transformation and Customer Services explained that a misunderstanding had led the Forum to expect an interim solution by the end of July 2007.  After discussion, during which relevant front desk staff attending the meeting answered questions from members of the Forum, the officer agreed to produce a timetable as soon as possible to adapt the existing counter in consultation with staff.  The offer reported that a longer-term solution would be subject to budget constraints.  In the meantime, issues relating to the job descriptions of staff in Access Harrow and the amount of time spent at the front desk would be dealt with through the normal channels.

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted.