Agenda and minutes

A minute of silence was observed in memory of Malcolm Blake, a long-serving member of staff, and Councillor Dhirajlal Lavingia.

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 Member:-

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 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.

(ii)                 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.

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

(iv)                Councillor Chris Mote declared a personal interest in that his sister was a teacher in the borough.  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) in accordance with the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the following items 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 1 November 2007 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the minutes of the meetings held on (i) 29 August 2007, which were tabled, and (ii) 1 November 2007, be taken as read and signed as correct records;

(2)  the resolution of the issue of the Access Harrow front desk, discussed at the 1 November 2007 meeting, be expedited by a meeting between the relevant Business Transformation Partnership (BTP) officer and the trade unions, to be arranged by the Portfolio Holder, Strategy and Business Support Services;

(3)  in the event of the Council’s staff support groups wishing to place items on the agenda, they should request that the Chairman do so on their behalf.

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 UNISON.

The Forum received a report from UNISON, expressing concern at the lack of progress in supplying information to the unions on the removal of asbestos-containing materials during construction of the Access Harrow contact centre.  The Chairman apologised for the delay.  The Forum was informed that a meeting had taken place on 29 January 2008 between the Chairman, the Portfolio Holder for Strategy and Business Support, officers and the unions.  A further meeting had been organised to discuss the matter on 27 February 2008.

RESOLVED:  That the report and the comments above be noted.

(See also Minute 98).

Report of the Corporate Director, Community and Environment.

The Forum received a report of the Corporate Director, Community and Environment, setting out information on the continuing dialogue with UNISON in relation to works in the Access Harrow area completed in 2006.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

(See also Minute 97).

Report of the Corporate Director of Finance

The Forum received a report of the Corporate Director, Finance, setting out  the draft Capital Programme for 2008/09 to 2010/11, published as part of the annual budget review process, together with a covering report, which was tabled.

RESOLVED:  That the reports be noted.

Report of the Corporate Director of Finance

The Forum received a report of the Corporate Director, Finance, setting out, for the purposes of consultation, the draft Revenue Budget for 2008/09 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2008/09 to 2010/2011, together with the tabled covering report referred to in item 99 above.  An officer gave a presentation on the proposed budget for 2008/09, with a description of the current position, an analysis of the funding gap, a summary of savings identified, a strategy for closing the funding gap, and the arrangements for consultation.  The officer and the Portfolio Holder, Finance and Portfolio Co-ordination, answered questions from union representatives on the impact of savings, the performance of the Council’s partners and the cost of hiring consultants.  The Portfolio Holder agreed to attend a separate meeting with union representatives to answer more detailed questions on the proposed budget.

RESOLVED:  That the report and the comments above be noted.