Agenda and minutes

Members received the draft of the proposed Protocols for the Monitoring Officer and Chief Financial Officer.  Members noted that adoption of the Protocols would demonstrate that arrangements were in place to ensure that these two statutory officers would carry out their responsibilities with the support of Members and officers.  It was noted that the roles had not been changed in any way, but were now clearly defined with particular reference to the provisions of the Code of Conduct.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council)

That the Protocols for the Monitoring Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as set out at Appendix 1 to these minutes, be adopted.

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 by Members in relation to the business to be transacted at the meeting:

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 (Access to Information) Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED:  That all items be considered with the press and public present.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2006 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

Members indicated that they had some difficulty in approving the minutes of the previous meeting as they had not been circulated.  The Chairman advised that the minutes could be accessed via the intranet but that she would raise this issue with the Leader of the Council.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 September 2006 be deferred until the next meeting.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents or organisations under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 19 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were put, or petitions or deputations received at this meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rules 19, 16 and 17 (Part 4B of the Constitution) respectively.

Report of the Director of Corporate Governance.

Members considered a report of the Director of Corporate Governance, which detailed findings of a survey carried out of the practices of other boroughs in relation to the publication of the Members’ Register of Interest forms.

Members were reminded that at the last meeting officers had put forward the option of placing the Members’ Register of Interests electronically onto the intranet or internet in order to enhance public accessibility.  Prior to any decision being made, Members had requested officers to investigate the practice in other boroughs and to report back the results of the survey.  It was noted that Harrow still had a few teething problems with the software and it was hoped that the monthly email reminder function would be working and in use within the next few months.  It was agreed that Members’ addresses and signatures would not be published and that they would be consulted prior to any implementation of the software facility, concerning publishing details on the internet.

Concerns were raised in relation to the publication of Councillors’ personal details on the website and Members queried the necessity for doing this.  Whilst the Committee appreciated the need for transparency, it was acknowledged that the Register of Interest forms were already publicly available in a hard copy format for inspection at any time.  Officers were requested to further investigate why some boroughs had decided to publish the Register.

The Committee expressed the view that all Members of Council should be sent a copy of the report for consideration and discussion at Group Meetings.

RESOLVED:  That (1) officers, subject to teething problems above, use the upgraded modern.gov software to implement a system of automatic monthly e-mail reminders to Members to keep their entries in the Register of Interests up to date;

(2) officers write to all Members of Council advising of the proposal to publish Members’ Register of Interests onto the website, and seek their views;

(3) officers ascertain why some boroughs have chosen to publish the Members’ Register of Interests on the website, whilst others had opted out;

(4) subject to (2) above, Members view their Register of Interest form via the intranet, but update them through the normal officer procedures.

Report of the Head of Human Resources.

The Committee received a report of the Head of Human Resources, which detailed the progress made in revising the Whistleblowing Policy.

Members were informed that the draft policy now included improved guidance on the whistleblowing procedure and how workers could raise a concern.  A flowchart with a list of regulatory bodies who could assist had been appended to the draft to assist an employee, if they were unsatisfied with the outcome or felt that the matter was outside the Authority’s jurisdiction.  The draft policy was currently subject to consultation, which had a deadline of 12 December 2006 for comments. The result of the consultation would be reported to a future meeting and, once approved, the policy would be placed on the intranet.

RESOLVED:  That (1) a Reference on the Whistleblowing Policy be made to the Member Development Panel, for consideration to incorporate the Policy into the Members training;

(2)  the progress on the review of the Whistleblowing Policy be noted.

(See also Minute 29).

Report of the Director of Corporate Governance.

(See Recommendation I).

Report of the Director of Corporate Governance.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Corporate Governance, which updated Members on the timescale for the introduction of the Code of Conduct.

Members noted that the revised deadline for receipt of the Code was now January 2007, and that the Livingstone High Court case may have attributed to the Standards Board of England’s (SBE) delay in revising the Code.  The officer explained that the intention was to circulate the Code to all Members of Council for consultation, once it had been received from the SBE.

It was suggested that a Special meeting of the Standards Committee be arranged, to review and finalise the revised Code, following the feedback from Members’ consultation.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the revised timescale be noted;

(2)  a Special meeting of the Committee be arranged to discuss the Code of Conduct.

Report of the Director of Corporate Governance.

Members received a report of the Director of Corporate Governance which set out the current practice of the Standards Board for England regarding its practice in relation to confidential information.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Further to Recommendation 1 of the meeting of the Member Development Panel on 13 September 2006, Members received a report of the Director of People, Performance and Policy which set out the Member Development Strategy 2006?2010 and the learning and development programme for elected Members. 

A Member drew attention to the schedule of meetings and events for 2006?2010, which had been circulated to all Members of Council.

RESOLVED:  That the Member Development Programme for 2006?2010 be approved.

(See also Minute 29).