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.

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 there were no declarations of interests made by Members in relation to the business transacted at this 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 13 September 2006 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2006 be deferred until printed in the Council Bound Volume.

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 at the meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 19.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 16 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions were received at the meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 16.

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 17 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no deputations were received at the meeting under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 17.

Report of the Director of People, Performance and Policy.

[Note: This report, which appeared on the agenda for the 13 September 2006 meeting of the Member Development Panel, is presented again at the request of the Chairman].

The officer introduced the report of the Director of People, Performance and Policy, which included an updated version of the Annual Development Programme which had been revised following comments made by the Panel at its meeting on 13 September 2006.  Members discussed the amendments made to the programme and were satisfied that no further modifications were required.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Verbal update.

The officer provided a verbal update on the Member Development Budget, which included the following points:

·                     The budget was being spent cross-party.

·                     £50,490 had been allocated for 2006/07 and officers were confident that this amount would be secured again in the next budget round.

·                     Most of the funds had been allocated already and a breakdown of major commitments was provided.  The most significant single spending area had been the Member Induction Programme.

·                     The officer confirmed that Members elected at a by-election received the same induction briefing and pack.

The Panel highlighted the success of the Member Induction Programme and expressed the view that the Council’s investment in this area was to be commended as it sent a strong message that Harrow was committed to training its Elected Members.  It was noted that officers were keen to link the Member Development Programme with other learning and development activities, such as the Managers’ Conferences.

RESOLVED:  That the above be noted.

Verbal update.

The officer provided a verbal update on the above and tabled a draft outline of a suggestion for a Member Development event.  The officer explained that the proposed event would take the form of a challenging forum in which Members, officers and the Council’s partners could work closely together to discuss solutions to real-life scenarios.  This represented a move towards consolidating Member training into less frequent but more engaging sessions, which would last approximately two hours and take place four to six times a year.

The Panel expressed their support of the proposed events.  The Chairman noted that the proposed format would emphasise Elected Members’ role as community leaders actively involved in real-life debates.

The Panel agreed that a possible date for the event would be Tuesday 6 February 2007, which would require the cancellation of the Member Development Panel meeting due to be held that evening.  The minimum attendance required to make the session workable would be twenty delegates and ten Members.

Members discussed the suggested format for the event in some detail and

RESOLVED:  That (1) the first event, to be held in January/February 2007, would have as its subject ‘Safer Communities/Fear of Crime’;

(2)  officers be requested to provide a detailed and workable design for the event, for discussion by the Panel at an informal meeting to be held on Monday 27 November 2007 at 6.30 pm.

Corporate Assessment (CA)

The Chairman reported that she would be meeting with CA inspectors to discuss Member Development.  The inspectors would be provided with a copy of the Induction Handbook and other documents related to the Member Development Programme.