Agenda and minutes

To note the appointment of Councillor Paul Osborn as Chairman of this Panel at the meeting of Council held on 29 October 2009.

RESOLVED:  That the appointment of Councillor Paul Osborn as Chairman of the Panel at the meeting of Council held on 29 October 2009, be noted.

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

(a)               all Members of the Panel;

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

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interests made.

To note the Panel’s Terms of Reference as follows:

“To agree the recruitment process for Independent Members of the Standards Committee from May 2010, including the placing of appropriate advertisements, and to carry out that process to select 4 Independent Members and one reserve Independent Member, for recommendation to the Standards Committee and Council for appointment”.

RESOLVED:  That the Panel’s terms of reference be noted.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

The Panel received a report which outlined a draft application pack for the recruitment of independent members to the Standards Committee and suggestions on where relevant adverts could be placed.

An officer explained to the Panel that the purpose of this meeting was for Members to agree on an application pack and agree on where relevant advertisements for the role of independent members should be placed.  It was envisaged that the subsequent meetings would involve the shortlisting and interviewing of candidates.  The officer outlined the draft application pack and explained that it contained a proposed job description and person specification.  The officer also outlined some proposed suggestions on where the advertisement should be placed including the local newspaper, the Council website and by writing to all Community and Faith groups within the borough.

During the discussion on this item, Members raised a number of issues which included:

·                     It would be helpful if the application pack referred to elections taking place in May 2010.  This was important as the composition of the Council could change following this.

·                     The requirement that an independent member should not have been a Member of a political group within three years might be too onerous and two years might be a better timescale.  Another Member commented that in his view, three years was adequate.  Upon a vote, the Panel agreed that three years was appropriate.

·                     The advertisement should be communicated to all of the various Council partners.  However it still had to be borne in mind that if they had close links with the Council, the Panel had to be satisfied with their levels of independence.

·                     That officers should compile a list of the various groups that the adverts should be sent to.

·                     It would be helpful if an advert was also placed in ‘The Voice’ newspaper to ensure full coverage of all ethnic groups in the borough.

·                     It would be helpful if there was a cross party statement issued to the press to advise them of the process that was being undertaken to promote interest.

The Panel agreed that officers should be informed if there were any further suggestions on where the advert could be placed.  The Panel also discussed whether the shortlisting and interviewing of candidates could take place in a public meeting.  Having heard advice from officers, the Panel agreed that shortlisting could take place in a public meeting as personal details were removed from the application forms. Officers would investigate whether interviewing could take place in public.  This was considered to be difficult as issues of a personal nature were normally discussed.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the application pack be agreed subject to the inclusion of a statement explaining that Local Elections would be taking place in May 2010;

(2)               advertisements be placed in the following forums:

·                     Local Newspaper

·                     Harrow Council website

·                     Harrow People

·                     Jobs Go Public website

·                     Letter to all Community and Faith Groups in the borough

·                     Asian Voice Newspaper

·                     The Voice Newspaper

·                     Letter to all partners of the Council.