Agenda and draft minutes

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Noted.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Chiriyankandath.  Councillor Tabois was in attendance as a substitute.

Ayshe Simsek, Acting Democratic Services & Scrutiny Manager, advised that there was an error in the figures contained in the table at paragraph 5, Appendix A of the report for agenda item 7, and an amended table had been circulated to members and updated on the website.

None.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meetings of the Standards Committee held on 8^th  March 2018.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2018 were approved as a correct record of the meeting.

This report seeks confirmation of the Membership of the Standards Assessment and Hearing Sub-Committees

Ayshe Simsek, Acting Democratic Services & Scrutiny Manager, introduced the report as set out.  She advised that this report was a routine report, usually brought to the Standards Committee on an annual basis following the agreement of memberships at Annual Full Council.

RESOLVED that the membership of the Standards Assessment Sub Committee and the Standards Hearing Sub Committee as set out in paragraph 5.3 of the report be agreed.

This report requests that the Standards Committee recommend to full Council an amendment to the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

Ayshe Simsek, Acting Democratic Services & Scrutiny Manager, introduced the report as set out.  The report set out an amendment to the Members Allowance Scheme to include an allowance for two deputy Cabinet Member positions.  It was proposed that each role be set an allowance of £5000 per year, and this would be reviewed on an annual basis as with current practices.

Members discussed the proposal and the following comments were noted:

-           To provide an allowance for two new posts seemed to be counter-productive to the savings exercise carried out earlier in the year, where £14,000 was saved from the Member Allowance Scheme.

-           Some Members felt that Broadwater Farm issues could be covered by the ward Councillors, and should not be singled out for a specific role.  Other Members felt that Broadwater Farm was a particularly difficult issue, and so required special attention.

-           Concerns were raised by some Members that there was no clear process as to how these areas of responsibility had been identified, and the lack of consultation with any Members, given that there had been a full consultation carried out with all Members.  Members understood that the Leader had the authority to appoint the Cabinet and any deputy Cabinet Members, however the allocation of Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA) was the responsibility of the Standards Committee.

-           Some Members questioned the need for an SRA when the roles had no executive powers, and the Members in those roles would not be expected to sit on a number of other Committees.  Others argued that the areas identified required special focus, and would require the Members in these roles to spend a significant amount of time looking at the issues.

The Chair suggested that no SRA be provided for the roles at the current time, and that it should be recommended to full Council to keep under review the activity and outcomes of the work carried out by the Deputy Cabinet Member positions, and make a decision on remuneration in March, when the Member’s Allowance Scheme was due to be revoked and renewed.

Following a vote, with three in favour and two against, it was

RESOLVED that no amendments be made to the current Member’s Allowance Scheme for 2018/19.

Cllr Bull informed the committee that he wanted it to be put on record that he voted in favour of amending the Member’s Allowance Scheme to include an allowance for the two deputy Cabinet Member positions.

·         11 October 2018

·         6 December 2018

·         4^th March 2019

Noted.

To agree and signing the minutes of the Standards Assessment sub- committee  held on the 8^th March 2018.

RESOLVED that the exempt minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2018 be approved as a correct record of the meeting.