Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Sara Beynon, who was substituted for by Councillor Matt Davies.

The Chair will consider the admission of any of any late items of urgent business. (Late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items will be dealt with at item 11 below.  New items of exempt business will be dealt with at item 14).

Item 8, Annual Governance Report, was admitted as late business because it related to the ongoing audit commission annual audit and additional time was required to have allowed the audit to have proceeded as far as possible.

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgment of the public interest and if this interest affects their financial position or the financial position of a person or body as described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct and/or if it relates to the determining of any approval, consent, licence, permission or registration in relation to them or any person or body described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct.

Members noted the revised code of conduct tabled at the meeting.

Councillor Khan declared a personal interest in respect of item 8, Annual Governance Report, in respect of him being a member of the Pension Fund, whose accounts were considered in that report.

To receive any deputations and petitions in accordance with Standing Order 37

There were no such items.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on June 28^th 2007.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the minutes of the meeting held on 28^th June 2007 be confirmed and signed.

To note the minutes of sub-bodies of the General Purposes Committee.

Council & Employee Joint Consultative Committee:

i)                    5 March 2007

RESOLVED:

1. That the minutes of the meeting fo the Council & Employee Joint Consultative Committee held on 5^th March 2007 be noted.

(Report of the Director of Corporate Resources)  To consider participation by this Council in the promotion of a new London Local Authorities Bill and to recommend to full Council on 15 October 2007 that Members pass the necessary statutory resolution for this purpose.

The committee received this report to consider participation by the Council in the promotion of a new London Local Authorities Bill and to recommend to full Council on 15 October 2007 that Members pass the necessary statutory resolution for this purpose.

The Legal Services Representative set-out to the committee the background and provisions of the bill including the regulation of social clubs, an item promoted by Haringey’s officers.  Some Members of the committee spoke positively of these provisions in the bill, explaining their usage in tackling problems currently existing within their wards.

Members raised concerns over certain provisions which would be the responsibility of the Council should the bill be passed, these proposals being contained in Appendix 2 of the original report.  Particular concern was raised over provisions of the final bill which would effectively decriminalise certain activities and place their enforcement in the hands of Council officers. 

The Legal Services Representative explained to the committee that the accepting of the recommendation of the report would in no way tie the Council into adopting the measures as set out in Appendix 2.  However, rejecting the report would not allow the Council to ultimately implement any of the aforementioned provisions without future complications.  Thus, Members agreed to consult with their respective groups, and commend the report to Full Council where a full debate on the Bill and its provisions could take place.

RESOLVED:

1. That the Committee recommend to full Council to pass the statutory resolution as set out in the report, and that a full debate on the resolution be held.

(Report of the Acting Head of Corporate Finance)  To present the statutory Annual Governance Report of the Audit Commission which reports on their annual audit of the Council’s statutory accounts, Value for Money and other relevant information.

Councillor Khan declared a personal interest in this item by nature of him being a member of the Pension Fund, whose accounts were considered within the report.

The committee received this report to present the statutory Annual Governance Report of the Audit Commission, reporting on their annual audit of the Council’s statutory accounts, Value for Money and other relevant information.

Members noted that the final opinion and conclusion were due to be signed-off prior to 30^th September 2007.  Officers were thanked by officials from the Audit Commission for their positive attitude and constructive approach in the completion of their activities.

It was noted that there remained issues outstanding surrounding disclosure and accounting treatment, but Members were assured that these would not impact on the bottom line position of the audit.  The outstanding issues included a £3 million movement of pre-transfer ALMO liabilities, gains and disposals related to fixed assets and disclosure around related parties transactions and group accounts.  Both Officers and the commission stated they were confident that the issues would be resolved prior to the 30^th September deadline.

Members were advised that the outstanding objection to previous accounts listed in Paragraph 17 had very recently been resolved, enabling these to be closed.

Officers were advised that a Letter of Representation would be sent to the Council in line with the normal closure procedures, with a further update in the Annual Audit Letter.

RESOLVED:

1. That the committee note the contents of the report and verbal updates made at the meeting.

2. That delegated authority be given to the Acting Director of Finance, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, to agree any final issues with the Audit Commission which arise after the report date, in order to ensure the sign-off of the accounts by the 30^th September 2007.

(Report of the Acting Head of Human Resources)  To brief Members about the arrangements for recruiting to the posts of Assistant Director for Adult Services and Assistant Director for Commissioning and Strategic Services, and to receive the nominations of two Members who will be able to take part in the recruitment process. 

The committee was briefed over the arrangements for recruiting to the posts of Assistant Director for Adult Services and Assistant Director Commissioning & Strategic Services, and to receive the nominations of Members to take part in the recruitment process.

Members agreed the process as set out in the report, and requested that the interview questions reflect the equalities implications of the posts.  Councillors Griffith and Khan were to be the committee’s Labour nominees, with Liberal Democrat nominees to be supplied to the Acting Head of Human Resources in due course by the Chief Whip of the Minority Group.

RESOLVED:

1. That the appointment panel be agreed, comprising five Members in total.

2. That the interview process include questions reflecting the equalities implications of the posts.

3. That the arrangements for recruitment be noted.

(Report of the Acting Head of H.R.)  Since December 2005 the Council has been operating a new redeployment process. This report outlines the improvements that have been made and seeks agreement to changes to the redeployment policy.

This report outlined the Council’s revised redeployment process, including the improvements which had been made to date.  The report also proposed changes to the redeployment policy.

The Acting Head of Human Resources set out to Members the improvements which had been made to the redeployment process since the installation of a full-time redeployment Officer, providing a saving to the Council of over £250,000 and a 34% redeployment rate.  The committee learned that a key change to policy proposed in the report included the extension of trial periods from redeployed employees from 4 weeks to up to 12 weeks.

The committee noted that internal staff vacancies were monitored by the Redeployment Officer, who was available to identify potential posts for those needing redeployment prior to the vacancy being released for advertisement.  Coaching and training sessions for those staff requiring redeployment were also held as part of a more proactive approach to tackling the issue.

Members were pleased with the improvements that had been made, and expressed their desire that further improvements relating to the redeployment rate be pursued.

RESOLVED:

1. That further improvement in the Council’s redeployment policy be encouraged.

2. That the committee approve the changes to the redeployment policy outlined in the report.

To consider any items admitted at item 2 above

There were no such items.

The following item is likely to be the subject of a motion to exclude the press and public from the meeting as it contains information classified as exempt under the Local Government Act 1985 in that it contains information relating to a particular employee.

The following items were subject to a motion to exclude the press and public.

To note the exempt minutes of the following Member Level Appeals:

i)                    20^th July 2007

ii)                  26^th July 2007

RESOLVED:

1. That the minutes of the Member-Level Appeals held on 20^th and 26^th July 2007 be noted.

To consider any items admitted at item 2 above.

There were no such items.