Agenda and minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on.  By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

It was noted that the meeting was being live streamed on the Council’s website.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

It being a special meeting of the Staffing and Remuneration Committee, under Part 4(B), paragraph 17 of the Council’s Constitution, no other business shall be considered at the meeting.

None.

None.

Report to Follow.

Richard Grice, Director of Customers, Transformation and Resources, introduced the report, on behalf of the Chief Executive, as set out in the agenda.

Officers responded to questions from the Committee:

·                    The purpose of the restructure had been to produce a narrower Monitoring Officer role by moving alignment, however the importance of the role had not been downgraded.

·                    It was explained that the role of the current Assistant Director of Corporate Governance was wide and varied compared with the same position in other London boroughs.

·                    It was explained that the Chief People Officer had experience of running an elections team at a neighbouring London borough and therefore it was seen as a strength to the organisation that he could provide a strategic lead in this area.

·                    Due to the similar line management responsibilities of the new role, it was explained that the restructure did not require consultation. Consultation had however been undertaken with the affected employee.

RESOLVED that the content of the report be noted.

Report to Follow.

Dan Paul, Chief People Officer, introduced the report, as set out in the agenda.

Members wished to save their questions for the consideration of agenda item 10.

RESOLVED that the content of the report be noted.

Report to Follow.

Stephen McDonnell, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods, introduced the report, as set out in the agenda. The report informed members of the closure of the LEP (London Energy Project) and the deletion of the LEP staffing structure.

Officers responded to questions from the Committee:

·                    The project had been in operation for 10 years and was fully funded by its members via a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA). The funds were ring fenced for LEP use only.

·                    It was explained that various options had been considered to retain the LEP, including a strategy put in place to close the LEP around the end of April 2000.

·                    It was confirmed that the LEP was a collaboration with the Council and was a flexible arrangement, as part of a Memorandum of Agreement. It was noted that other organisations provided similar services.

Anthony Tamattris, HR Business Partner, clarified the current position. He reiterated that alternate options had been considered to determine whether the LEP could be retained. It was originally due to close on 31 March 2020 and following a desktop consultation in August 2020 it was concluded that there was no longer an appetite from LEP members to retain the LEP. It was noted that this was the second time that the Head of the LEP had been informed of potential redundancy.

In response to a question regarding the financing of the redundancy package, it was explained that the accumulated balance could be used to meet the costs associated with the closure of the LEP. Therefore, the redundancy payment would be partially met by the LEP members, with the remainder being met by the Council.

Members stressed that it was their duty to ensure that they were considering a genuine redundancy and that they fully understood the decision making process.

RESOLVED that the content of the report be noted.

Items 9-11 are likely to be subject to a motion to exclude the press and public from the meeting as they contain exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by Section 12A of the Local Government Act 1985); paragraph 1.

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of Items 9-11 as they contained exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by Section 12A of the Local Government Act 1985); paragraph 1.

As per Item 5. Report to Follow.

The Committee considered exempt information pertaining to Item 5 of the agenda.

As per Item 6. Report to Follow.

The Committee considered exempt information pertaining to Item 6 of the agenda.

As per Item 7. Report to Follow.

The Committee considered exempt information pertaining to Item 7 of the agenda.