Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 31 March 2015 be approved as a correct record, subject to the amendment of minute item 7 (Constitution Review) no. 4 as detailed below:

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Devra Kay. Councillor Claire Farrier attended as substitute.

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The Head of Governance introduced the report.

The Committee noted that the Local Strategic Partnership (Barnet Partnership Board) was not scheduled to meet during the 2015/16 municipal year, and queried whether a meeting needed to be arranged, or the Board disbanded.  The Director of Assurance agreed to clarify whether there is a statutory duty for the Board to meet and report back to the committee this board.

Councillor Alison Moore MOVED an amendment to the proposed change to Meeting Procedure Rules, Membership and Quorum, to retain the existing quorum of 3 members for the Urgency Committee.

Upon being put to the VOTE the amendment was declared LOST. Votes were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED – That the Committee recommend to Council that the quorum of the Urgency Committee is two members.

Following consideration of the report the Chairman moved to the vote on the remaining recommendations.

The votes were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED –

1.    That the following changes be added to the table and Appendices for reporting to Council:

a.    An amendment to Responsibility for Functions, Annex A, to clarify that the General Functions Committee has responsibility for

                                          i.    Endorsing the calendar of meetings prior to Annual Council approval; and

                                        ii.    Agreeing Members Diaries.

b.    An amendment to Responsibility for Functions, Annex A, to remove the reference to ‘…and substitutes appointed by Council’ from the Licensing Committee terms of reference, as there are no substitute members on Licensing Committee.

c.    An amendment to Responsibility for Functions, Annex A, to clarify that Residents Forum Chairmen must give reasons when determining in what way an issue will be dealt with.

d.    An amendment to Responsibility for Functions, Exceptions (paragraph 6.5) to change the word ‘significant’ to ‘key’ and further amendment to the Constitution to ensure there is explicit reference to the meaning of a key decision, as defined under the Act.

2.    That the Committee recommend to Council that the Constitution be amended to incorporate the changes set out in this the table below and the track change versions attached at Appendix A to Appendix I.

3.    That the Director of Assurance clarifies whether the Council is obligated to have a Local Strategic Partnership.

4.    That the matrix of issues for consideration at the next meeting be updated to include explicit reference in Public Participation Rules to note that Chairmen have the ability to consider the acceptance of public questions received after the deadline (of 10am on the second clear working day before the meeting), to address cases where a report may have been published late, and the public not had opportunity to view it prior to the questions deadline.

The Monitoring Officer introduced the report. Following discussion the Committee:

RESOLVED – To defer consideration of the item until the next meeting of the Committee, with further discussions to take place between the Groups, and further examination of options by the new Director of Assurance.

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