Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2014 be approved as a correct record.

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Councillor Barry Rawlings declared a non-pecuniary interest as a member of the UNISON union.

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The Chairman announced a variation in the order of the agenda.  Agenda item 8 (Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places for UK Parliamentary Elections) would be considered before Agenda item 7 (Family Services Transformation).

The Acting Assurance Director and Electoral Projects Manager introduced the Review of Polling Districts and Polling Places for UK Parliamentary Elections report.

The Committee noted the following corrections to the report:

·                Section titled ‘Decisions’ be corrected to read ‘Recommendations’

·                Section 6.2 to be amended to highlight that the Chief Executive only has the authority to find and use alternative polling places in the event of a late withdrawal of availability of a polling place.

RESOLVED that:

1.         The Committee approve all proposed Polling Place arrangements as laid out in Appendices A, B and C to the report, with the exception of the Polling Places listed at minute item 4 below.

2.         The Committee approve all of the proposed new Polling District arrangements as laid out in Appendix D with the exception of the Polling Districts listed at minute item 4 below.

3.         The Committee approve that an annual review of Polling Districts and Polling Places to be submitted to the General Functions Committee each year (following any borough–wide elections held or at a date determined by the Committee).

4.         The Committee refuse the following amendments to Polling Place arrangements as recommended in the report of officers:

i)         A Member MOVED that proposed that Polling Place CDB (Coppetts – Appendix A) be retained in its current location, and that the Polling District CDB (Appendix D) be retained with its current borders, giving the reason that where possible voting arrangements should not be changed as this was liable to cause confusion to electors.  The proposal was duly SECONDED.  Upon being put to the vote, the Committee agreed that the current Polling CDB Place be retained.  Voting was as follows:

Approve: 4

Refuse: 3

Abstention: 0

ii)         A Member MOVED that proposed that Polling Place CDD - Current (Coppetts – Appendix A) be retained in its current location and that the Polling District CDD (Appendix D) be retained with its current borders giving the reason that where possible voting arrangements should not be changed as this was liable to cause confusion to electors.  The proposal was duly SECONDED.  Upon being put to the vote, the Committee agreed that the current Polling CDD Place be retained.  Voting was as follows:

Approve: 4

Refuse: 3

Abstention: 0

iii)       A Member MOVED that proposed that Polling District HOC (Hale – Appendix D) be retained with its current borders and that the new Polling District not be created with a Polling Place (HOF – Appendix C) at Annuciation Catholic School, giving the reason that where possible voting arrangements should not be changed as this was liable to cause confusion to electors.  The proposal was duly SECONDED.  Upon being put to the vote, the Committee agreed that the current Polling HOC Place be retained.  Voting was as follows:

Approve: 4

Refuse: 3

Abstention: 0

iv)       HUB (Edgware – Appendix C) the Committee agreed to retain the current Polling Place at Edgware Parish Hall and not accept the proposal put forward by the review to move the Polling  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Committee adjourned at 7.28pm.  The meeting reconvened at 7.34pm

In accordance with section (d) of the terms of reference of the General Functions Committee (as set out in Responsibility for Functions, Annex A of the Council’s Constitution), the chairman requested that representatives of the NUT and UNISON trade unions address the committee.  

The Family Services Director and Human Resources Director presented the report.

The Human Resources Director agreed to provide the Committee with details of the number of staff who had taken up the support available as part of the Family Services transformation project.

A Member MOVED that the consultation be extended from 30 to 45 days to allow more meaningful negotiations with staff.  The proposal was duly SECONDED.  Upon being put to the vote the proposal was LOST.  Voting was as follows:

Approve: 3

Refuse: 4

Abstention: 0

A Member MOVED that the Corporate Health and Safety Joint Negotiation Consultation Committee be reinstated.  The proposal was duly SECONDED.  Upon being put to the vote the proposal was LOST.  Voting was as follows:

Approve: 3

Refuse: 4

Abstention: 0

A Member MOVED that the data on the use of agency staff be presented in a more useable format.  The proposal was duly SECONDED.  Upon being put to the vote the proposal was CARRIED.  Voting was as follows:

Approve: 7

Refuse: 0

Abstention: 0

Members requested that the gratitude of the Committee be placed on record for the engagement of Family Services staff in the consultation processes.

RESOLVED that:

1.         The Committee approve the deletion of posts on the Council’s establishment and the creation of new posts as set out in Appendix 2.2 of the report of officers, subject to the extension of the consultation period on the Virtual School Role Profile to 20 November 2014.  

2.         The Committee delegate authority to the Family Services Director the authority to introduce interim and transitional arrangements to ensure the continuity of service during appointments to the new structure and any vacancies arising.

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That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended)

RESOLVED that under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended)

RESOLVED that the information contained in the exempt report be noted.