Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 28 June 2017 be approved as a correct record.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Richard Cornelius who had been substituted by Councillor David Longstaff.

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The Chief Executive and Acting Returning Officer introduced his report which provided the Committee with a full review of the planning, implementation and delivery of the UK General Election on 8 June 2017 in the three parliamentary constituencies within the London Borough of Barnet.

The Head of Electoral Services undertook to contact LB Lambeth to request a borough breakdown of the 20,696 Londoners who had clicked to register to vote as part of the Pan-London Election Campaign – ‘London Calling’.

Having considered the report, the Committee RESOLVED:

1.    That the Committee note and agree the findings and recommendations of the Chief Executive and Acting Returning Officer in relation to the review of the General Election held on 8 June 2017 as set out in Appendix A to the report.

2.    That the Committee note the progress of the agreed actions as per the ‘Smith Review’ of Electoral Registration as set out in Appendix A to the report.

The Committee received a report in the name of the Head of Governance.  The report asked the Committee to nominate representatives to local authority governor vacancies on the 13 school governing bodies listed in Appendix A to the report.

Having considered the report, the Committee RESOLVED:

1.    That the following representatives be nominated to vacancies on school governing bodies

2.    That nominations to the following school governing bodies be deferred.

The Committee reviewed their 2017/18 Work Programme and agreed the following amendments:

·         Move Performance Related Pay from 19 March 2018 to 15 January 2018; and

·         Add Elections Update Report to the agenda for the 15 January 2018 meeting.

RESOLVED that the Committee Work Programme be approved subject to the amendments detailed above.

At the invitation of the Chairman the Head of Governance advised Members that at the meeting held on 12 September 2017, the Performance and Contract Management Committee had made the following reference to the General Functions Committee:

“In respect of agency staff within Adults and Communities, the Committee requested that the General Functions Committee consider the below.

·         Recruitment and retention of staff related to strategic risk, STR001 and in light of the potential impact of Brexit.”

The Committee are requested to consider the referral.”

Members were advised that the strategic risk related to not having sufficient skilled and experienced resources in the marketplace which might: impact on the ability to recruit and retain the right staff with the right skills; cause a lack of stability of senior management; lead to limitations in the competency and capability of the workforce to deliver statutory responsibilities and / or corporate objectives resulting in potential legal challenge; impact on financial targets (savings and income); result in reduced service to residents, reduced residents satisfaction, loss of corporate memory and reputational damage.

The Committee noted the reference, but considered that this issue related to the local approach to workforce development via employment and training strategies rather than specific workforce issues that were current and required review and/or a decision by the General Functions Committee. 

RESOLVED that the Committee note the reference from the Performance and Contract Management Committee and agree that reference be made in the 2018/19 Pay Policy Statement to recruitment and retention of staff in specific services which would impact on performance and delivery.