Agenda and minutes

Constitution, Ethics and Probity Committee - Wednesday 16th November, 2016 7.00 pm

Venue: Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BQ. View directions

Contact: Andrew Charlwood 020 8359 2014 Email: andrew.charlwood@barnet.gov.uk 

Note: Deadline for public questions and comments is 10am Friday 11 November 2016 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of last meeting pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 30 June 2016 be approved as a correct record.

 

2.

Absence of Members (If any)

Minutes:

An apology for absence had been received from Councillor Dr Devra Kay who was substituted for by Councillor Ammar Naqvi.

 

The Committee noted that Councillor Alison Moore had incorrectly been listed as a committee member on the agenda and the committee member was Councillor Ross Houston.  The Head of Governance advised Members that the committee membership would be updated accordingly.

 

3.

Declaration of Members' Disclosable Pecuniary interests and Non Pecuniary interests (If any)

Minutes:

None.

 

4.

Report of the Monitoring Officer (If any)

Minutes:

None.

 

5.

Public Question and comments (If any) pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Minutes:

Andrew Dismore AM asked supplementary questions arising from the answers provided to public questions in advance of the meeting.  The Chairman and officers provided answers to supplementary questions at the meeting.

 

6.

Members' Items (If any)

Minutes:

None.

 

7.

Constitution Review pdf icon PDF 249 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a public comment from Andrew Dismore AM in relation to item 1.5, section 9 (Public Participation and Engagement Rules).

 

During the debate on the Constitution Review report Councillor Barry Rawlings MOVED a motion in relation to item 1.5, section 9 (Public Participation and Engagement Rules) which proposed that councillors, MP’s and Assembly Members are not permitted to submit items and questions for Residents Forums.  He proposed that this amendment be removed from the list of Constitution amendments.  Upon being put to the VOTE the motion was declared LOST.  Votes were recorded as follows:

 

In Favour

3

Against

4

Abstentions

0

 

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

 

No.

Section

 

Reference (papers submitted to Committee)

 

Changes contained in the report to Constitution, Ethics and Probity Committee

Recommendation to Full Council

1

Public Participation and Engagement Rules

Page 36

Add ‘or’ after ‘the relevant Director’... and also add ‘for information’ at the end of the paragraph.

Agreed as per report

2

Public Participation and Engagement Rules

Page 36

At the end of the paragraph add:

 

The address of the Head of Governance is as follows:

Head of Governance

London Borough of Barnet

Building 2, North London Business Park

Oakleigh Road South

N11 1NP

 

Agreed as per report

3

Public Participation and Engagement Rules

Page 37

The authority’s e-petition facility can be found here:

https://barnet.moderngov.co.uk/mgEPetitionListDisplay.aspx?bcr=1

 

Agreed as per report

4

Public Participation and Engagement Rules

Page 37

Add: ‘E-petitions submitted on external websites can be accepted by the council. However, petitions hosted on external websites will need to be submitted by the lead petitioner to the Head of Governance in order for the petition to be accepted.

 

Agreed as per report

5

Public Participation and Engagement Rules

Page 37

Add:

 

·           ‘it relates to a named individual or could reveal the identity of a person;

·           it does not relate to the functions of the council;

·           it is not clear in what it is asking the council to do;

·           it is repetitive or deals with an issue that has previously been resolved;

·           relates to functions that have separate processes for appeal or challenge, such as, but not limited to: council tax banding, non-domestic rates, school admission arrangements etc…’

 

Agreed as per report subject to the addition of:

 

·      it relates to a safeguarding matter

6

Public Participation and Engagement Rules

Page 37

The Head of Governance will make a ruling on whether or not to accept a petition, taking into consideration grounds for rejection as laid out above.

 

In such an occasion where a petition is rejected, the Head of Governance (or his/her representative) will write to the lead petitioner and explain the reasons for rejection.

 

Agreed as per report

7

Public Participation and Engagement Rules

Page 37

Amend wording to read:

 

“Petitions will be acknowledged within 10 working days.  The acknowledgement will include information on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Any other item(s) that the Chairman decides are urgent

Minutes:

None.