Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Committee held on 10 September 2015, and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2015 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

The Head of Regulatory Services had delegated powers to issue directions and take any necessary action under the Criminal Justice & Public Order Act relating to the Control of Unauthorised Campers.  These powers were most regularly used for action against unauthorised traveller encampments.  The report recommended that these powers also be delegated to the Head of Culture & Leisure and in turn to the Parks Manager to widen the ability to authorise direction notices in early stages of an unauthorised encampment. 

The Committee:

Resolved to recommend to Council that the following changes be incorporated into Sections 3.6.4 and 3.6.6(l) of the Constitution relating to the Head of Culture & Leisure and the Head of Regulatory Services.

To authorise and issue, on behalf of the Council, statutory directions requiring unauthorised campers to leave land and remove their property and vehicles

The report before Members sought agreement to amend the appendix to Article 12 of the Council’s Constitution to include the additional special membership requirements of the Corporate Parenting Panel of whom the Cabinet Member for Children and Learning would be a full member.

The Committee:

Agreed that the Monitoring Officer should be authorised to insert the following in the appendix to Article 12 of the Council’s Constitution:

The report before the Committee informed it that there were two organisations which required it to make or - confirm – appointments.

In the first – the Romford Combined Charity - the Committee was invited to reappoint Councillor Melvin Wallace as a nominative trustee.  There were no other nominees.

In the second – the Lucas Children’s Play Charity – there were two elements: The first was to reappoint Councillor Meg Davis until November 2011 and in the other, Members were invited to choose whether to appoint either Councillor Gillian Ford or Councillor John Mylod.  This was put to the vote:

In favour of Councillor Ford: Councillors: Joshua Chapman, Roger Ramsey, Melvin Wallace, Damian White, Meg Davis, Osman Dervish, Clarence Barrett and Darren Wise

In favour of Councillor Mylod: Councillors: Ray Morgon, Barry Mugglestone and Barbara Matthews,

The Committee accordingly:

Reappointed Councillor Melvin Wallace to the Romford Combined Charity,

Reappointed Councillor Meg Davis to the Lucas Children’s Play Charity until November 2011 and

Appointed Councillor Gillian Ford as a trustee to the Lucas Children’s Play Charity

The report before the Committee related to minor changes to the staff employment procedure rules.  This concerned the appointment, disciplinary action and dismissal or suspension of senior officers of havering Council and oneSource as well as rules relating to the appointment of an Independent Person.

The changes were to align the procedure with the relevant legislation and to clarify that any disciplinary action against a Chief Officer would be taken by a panel comprising members of the Appointments Sub Committee.

A member raised a question about safeguarding staff working conditions particularly where work and was assured that these were protected under the procedure and another enquired about the status of the Independent Person and was informed that an IP was in place and that a reciprocal arrangement with Redbridge existed to ensure that both councils had an IP and provided the other with a reserve.

The Committee duly noted the amendments.