Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Committee Room 3A - Town Hall. View directions

Contact: Debra Marlow tel: 01708 433091  e-mail:  debra.marlow@onesource.co.uk

Items
No. Item

13.

DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

Members are invited to disclose any interest in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting. 

 

Members may still disclose any interest in any item at any time prior to the consideration of the matter.

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of interest.

14.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 149 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Committee held on 7 November, 2018, and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting fo the committee held on 7 November 2018 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

15.

COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES pdf icon PDF 202 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was reported that at its meeting in March 2018 Full Council resolved to review the operation of its meetings. It delegated responsibility for that review to the Governance Committee.

 

Governance Committee was asked to recommend its preferred changes to the council meeting procedure rules, with the final decision resting with all members at a meeting of Full Council.

 

The report explained that there were few legal or other requirements relating to the conduct and business of Full Council, and so while there are common themes and similar content in Council Procedure Rules across the London Boroughs and within other Principal Councils, the format is largely a matter of local choice for members to decide.

 

The proposals set out in the report were those of the Administration after considering the views of all the Group Leaders Group Leaders met individually with the Council Leader and the Monitoring Officer to share their thoughts on how meetings of Full Council should operate. There are any number of different ways in which the procedure rules can be altered, it is fair to say there were as many views on options as there are Group Leaders and there was no consensus that any particular aspect be changed.

 

The proposals aimed to improve the efficient and effective conduct of business transacted at meetings of Full Council within the time available.

 

In addition to the substantive changes, a number of minor amendments were proposed which sought to simplify the understanding and interpretation of the procedure rules, the result of which will assist in the smooth running of Full Council meetings.

 

In keeping with the Group Leader meetings, there were a number of contrasting views expressed regarding the proposals and how meetings of Full Council should operate. Some Members considered that meetings of Full Council were “opposition time” and the rules should be tailored to give the opposition a voice and hold the Administration to account. A contrasting view was expressed that Havering’s Procedure Rules were out of keeping with other London boroughs and that the opposition was afforded plenty of opportunity at meetings of Full Council.

 

A number of amendments to the recommendations were proposed and will be dealt with in turn:

 

1.    That at each Council meeting, one question be put to the Leader from each of the political groups on Council (Proposed by Councillor Darvill, Seconded by Cllr Morgon). This amendment was lost by 6 votes to 5. Councillors Barrett, Darvill, Durant, Morgon, Mugglestone voted against the resolution.

 

2.    That meetings of Full Council start at 7:15pm. (Proposed by Councillor Barrett, Seconded by Councillor Morgon). This amendment was lost by 6 votes to 5. Councillors Barrett, Darvill, Durant, Morgon, Mugglestone voted against the resolution.

 

3.    That the tea break be removed. (Proposed by Councillor Barrett, Seconded by Councillor Morgon). This amendment was lost on the second and casting vote of the Chairman. Councillors Barrett, Darvill, Durant, Morgon, Mugglestone voted against the resolution. Councillor Wise abstained form voting.

 

4.    That the mover of a motion  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

16.

REGULATION OF INVESTIGATORY POWERS ACT 2000 (RIPA) UPDATE pdf icon PDF 174 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee was provided with the Annual Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) update. The committee was asked to consider and, recommend for approval, changes to the Council’s Policy and Procedures on RIPA.

 

A review of the Policy had been undertaken and the proposed minor changes were marked up in the Policy and Procedure document which was appended to the committee report. The changes were mainly technical or presentational in nature and, more specifically:

 

- refer to and reflect recent legislative changes and the revised statutory codes of practice;

- refer to the IPCO (instead of the OSC);

- elaborate on what RIPA does and does not do;

- emphasise the enhanced safeguards and authorisation levels required when confidential information may be acquired;

- designate the Council’s Monitoring Officer as the Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) reflecting established practical arrangements; and

- states that the SRO will report to the Leader, Lead Member and oneSource Management at least once a year (and not quarterly) to reflect the much reduced and very limited use by the Council of its RIPA powers.

 

Members were also asked to note the revised delegation proposals and that there had been no use of the Council’s RIPA powers since the last update.

 

The committee RESOLVED:

 

1. To recommend to the Lead Member that the proposed changes to the Council’s Policy and Procedures on RIPA attached as Appendix 1 be approved.

2. To Note the revised delegation proposals.

3. To Note the update on the Council’s use of its RIPA powers.