Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, please see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

Members are reminded to declare the nature of the interest and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it’s the Members’ responsibility to declare any interests and to update their register of interest form as required by the Code.

If in doubt as to the nature of your interest, you are advised to seek advice prior to the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

To agree the unrestricted minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 10^th January 2022.

The unrestricted minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 10 January 2022  were agreed as a correct record of proceedings.

To review the Committee’s work plan for the current municipal year.

The Committee reviewed the work plan for the current municipal year. Simmi Yesmin, Democratic Services Officer, noted that the Work Plan 2022/23 will be submitted at the next General Purposes Committee to be held on 21 June 2022 which will be the first meeting of the municipal year.

At the invitation of The Chair Terry McGrenera, local resident, addressed a series of complaints. Officers informed the resident that matters raised were not in the remit of the Committee however, they would alert officers from Housing services all concerns.

RESOLVED

1.    That the General Purposes Work Plan be noted.

Farhad Ahmed, Head of Governance Information and Traded Services, introduced the report which detailed two recommended Governors to be appointed to Tower Hamlets maintained primary schools. Farhad noted that a great deal of work to recruit BAME Governors has been undertaken, and of the last six appointments, half have been BAME Governors.

The Committee AGREED the recommendations submitted and requested a summary to review all BAME Governors appointed within Tower Hamlets at the next  Committee meeting.

RESOLVED

1.    That the recommended Governor applications be approved.

2.    A summary on all BAME Governors be submitted at the next General Purposes Committee meeting.

            Keith Stanger, Head of Safer Neighbourhood Operations, introduced the Committee to the amended summary report, following comments made on 10 January 2022 meeting where Officers sought legal clarification and was noted for the following:

-           The 2013 byelaws relate to all Tower Hamlets parks and open spaces, regardless of any name changes to that section of land which existed at the time. A new proposal will have to be submitted for any new locations going forward.

-          Applications to enforcement changes for all byelaws is recommended. Decisions on specific localities can then be determined.

The Committee AGREED the recommendation for the proposal.

RESOLVED

1.    That the proposal to authorise  the submission for consideration by the London Councils Transport and Environment Committee to authorise the use of Fixed Penalty Notices for Byelaws within Tower Hamlets to set penalty fees be approved.

2.    That the report be noted.

Pat Chen, Head of HR, introduced the report on behalf of Musrat Zaman, Director, Workforce, OD and Business Support. The report requires approval to adopt and publish the pay policy statement for 2022/23.

The policy sets out authorised council staff payments and includes both the pay structure and ratio levels for 2020/21 (1:13.65) and 2021/22 (1:11.45). Details will be updated in April 2022 to reflect the changes for 2022/23.

The report also includes redundancy agreements and an amendment to post titles authorising entry level salaries above the spinal column from Director of Workforce, OD and Business Support to Head of HR/Senior HR Business Partners. This change is included in the Constitution Update report noted in item 4.5 of the agenda.

The Committee AGREED the recommendation to adopt the pay policy statement 2022/23 with specified amendments.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Pay Policy Statement 2022/23 be recommended for adoption by Full Council on 25 May 2022.  

2.    The Chief Executive, following consultation with the Director of Workforce, OD and Business Support, Chair of the GP Committee and Monitoring Officer, be delegated to make any minor changes to the 2022/23 pay policy statement.

Pat Chen introduced the Committee to the following Senior Management updates:

-          Corporate Director of Resources (Section 151 Officer). Interim arrangements are currently in place and adverts are scheduled for publication in April 2022. Interviews are scheduled to commence in June 2022.

-          Director of Commissioning and Culture. Interviews are scheduled to commence in June 2022, as the current Director will stay until August 2022

It was noted that there are no financial implications on recruitment to Tower Hamlets Council and the Committee AGREED to the report.

RESOLVED

1.    That the report be noted.

Matthew Mannion, Head of Democratic Services, introduced the Committee to the amended report, following comments at the 10 January 2022 meeting. It was noted that the induction programme was extensive and subject to adjustment in terms of timelines.

Following questions from Members, Mr. Mannion explained that:

-          IT training will be made available to Members during their first week of induction, which will include hybrid meeting tools. Most of the Member Seminar and Training programmes will permit physical and remote access to allow Member to attend as many events as possible. However, Members are expected to attend Committee formal meetings in person.

-          Member Seminars do not provide formal qualifications, however; Members will have access to the Learning Hub, which does give certification for completed courses. Mr. Mannion will look further into accredited qualifications and provide information to the Committee at a future meeting.

-          As regulations have been amended, Members are no longer permitted to join the Council pensions scheme.

The Committee AGREED to the Members Induction Plan 2022.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Members Induction Plan 2022 be approved.

2.    That the report be noted.

(The numbers in brackets below relate to the paragraphs in the report submitted to the Committee)

Matthew Mannion introduced the report, which requires  noting and/ or approval to a number of amendments to the Constitution, primarily:

-          The addition of the Chief Executive’s Office within the Council  structure (3.5).

-          Amendments to the Executive Scheme of Delegation (3.6)

-          Additions and amendments to the Health and Wellbeing Board Terms of Reference (3.9), which have been signed off by the forementioned Board.

-          London Housing Consortium exit from the Joint Committee (3.11)

-          The addition of the new Code of Conduct, agreed by Council on the 17 November2021 to the Constitution for May  2022.

-          The tabled change to the Corporate Operating Procedures in relation to the proposed that a potential review of the Constitution to the General Purposes Committee Work Plan as a further recommendation.

The Committee thanked Mr Mannion for his good work and  ensuring the Constitution was looked at in depth and AGREED to the recommendations outlined in the Constitution updates.

RESOLVED

1.    That the amendments to the Constitution be approved.

2.    That the report be noted.

As this was the last General Purposes Committee meeting of the year, the Committee commended  the Chair and Vice Chair who will both be standing down. Thanks was also given to the  officers for all the good quality of work undertaken throughout the year supporting the Committee. In turn, The Chair thanked the Committee for the solidarity, cooperation and guidance during the past years.

No resolution to exclude the press and public was passed at this meeting

The exempt appendices related to the school Governor appointments were noted.