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

None were declared.

To agree the unrestricted minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 13 June 2023

The unrestricted minutes of the General Purposes Committee meeting held on 13 June 2023 were agreed as a correct record.

Further to Item 6.1, the Committee were informed that Councillor Nathalie Bienfait had accepted the position on the Corporate Parenting Board for 2023-24.

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

The work plan, as set out in the agenda pack was noted.

Farhad Ahmed, Head of School Governance and Information, introduced the report that set out for Members details of applicants who had applied to be nominated as local authority governors at Tower Hamlets maintained schools.

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1.    Agree to nominate the applicants to the positions that are available for local authority governors at maintained schools in Tower Hamlets as et out in the report.

Robert Curtis, Head of Electoral Services, introduced the report that updated the Committee on the planning that is in place, the co-operation between departments within the Council, the national engagement planning undertaken by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC), the Electoral Commission and the Association of Electoral Administrators regarding the implementation of the Elections Act 2022.

Further to questions from Committee members, Robert provided more information on the engagement work being undertaken by the Council’s Returning and Electoral Registration Officer together with the Councils Communications team and other stakeholders:

• Communication campaigns include social media, mailouts and email updates to stakeholders
• Ensuring best practice with members of the Electoral Services Teamlearning from and visiting other local authorities
• Communicating with hard to reach residents.
• Changes to poll cards to highlight changes to voting (such as requirement for Voter ID in the polling stations) and accompanying leaflets from the electoral commission.
• Plans to provide translations of advice and guidance into other languages, including Bengali. 
• Arrangements for voters who may not have valid ID. A Voter Authority Certificate (VAC) is available which can be applied for   until 12 days before the election. There is also an emergency process if an elector were to lose their VAC prior to a poll
• Planning for and contingency arrangements around general elections. There is uncertainty of timings and dates when a General Election will be held which is making planning difficult but plans and additional resources will be in place if and when required A General Election can be called at any time from now until January 2025 and if combined with the GLA in May 2024 this would be a considerable administrative exercise to deliver and resources revisited.
• Following the introduction of the Elections Act 2022 the Council’s Returning and Electoral Registration Officer has received implementation grants from DLUHC but it is difficult to predict what the expenditure will be given no elections have been held in Tower Hamlets in 2023 with which to benchmark where specific costs will materialise.
• Whilst these finite costs are unknown, it was confirmed that a significant amount of the necessary expenditure has already been incurred with existing resources from previous polls held but if necessary justification led bids can be made to DLUHC made should there be a shortfall in the  grants already received.

RESOLVED that the General Purpose Committee:

1.    Notes the engagement planning for the Elections Act 2022 and the continual updating and reviews of implementation approaching the Greater London Authority polls in May 2024, the General Election to be held no later than 28 January 2025 and the changes to electoral registration.

Matthew Mannion, Head of Democratic Services, introduced the report that provided an update on amendments to the constitution required or made under delegated authority since the last meeting of the Committee.

Matthew provided a brief update of the first meeting of the constitution working group. The Committee discussed the role and work plan of the working group, including asking that the work plan include a review of timings and deadlines for motions for Council, including whether a deadline should be included for notifying opposition groups. Mathew advised that the working group could explore, but would have limited powers to influence executive procedures, such as public and back-bench engagement opportunities at Cabinet meeting.

None.

A resolution to exclude press and public was not required.

Nil items.

There were no exempt minutes to consider.