Agenda and minutes
Venue: Conference Hall - Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ. View directions
Contact: Rashella Rapley Governance Officer Tel: 07436 704037, Email: Rashella.Rapley@brent.gov.uk
Note: Due to the current limit on the socially distanced meeting venue capacity within the Civic Centre any press or public wishing to attend this meeting are encouraged to do so via the live webcast. The link to view proceedings is available via the Live Stream page on the Democracy in Brent section of the Council's website or the link on the front page of the published agenda pack.
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Apologies for absence and clarification of alternate members Minutes: An apology for absence was received from Councillor Colwill with Councillor Kansagra (following his apologies for lateness) in attendance as a substitute member. |
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Declarations of interests Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary or personal interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate. Minutes: There were no declarations of interests made at the meeting. |
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Deputations (if any) To hear any deputations received from members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 67. Minutes: There were no deputations received.
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Minutes of the previous meeting PDF 290 KB To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 13 September 2021 as a correct record. Minutes: RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 13 September 2021 be approved as an accurate record. |
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Matters arising (if any) To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting. Minutes: There were no matters arising.
The order of business was amended at the meeting in order to consider the agenda items as follows – Item 7 (Additional Bank Holiday); Item 8 (Recruitment & Retention of Social Workers Children & Young People); Item 9 (Pension Agreement – Greater London Authority and Inner London Education Authority) and Item 6 (Review of Polling Districts, Places and Polling Stations)
The minutes reflect the order in which the items were listed on the agenda. |
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Review of Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations PDF 189 KB In accordance with the Representation of the People Act 1983 (as amended by the Electoral Administration Act 2006) and the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013, this report sets out the outcome of a review of the local authority’s polling districts and polling places.
(Agenda republished on 3 November 21 to include updated versions of the cover report and maps included within Appendix E of the report) Additional documents:
Minutes: Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive and (Acting Returning Officer) introduced a report detailing the review of the local authority polling districts and polling places as required under the Representation of the People Act 1983 (as amended by the Electoral Administration Act 2006) and the Electoral Registration and Administration Act 2013. The review had been designed to reflect the changes in electoral ward boundaries introduced as a result of the Local Government Boundary Commission for England review of electoral wards in Brent, with the new arrangements due to come into effect for the local government elections in May 2022.
In considering the report, members noted the focus of the review only on internal polling district boundaries and extensive nature of the consultation which had been undertaken on the proposed arrangements, as detailed within section 5 and Appendix B of the report.
Prior to considering the proposed changes in electoral arrangements Councillor Muhammed Butt, as Chair, invited Councillor Kennelly to address the meeting whom he advised had requested to speak in relation to the proposed changes within Preston Ward.
Councillor Kennelly advised that whilst supportive of the proposals relating to polling stations PR1 and PR3 he had concerns relating the proposed use of the Century Bowling & Social Club Logan Road as polling station PR2. The concerns related to safety and accessibility of the location, with Wembley Primary School suggested as a possible alternative. In response, it was confirmed that additional legal advice may need to be sought in relation to the suitability of the suggested alternative site given it fell just outside of the Polling District and there was a requirement to ensure there were no other suitable venues within the District.
In addition, members noted the additional public representations which had been submitted in writing by Paul Lorber and circulated in advance of the meeting. These related to the proposed changes within Sudbury ward. The additional submission had asked members to consider an increase in the number of polling stations to four based on a revised division of polling districts. Members noted that development of the proposals within the report had already been subject to extensive research and consultation, with the proposed arrangements having been amended and designed to reflect the outcome of that process in order to maintain strong and identifiable boundaries wherever possible. Members were keen to avoid further changes that would result in boundaries between polling stations and their districts being split and on this basis advised they were minded to accept the proposed changes as detailed within the report rather than the alternative proposals submitted within the additional representations considered at the meeting.
Councillor Muhammed Butt as Chair then invited Katie Smith, Head of Executive & Member Services, to provide a brief summary of the proposed changes in electoral arrangements, as set out in detail within section 6 and the individual ward maps included as Appendix A of the report. Members noted the outline and summary of the proposed changes, which included: · Changes to polling district boundaries in ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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Additional Bank Holiday PDF 123 KB This report provides the Committee with a proposal to recognise 24thDecember 2021 as an additional bank holiday for staff. Minutes: Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive, introduced a report seeking the Committee’s approval to recognise 24 December 2021 as an additional Bank Holiday leave day for staff.
In considering the report, members were keen to recognise and acknowledge the commitment, dedication and hard work of staff throughout the year in what continued to be such challenging times during recovery from the pandemic.
It was also noted that should members be minded to agree the proposal, this would not involve any additional financial implications and arrangements would remain in place to ensure the continued provision of emergency and out of hours’ services.
As a result, it was RESOLVED to designate the 24 December 2021 as an additional Bank Holiday leave day for staff. |
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Recruitment and Retention of Social Workers - Children & Young People PDF 676 KB To provide a further update to the Committee on the impact of the decision in October 2018, to introduce recruitment and retention initiatives to key social work roles within the Children and Young People’s (CYP) department. The report also provides information about the current position regarding social work staff retention within the department. Minutes: Nigel Chapman (Operational Director Integration & Improved Outcomes) introduced a report providing the Committee with an update on the impact on the decision taken in October 2018 to introduce recruitment and retention initiatives for key social work roles within the Children and Young People (CYP) department. In addition, the report detailed the current position regarding social work staff retention within the department, with particular reference to current challenges for frontline child protection social work recruitment and retention in the Localities Service, along with a proposed amended approach in order to address the issues identified.
Members noted the updated benchmarking details, set out within section 3.3 of the report, along with the importance of Brent remaining competitive in the market place for good quality staff in order to provide stability across the service and in seeking to reduce the reliance on agency staff.
In welcoming the positive improvements that had been made in terms of the recruitment and retention of staff since the introduction of the current initiatives, as detailed in section 4 of the report, members also recognised the ongoing challenges particularly within the Localities Service. Members were therefore supportive of the proposed amendments recommended to current initiatives based on an increase in the one-off payment to newly recruited permanent social work staff and retention payments for all permanent qualified social work staff on grades PO1-PO7 in the most hard to recruit teams within the Localities service.
Having welcomed the progress being made, it was RESOLVED:
(1) To amend two of the current recruitment and retention initiatives until the end of the 2022/23 financial year, with arrangements being reviewed again in late 2022 as follows:
· To increase the one-off payment to newly recruited permanent social work staff on grades PO1-PO7 in the most hard to recruit to teams within the Localities service (Referral and Assessment teams, East and West long-term teams) from £5000 to £7500, on satisfactory completion of a probationary period; and · To increase retention payments in the hard to recruit to social work teams in the Localities service, for all qualified social work staff graded PO1-PO7, from £1200 to £4500 per annum.
(2) To agree that other previously agreed recruitment and retention initiatives be maintained as follows:
· To continue the one-off payment of £5000 to newly recruited permanent social work managers, practice consultants and senior social workers in all other eligible teams, on satisfactory completion of a probationary period. · To continue retention payment of £3600 to all other eligible qualified social work managers and social work practice consultant posts, payable after 36 months in role and on a recurring 36-month cycle. Senior social workers currently receive a retention payment. To continue the existing market supplement (retention payment) of £1,200 per annum to all other qualified social work eligible roles. · To allow the department the discretion to provide relocation package support to key posts, up to a maximum of £5,000 in individual cases together with any COVID related costs associated with the recruitment of overseas social workers. · To continue ... view the full minutes text for item 8. |
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Pension Agreement - Greater London Authority and Inner London Education Authority PDF 251 KB This report sets out a proposed agreement between the Council and the London Pension Fund Authority (LPFA) in respect of funding the historical pension liabilities of Greater London Council (GLC) and the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA). Additional documents:
Minutes: Councillor McLennan introduced a report that detailed a proposed agreement between the Council and the London Pension Fund Authority (LPFA) in respect of funding the historical pension liabilities of Greater London Council (GLC) and the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA).
In considering the report, members noted the background to the historical pension liabilities resulting from the abolition of the GLC and ILEA and negotiations undertaken between the Society of London Treasurers and LPFA in order to reach an agreement in relation to the funding of these liabilities. Members were advised that the Council had established an earmarked reserve for this purpose with the agreement not expected to create any additional budgetary pressure as liabilities decreased over time.
Having considered the report and information with the accompanying exempt appendix, the Committee RESOLVED to:
(1) Note the additional liability due to the LPFA as at 31 March 2019, relating to deferred, pensioner and dependent liabilities for which the Council was responsible.
(2) Delegate authority to the Director of Finance to agree the final terms of and sign an agreement between the LPFA and London Boroughs in respect of the Council’s GLC/ILEA liabilities, as detailed within Appendix A (containing exempt information) of the report.
(3) Delegate authority to the Director of Finance to manage the funding of the liabilities until full repayment. |
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Appointments to Sub-Committees / Outside Bodies To consider any appointments needing to be made in relation to the Sub Committees appointed by the General Purposes Committee. Minutes: There were no appointments to be considered at the meeting. |
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Exclusion of Press and Public The following item is not for publication as it relates to the following category of exempt information set out below as specified under Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972:
Agenda Item 9: Pensions Agreement – Greater London Council and Inner London Education Authority Purchase: Appendix 1 (LPFA Pension Agreement) - classified as exempt under Para 3 of Schedule 12A: “Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)”. Minutes: There were no items that required the exclusion of the press or public. |
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Any other urgent business Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or her representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60. Minutes: None. |