Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence or notification of alternative membership had been received.

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.

There were no declarations of interests made during the meeting.

To hear any deputations received from members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 67.

There were no deputations received.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 12 March 2025 as a correct record.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 10 March 2025 be approved as a correct record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

There were no matters arising.

This report sets out proposed changes to pay and conditions, namely amendments to the Chief Officers salary scales within the Hay grade structure, a reduction in the hours of work for staff on Hay grades, and changes to the annual leave policy for all staff, affecting the accrual of long service annual leave.

Councillor Mili Patel (Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Finance & Resources, which outlined proposed amendments to staff pay and conditions.

Members noted that the key proposals included:

1)    Revisions to the Chief Officers’ salary scales within the Hay grade structure;

2)    A reduction in the standard working hours for staff on Hay grades; and

3)    Amendments to the annual leave policy for all staff, specifically relating to the accrual of long service annual leave.

Pat Chen (Senior HR Business Partner) provided further detail, highlighting the following as the principal areas of change:

• Adjustments to the Hay grade structure to address anomalies between pay grades and contractual terms;

• Rectification of inconsistencies in contracted working hours, particularly where some staff were contracted to work 40 hours per week, contrary to the standard 36-hour week;and

• Simplification and equalisation of annual leave entitlements across grades, making the policy easier to apply and more equitable.

Having thanked Councillor Mili Patel and Pat Chen for introducing the report, the Chair then moved on to invite questions and comments from the Committee, with the following comments and issues discussed:

• Members sought clarification on the proposals, particularly in relation to the Hay grades and the rationale for amending the contracted hours for staff from 40 to 36 hours. Questions were also raised around the additional benefits that had been afforded to officers when 40-hour contracts were originally agreed, such as increased pension contribution or holiday entitlement. In response, Pat Chen (Senior HR Business Partner) explained that there were no additional benefits to officers for working a 40-hour week. While the overall rate of pay remained unchanged, officers effectively received a lower hourly rate. There had been no financial benefits or increase in overall annual leave entitlement for those staff. The proposed changes would not result in financial gain and would correct a contractual inconsistency across the workforce with the main change involving a requirement to complete the full period of continuous service before becoming eligible for the increased annual leave entitlement.

• Concern was expressed that the report implied no financial impact, yet there were productivity implications given the level of staff who could effectively gain additional annual leave, potentially reducing service delivery capacity. Details were sought around whether staff would receive one additional annual leave day or more as a result of the proposed changes. In response, Pat Chen (Senior HR Business Partner) informed the Committee that a general estimate had been included in the report, and further analysis was underway to determine the precise number of staff that would benefit and the impact across different salary bands and levels of annual leave. It was confirmed that individual impacts would vary depending on existing contractual terms. An Equality Impact Assessment would also be conducted to evaluate the potential effects of the proposed changes on individuals with protected characteristics.

• Following on from the concerns identified, the need to avoid making any decision in advance of a comprehensive understanding of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

At the Annual Council meeting on 14 May 2025, Full Council is being asked to review and determine the representation of different political groups on certain committees and subsequently make appointments to these, in accordance with the wishes of the political groups concerned.

As soon as practicable after such a review, this Committee is also required to review and determine the representation of different political groups on its Sub-committees and then make appointments giving effect to the wishes of the political group allocated the seat(s).

The attached report from the Corporate Director Finance & Resources details the outcome of the review undertaken in relation to Sub-Committees to be appointed by General Purposes Committee.

Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Chair) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Finance and Resources detailing the outcome of a review on the representation of political groups on those Sub Committees appointed by the General Purposes Committee.

Members were advised this followed the review undertaken at the Annual Council meeting on 14 May 2025 relating to the representation of political groups on the Council’s main committees.

As a result, it was RESOLVED on the basis of the current membership of the Council:

(1)  To agree the size of each sub-committee to be appointed by the Committee.

(2)  To agree the allocation of seats to political groups on each of the sub committees in accordance with political balance rules, as detailed in section 3 of the report; and

(3)  To appoint Chairs and Vice Chairs, members and substitutes to each Sub-committee (to be confirmed under Item 8 of the agenda) giving effect to the wishes of the political group(s) allocated the seats.

To consider any appointments needing to be made in relation to those Sub Committees appointed by the General Purposes Committee.

Members are asked to note the list of proposed appointments to the General Purposes Sub Committees for the 2025-26 Municipal Year which was presented to the Annual Council meeting on 14 May 2025, for information.

Following on from Item 7 above, Councillor Muhammed Butt introduced an item setting out the proposed appointments to the General Purposes Sub-committees for the 2025-2026 Municipal Year.

As a result, it RESOLVED to agree the following appointments to the General Purposes Sub-Committees for the 2025 - 2026 Municipal Year:

SENIOR STAFF APPOINTMENTS SUB-COMMITTEE

M BUTT (C)                            LABOUR

M.PATEL (VC)                       LABOUR

KANSAGRA                           CONSERVATIVE

KRUPA SHETH                      LABOUR

GRAHL                                   LABOUR

SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS:

LABOUR: BENEA, DONNELLY-JACKSON, FARAH, KNIGHT, NERVA, RUBIN

CONSERVATIVE: MAURICE, MISTRY

SENIOR STAFF APPEALS SUB-COMMITTEE

M BUTT (C)                            LABOUR

M.PATEL (VC)                       LABOUR

KANSAGRA                           CONSERVATIVE

KRUPA SHETH                      LABOUR

GRAHL                                   LABOUR

SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS:

LABOUR: BENEA, DONNELLY-JACKSON, FARAH, KNIGHT, NERVA, RUBIN

CONSERVATIVE: MAURICE, MISTRY

BRENT PENSION FUND SUB-COMMITTEE

JOHNSON (C)                        LABOUR

KENNELLY (VC)                    LABOUR

AHMADI MOGHADDAM       LABOUR

CHOUDRY                              LABOUR

CRABB                                   LABOUR

KANSAGRA                           CONSERVATIVE

MOLLOY                                LABOUR

CO-OPTED NON-VOTING:

ELIZABETH BANKOLE (UNISON)

SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS:

LABOUR: ETHAPEMI, DIXON, MAHMOOD, SHAH

CONSERVATIVE: MAURICE, J.PATEL

BRENT PENSION BOARD

DAVID EWART (C)                INDEPENDENT CHAIR (31.07.2025)

KABIR                                    LABOUR

SMITH                                     LABOUR

CHRIS BALA                         PENSION SCHEME MEMBER

BOLA GEORGE                     TRADE UNION (UNISON) MEMBER

ROBERT WHEELER             TRADE UNION (GMB) MEMBER

VACANCY EMPLOYER        MEMBER (NON-BRENT COUNCIL)

SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS:

No provision is included within the Boards Terms of Reference for substitute members.

No items have been identified in advance of the meeting that will require the exclusion of the press or public.

There were no items that required the exclusion of the press or public from the meeting.

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Deputy Director Democratic and Corporate Governance or their representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60.

No items of urgent business were raised at the meeting.