Agenda and minutes

36.1     RESOLVED – that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on 28 January 2020 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

37.1     Copies of the reports referred to below are included in the minute book.

Report by the Director of Children’s Services

38.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Children’s Services regarding the Adoption Panel arrangements to be constituted in support of the Regional Adoption Agency. The Director of Children’s Services informed the Committee that the third sentence of paragraph 1.5 of the report should be amended to read ‘However, the review of panel arrangements has identified that that some authorities currently have member representation on adoption panels and others do not.

38.2     The Committee RESOLVED to recommend the County Council:

1)            to agree to discontinue the appointment of Members to Adoption Panels with effect from 1 April 2020 and agree the new panel arrangements set out in the report to be constituted in support of Adoption South East: and

2)            to delegate authority to the Assistant Chief Executive to amend the Constitution to reflect the changes to Adoption Panel arrangements.

Report by Chief Operating Officer

39.1     The Committee considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer in relation to updates to the Code of Conduct and Conflicts of Interest Policy in Employment.

39.2     The Committee RESOLVED (by 3 votes to 1) to approve the amendments to the Code of Conduct and Conflicts of Interest in Employment Policy as set out in paragraph 3.2 and Appendix 1 of the report.

[Councillor Godfrey Daniel voted against this resolution and Councillor Tutt abstained]

Report by Chief Operating Officer

40.1     The Committee considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer regarding new legislation in relation to parental bereavement leave and pay.

40.2     The Committee RESOLVED to agree the Council’s Parental Bereavement Policy for employees as: two weeks leave on full pay, from day one of employment, as a separate entitlement to the current policy provisions for compassionate leave.

Report by Chief Operating Officer

41.1     The Committee considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer regarding the Pay Policy Statement for 2020/21.

41.2     The Committee RESOLVED to recommend to the County Council the updated Pay Policy Statement for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report

Report by Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

42.1     The Committee considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport regarding the appointment of a Company Director to South East Enterprise Partnership Ltd.

42.2     The Committee RESOLVED to approve the appointment of Councillor Glazier:

            1) as the ESCC representative on the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP); and

            2) as the ESCC nominated Company Director of SELEP Ltd and be the voting representative of ESCC at SELEP Strategic Board meetings and at SELEP Accountability Board meetings.

Report by Assistant Chief Executive

43.1     The Committee considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive regarding the requirement to report, within the Annual Governance Statement, on separate bodies that the Council owns or has set up.

43.2     The Committee RESOLVED to:

1)            agree that the Best Practice recommendation from the Committee on Standards in Public Life be interpreted as set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report; and

2)            agree that a review be undertaken to collate the information set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report and that this be incorporated into the Annual Governance Statement completed at the end of the forthcoming year (2020/21).  

Report by Assistant Chief Executive

44.1     The Committee considered a report by the Assistant Chief Executive regarding proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution.

44.2     The Committee RESOLVED to recommend the County Council to:

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1)            agree, that given that the exercise of the power to delegate functions to officers have been delegated to the Governance Committee and rest with the Leader and may result in amendments being made to the Scheme of Delegation to Officers, the Constitution be amended to reflect this;

2)            approve the proposed changes to the Constitution as set out in paragraph 1.3 of the report;

3)            agree the Local Choice Functions reserved to the Executive can be undertaken by Lead Members; and

4)            delegate authority to the Assistant Chief Executive to amend the Constitution accordingly