Agenda and draft minutes

An apology for absence had been received from Cllr Julie Hodgkiss.

No declarations of interest were made relative to items under consideration at the meeting.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2014 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

With reference to Minute No. 4, Cllr Richard Whitehouse drew to the attention of the Committee that the requested report on the revocation of honorary titles had yet to be presented.

Resolved:

That a report on the revocation of honorary titles be submitted to the next meeting of the Committee.

To recommend to full Council revisions to the Constitution in regard to parent governor representation on the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.

Earl Piggott-Smith presented a report which set out various suggested amendments to the Constitution in respect of various matters pertaining to Parent Governor representatives serving on the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.

Resolved:

That the Council be recommended to approve the following revisions to the Constitution, specifically:

1.    To include details of the role and responsibilities of local authority parent governor representatives appointed to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.

2.    That a maximum of two parent governor representatives to be appointed or re-appointed to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel at Annual Council.

3.    To require co-opted members, church representatives and parent governor representatives to sign and abide by the Councillors Code of Conduct as a condition of being a member of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.

4.    The eligibility conditions for parent governor representative at maintained schools to stand for election, as a local authority parent governor representative.

5.    To give authority to the Monitoring Officer to appoint a returning officer to make all the necessary arrangements and to determine all matters relating to the holding of an election of a parent governor representative, where there is a vacancy.

6.    To give discretion to the returning officer not to arrange a ballot for a vacancy where the places to be filled is equal to or exceeds the number of parent governor representatives candidates for election.

7.    To appoint parent governor representative for a maximum period of two years following an election and confirmation at annual Council.

8.    To state that parent governor representatives can, at the discretion of the Chair and Vice Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel in consultation with the Director of Governance, be disqualified if they do not attend panel meetings for a period of six months.

[The wording of the suggested amendments are detailed in Appendices A – E to these minutes]

To recommend to full Council revisions to the Constitution which seek to amend the governance arrangements of the Local Government Pension Scheme as administered by the Council under delegation to the Pensions Committee.

Rachel Howe presented a report which updated the Committee on the work undertaken to date by the West Midlands Pension fund in seeking its compliance with legislative changes. The report sought approval to amend the Council’s Constitution in line with legislative requirements which were ancillary to those functions and those which provided good governance.

Keith Ireland suggested that the Directors of Finance from across the districts be invited to attend as observers to meetings of the Pension Board and that they be invited to speak on matters under consideration.

Resolved:

1.That the Council be recommended to amend the Constitution insofar as it related to the governance arrangements of the Local Government Pension Scheme as administered by the Council under delegation to the Pensions Committee, specifically:

a)Those amendments required to the Constitution under the Public Service Pensions Act 2014;

b)Those amendments which are ancillary to those required under the Public Service Act 2013;

c)Those amendments requested in order to facilitate good governance and efficient operation of the West Midlands Pension Fund;

2. That consideration be given by the Pension Committee and Strategic Director of the West Midlands Pension Fund to the suggestion presented by Keith Ireland.  

[The suggested amendments are set out as an appendix to these minutes]