Agenda

Governance Committee - Monday, 12 September 2022 2.15 pm, POSTPONED

Venue: County Hall, Chichester PO19 1RQ

Contact: Clare Jones on 033 022 22526 Email: clare.jones@westsussex.gov.uk

Note: Meeting postponed as a mark of respect following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Items
No.	Item
1.	Declarations of Interest View the background to item 1. Members and officers must declare any pecuniary or personalinterest in any business on the agenda. They should also make declarations at any stage such an interest becomes apparent during the meeting. Consideration should be given to leaving the meeting if the nature of the interest warrants it. If in doubt please contact Democratic Services before the meeting.
2.	Minutes of the last meeting of the Committee PDF 68 KB View the background to item 2. The Committee is asked to agree the minutes of the meeting held on 6 June 2022 (cream paper).
3.	Urgent Matters View the background to item 3. Items not on the agenda which the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances.
4.	Review of the Fire and Rescue Service Scrutiny Committee PDF 93 KB View the background to item 4. Report by the Director of Law and Assurance. The Committee is asked to consider a review of the Council’s Fire and Rescue Service Scrutiny Committee which was established in June 2020 after a broad review of governance arrangements for the Fire and Rescue Service at the Council following external inspection.
5.	Review of County Local Forums PDF 98 KB View the background to item 5. Report by Director of Law and Assurance and Assistant Director (Communities). The Committee is asked to review County Local Forums, following a one-year trial, and decide what to recommend to the County Council in October. Additional documents: Appendix A - County Local Forum trial year data , item 5. PDF 134 KB Appendix B - Consultation feedback from county councillors , item 5. PDF 166 KB
6.	Proposed Executive-Scrutiny Protocol PDF 75 KB View the background to item 6. Report by Director of Law and Assurance. In May 2022 the Committee agreed to the development of an Executive-Scrutiny Protocol to enhance scrutiny by describing the relationship between scrutiny and the Executive (the Cabinet) and providing a framework for how they may work together most effectively. The Committee is asked to consider a draft Protocol which has been developed through engagement with members, including a cross-party workshop and review by the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Committee. Additional documents: Appendix A - Executive-Scrutiny Protocol , item 6. PDF 91 KB
7.	Independent Remuneration Panel Report PDF 72 KB View the background to item 7. Report by Director of Law and Assurance. The Independent Remuneration Panel (IRP) has met twice in 2022 to consider initial observations and feedback on the Members’ Allowances Scheme after a year of this Council’s term. It has concluded that no interim review of the scheme is required in 2022 but has identified some key areas to include in its main quadrennial review, which will begin in 2023. It has, however, recommended that the Committee considers recommending to the Council that the term of office for members of the Panel should be extended from two to three terms.
8.	Governance arrangements Property Joint Venture Partnership PDF 75 KB View the background to item 8. Report by Director of Law and Assurance. The Committee is asked to consider a recommendation to the County Council that the governance arrangements for the operation of the County Council’s involvement in its property joint venture partnership through an arm’s length company should be included in the Scheme of Delegation in the Constitution. Additional documents: Appendix A - Proposed text for inclusion in Constitution , item 8. PDF 80 KB
9.	Pension Advisory Board and Pensions Committee Membership PDF 94 KB View the background to item 9. Report by Director of Law and Assurance. The Committee is asked to consider recommending to the Council that the Scheme of Delegation in the Constitution be amended to state that no person may be a Pension Advisory Board member and also a member of the Pensions Committee. This is to avoid any conflict of interest as the Board provides scrutiny of the work of the Pensions Committee and of the Council’s role as scheme administrator.
10.	Urgent or Short Notice Decisions PDF 58 KB View the background to item 10. Report by the Director of Law and Assurance. The Committee is asked to endorse a recommendation to the County Council to approve new wording on urgent and short notice decisions which are set out in Standing Orders in the Constitution. The wording has been altered over time and an officer review has concluded that a simplification and clarification would be helpful. Additional documents: Appendix A - Changes to Standing Orders , item 10. PDF 58 KB
11.	Appeals Panel Annual Report 2021/22 PDF 77 KB View the background to item 11. Report by the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Development and the Director of Law and Assurance. The Committee is asked to consider the annual report of the Appeals Panel for 2021/22. Additional documents: Appendix A – Summary of Board of Appeal hearings , item 11. PDF 53 KB
12.	Report of Urgent Action View the background to item 12. To note action taken by the Director of Law and Assurance, in consultation with the Vice-Chairman, as follows: Mid Sussex District Council Consultation on Burgess Hill Community Governance Review 2022 Approval to the County Council’s response to the Mid Sussex District Council Consultation on Burgess Hill Community Governance Review 2022. Background Papers Decision by the Director of Law and Assurance in consultation with the Vice-Chairman of the Governance Committee dated 8 August 2022 Contact: Charles Gauntlett, 033 022 22524
13.	Date of Next Meeting View the background to item 13. The next meeting of the Committee will be held at 2.15 pm on 14 November 2022 at County Hall, Chichester.