Agenda and minutes

Mr Sass advised Members that the list of politically restricted posts was in the process of being finalised by the Personnel and Development Unit and was expected to be available for the Committee by the end of the week.

In relation to security measures at County Hall, Mr Sass was asked to ensure that all Members were reminded of the need to always wear their KCC identity badges and also make available a lanyard for any Member who needed one.

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2010 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Resolved: that Mr Brian Critchley be appointed to serve as a parent governor representative on the Cabinet Scrutiny Committee (when it considers education matters) and on the Children, Families and Education Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committees for the present term of office, which expires at the end of April 2013.

The Committee was asked to consider recommending the County Council to establish a new Sub Committee of the Regulation Committee to consider applications under section 23 of the Mental Health Act 1083 to discharge a person from guardianship. It was noted that the Chairman of the Regulation Committee had been consulted and supported the proposal.

The Committee suggested that there should be a pool of suitably trained Members of both the Regulation Committee and the Adult Social Services Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee, to ensure that there was always a sufficient number of Members available to meet on an ad hoc basis to consider requests for discharge.

Resolved: that:

(1) the County Council be recommended to approve the following addition to the Terms of Reference of the Regulation Committee:

“(g)      the discharge of persons who are subject to guardianship, pursuant to section 23 of the Mental Health Act 1983 on the recommendation of the Director of Kent Adult Social Services.

(The Council agreed on 13 May 2010 that function (g) could be delegated to a sub-committee of at least three Members one of whom should be a Member of the Regulation Committee and the others to be Members of the Adult Social Services Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committee (who must not also be members of a Foundation Trust).  The decision to discharge must be agreed by at least three Members or where there are more Members on the sub-committee by a majority of the Panel)”

(2)       subject to the County Council agreeing to (1) above, the Regulation Committee be asked to ensure that there is always a sufficient number of appropriately trained Members available to serve on these Sub Committees, even though only 3 Members are required to determine a request for discharge.

The Committee was invited to appoint a representative to serve on the Rochester Diocesan Board of Education to replace Mrs Green, who was originally appointed to the Board in July 2009, but who had recently resigned. Due to the fact that Labour Group had declined to nominate a replacement Member, it fell to this Committee to make agree a replacement.

Resolved: that Mr Peter Homewood be appointed to the Rochester Diocesan Board of Education, to replace Mrs Green, initially up to 1 December 2011.

The Committee was asked to comment upon and approve the proposed restructuring of the Community Liaison Manager Team.

Members were supportive of the additional resources to enable the proposed restructuring to proceed, especially the aspect that each District/Borough area would have a dedicated Community Engagement Manager. However, there was some concern that the two team leaders would also have to support a District/Borough area and Mr Wickenden accepted that the new arrangements would require close monitoring to ensure that appropriate support was provided in all areas as required by Members.

Resolved: the proposed restructuring of the Community Liaison Manager Team be approved as described in the report and that authority be delegated to the Head of Democratic Services & Local Leadership to finalise the job descriptions for the team leader posts and undertake the recruitment exercise.

There were no urgent items for the Committee to consider.