Agenda item

The Chair advised of three items of business to raise:

i)              A resolution of the Markets Committee was tabled which raised a concern regarding a paper not being on the agenda. The Chair advised this occurred due to an error within the Town Clerk’s Department. At the Markets Committee meeting, the point was raised that there were a number of vacancies within the Team, but recruitment was taking place. The Chair commented that the Markets Committee had asked the Establishment Committee be made aware of slippage due to staffing issues.

ii)             A report of the Director of Human Resources on the Project Management Academy was tabled, the Chair advised this would be brought before the Projects Sub-Committee taking place the following week. The Chairman of the Projects Sub-Committee commented that this piece of work would make a huge difference to staff and supported a more strategic approach.

In response to a discussion on funding, the Director advised it was planned for the costs to be absorbed from the training budget. The Town Clerk added that at present a number of costs were not known, but Committees would be allowed to view the costs for each project and vote accordingly. A Member queried whether the Academy could be run with London Councils. In response, the Director advised that this had not been looked at as the modules were tailored to the City of London Corporation’s governance processes. The Chair asked that a collaboration with other London Councils be looked into as part of the project.

iii)           The Chair raised the need to have Equality Impact Assessments for Committee reports, particularly those for decision, as otherwise the City of London Corporation would be at risk of failing to comply with its statutory duty to have due regard. 

The Committee agreed that the Town Clerk and Director of Human Resources look at the provision of compulsory training for report authors on the need to provide essential information on Public Sector Equality Duty and Equality Impact Assessment requirements in order for Members to be assured that they are compliant with in their statutory duties.