Agenda and minutes
GLA Oversight Committee - Wednesday 27 February 2019 10.00 am

To receive any apologies for absence and any announcements from the Chairman.

1.1  Apologies for absence were received from Navin Shah AM, Peter Whittle AM, Steve O’Connell AM, for whom Susan Hall AM attended as a substitute Member, and Jennette Arnold OBE AM, for whom Leonie Cooper AM attended as a substitute Member.

1.2  The Chairman welcomed a delegation of officials from Uzbekistan to the public gallery.

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Note the offices held by Assembly Members, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 2, as disclosable pecuniary interests;

(b)   Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any disclosable pecuniary interests in specific items listed on the agenda and the necessary action taken by the Member(s) regarding withdrawal following such declaration(s); and

(c)   Note the declaration by any Member(s) of any other interests deemed to be relevant (including any interests arising from gifts and hospitality received which are not at the time of the meeting reflected on the Authority’s register of gifts and hospitality, and noting also the advice from the GLA’s Monitoring Officer set out at Agenda Item 2) and to note any necessary action taken by the Member(s) following such declaration(s).

2.1  Resolved:

That the list of offices held by Assembly Members, as set out in the table at Agenda Item 2, be noted as disclosable pecuniary interests.

The Committee is recommended to confirm the minutes of the meeting of the GLA Oversight Committee held on 30 January 2019 to be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

3.1  Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting of the GLA Oversight Committee held on 30 January 2019 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

3.2  With the approval of the Chairman, the Chief Officer made a statement regarding item 7 in the minutes ‘Proposed Changes to the GLA Establishment - Human Resources and Organisational Development Unit’.

3.3  The Chief Officer stated that subsequent to discussions with the Chairman and the Deputy Chair, a paper would be presented to the GLA Oversight Committee in April 2019 that would provide clarity regarding the human resources policy for regrading positions. The specific issue of the posts in the Human Resources and Organisational Development Unit will also be revisited at this time. The backfilling of the Grade 8 posts in the Human Resources and Organisational Development Unit have been put on hold until these deliberations were completed.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  Lorena Alcorta; [email protected]; 020 7983 4425 

The Committee is recommended to note the completed and outstanding actions arising from previous meetings of the GLA Oversight Committee.

4.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

4.2  Resolved:

That the completed and outstanding actions arising from previous meetings of the GLA Oversight Committee be noted.

Report of the Chief Officer

Contact:  Patrick Alleyne, [email protected], 020 7983 4140

The Committee is recommended to respond to the Head of Paid Service’s first-stage consultation on the potential conversion of some fixed term contracts to permanent contracts.

5.1  The Chief Officer stated that, the GLA appeared to have a large number of fixed term posts; almost 20% of the establishment. She further stated that whilst fixed term posts had a role in flexible workplace planning, she has committed to ensuring that fixed term roles were being used appropriately.

5.2  The Chief Officer stated that the paper presented to the Committee set out the methodology for reviewing current fixed term posts and the criteria by which some may be considered for conversion to permanent posts.

5.3  In relation to budgetary implications, these would be detailed in the second paper that would be presented to the Committee. It was then proposed to present more detailed proposals that would include recommendations regarding which posts (if any) should be converted to permanent posts.

5.4  The Chairman asked whether the Committee would be sighted on the UNISON response to the consultation, which would have concluded by April 2019 when it is proposed to present the second paper to the Committee. He further stated that, whilst he is supportive of the review in principle, the UNISON response would be helpful in clarifying details.

5.5  The growth in staffing over the past three years  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Report of the Chief Officer

Contact: Sue Hardy, [email protected], 020 7084 2662

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Respond to the Chief Officer’s consultation on the creation of an additional five posts and conversion of two temporary posts to permanent within the Housing and Land Directorate to support the work of the London Estates Delivery Unit; and

(b)  Note that there is a net nil impact on the Greater London Authority’s budgets as a result of these proposals.

6.1  The Programme Director, London Estates Delivery Unit, introduced the report.

6.2  Resolved:

  That the report be noted.

Report of the Assistant Director, External Relations

Contact: Kim Hobbs, [email protected], 020 7983 4969

The Committee is recommended to:

(a)  Note the proposals for the State of London Debate, at Indigo at The O2, on Thursday 27 June 2019 contained in the report; and

(b)  Provide any views, ideas or suggestions on further ways to improve the State of London Debate as a consultative event.

7.1  The Committee received the report of the Assistant Director, External Relations.

7.2  Resolved:

To note the proposals for the State of London Debate, at Indigo at The O2, on Thursday 27 June 2019 contained in the report.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact: Lorena Alcorta, [email protected], 020 7983 4425

The Committee is recommended to appoint Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM to the Chief Officer Performance Review Panel.

8.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

8.2  Resolved:

That Caroline Pidgeon MBE AM be appointed to the Chief Officer Performance Review Panel.

Report of the Executive Director of Secretariat

Contact:  Richard Derecki, [email protected]; 020 7983 4899

The Committee is recommended to note its work programme for the remainder of 2018/19 and identify any additional issues it wishes to consider at future meetings.

9.1  The Committee received the report of the Executive Director of Secretariat.

9.2  Resolved:

That the work programme for the remainder of 2019-20 be noted.

The next meeting of the Committee is scheduled to be held on 19 March 2019 at 10am in Committee Room 5.

10.1  The next meeting of the Committee was scheduled to be held on 19 March 2019 at 10.00am in Committee Room 5.

11.1  There were no items of urgent business.

12.1  The meeting closed at 10.21am.