The Governance Committee of Havering Council met on Wednesday 19 August 2026. The meeting's agenda included discussions on the recruitment of an independent person for the Audit Committee, proposed amendments to the Council's Constitution concerning planning and pension matters, and appointments to other organisations.

Recruitment of an Independent Person for the Audit Committee

A key item scheduled for discussion was the recruitment and appointment of an independent person to the Audit Committee. The report pack indicated that this appointment is intended to strengthen the committee's governance, enhance its technical expertise, and reinforce its independence, aligning with best practices recommended by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA). The proposed recruitment arrangements included the involvement of the Audit Committee Chair and Vice-Chair in the interview process. Recommendations were to be made to the full Council for the final appointment. This initiative is also seen as a proactive step to align with anticipated legislative changes that are expected to strengthen requirements for independent membership on local authority audit committees, as outlined in the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014.

Constitution Review: Planning and Pension Matters

The committee was scheduled to consider proposed amendments to the Council's Constitution, primarily driven by new legislation affecting planning and pension fund governance.

Planning Matters

Significant changes were proposed to the Constitution relating to planning matters, stemming from the commencement of the Town and Country Planning (Discharge of Local Planning Authority Functions) (England) Regulations 2026. These regulations, effective from 31 October 2026, introduce a national scheme of delegation and a gateway process for determining planning applications. The existing Planning Committee and Strategic Planning Committee were slated for abolition, with a proposal to constitute a new Planning Committee comprising nine members. The report pack detailed that the revised Planning Committee functions and related matters must be updated by 31 October 2026 to ensure legal compliance. The proposed changes aim to ensure that only applications raising significant issues are determined by committee, with a focus on efficiency and adherence to the new regulations.

Pension Fund Governance

The report also outlined necessary changes to the Pension Committee's functions and governance arrangements, in response to the Local Government Pension Scheme (Amendment) (Governance) Regulations 2026. These regulations, which came into force on 30 June 2026, require local authorities to strengthen their pension fund governance. This includes the appointment of a Senior Officer with overall responsibility for the administration, governance, and investment of the pension fund, and the appointment of an Independent Person to support the discharge of delegated pension functions. The terms of reference for the Pension Committee were proposed to be updated to reflect these new responsibilities, including monitoring the investment strategy managed by London CIV and appointing professional advisers.

Appointments to Other Organisations

The committee was also scheduled to review and make decisions on appointments to various other organisations for the 2026/27 period. This included a specific recommendation to revoke the appointment of Ms Carol Smith to the Hornchurch Housing Trust and appoint a new representative for a four-year term. The report noted that while executive appointments are now made by the Leader of the Council, non-executive appointments remain the responsibility of the Governance Committee.

Council Procedure Rule Amendments

A minor amendment to Council Procedure Rule 5 was proposed, suggesting a change to the start time of full Council meetings from 7:30 pm to 7:00 pm. This change was intended to allow more time for the consideration of agenda items.