The Selection and Member Services Committee of Kent County Council met on Thursday 22 October 2026 to discuss proposed changes to the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board's terms of reference, reforms to the Kent Pension Fund's governance, and amendments to the council's constitution regarding the sealing of documents. The committee considered several amendments to the Health and Wellbeing Board's terms of reference, none of which were carried. The committee also recommended to the County Council that updated terms of reference for the Pension Fund Committee be approved and that proposed changes to the constitution regarding the sealing of documents be agreed.

Development of the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board and Terms of Reference

The committee discussed proposed changes to the terms of reference for the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB). Dr Mike Gogarty, Public Health Strategically Consultant, presented the report, highlighting the evolving national and local context for HWBs, including their anticipated leadership role in developing and overseeing the Kent Neighbourhood Health Plan and Better Care Fund arrangements. The proposed changes aimed to enhance the board's effectiveness by revising its membership to better reflect strategic priorities, including the wider determinants of health and the importance of local partners.

Several amendments were proposed by councillors during the discussion. Councillor Mr. Streetfield suggested including a specific focus on monitoring, reviewing, and promoting health and care outcomes for military veterans, serving personnel, and their families, aligning with the Armed Forces Covenant. This amendment was put to a vote but was not carried.

Councillor Maxine Fothergill raised concerns about political balance within the nominated KCC elected members and asked about measurable improvements residents would see. Councillor Mr. Mulvill responded that the health service should be available to all and that segmenting groups could lead to a more career-based option rather than a service for all.

Councillor Tim Prater proposed several amendments, including incorporating working alongside the Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee, adding non-executive county councillors to the board, ensuring geographic distribution of district representatives, giving frontline operational representatives a vote, and adding co-opted voting members to represent the public, unpaid carers, and children and young people's mental health and neurodiversity. He also proposed that capital investment in health hubs and preventative care be weighted towards high deprivation areas and that an annual state of Kent's health report be a mandatory standing item at full county council meetings. All of Councillor Prater's proposed amendments were put to a vote and were not carried.

Ultimately, the committee was asked to note the evolving context for HWBs, endorse the proposed future role, membership, and ways of working, and recommend to the County Council that the proposed changes to the terms of reference be approved.

Kent Pension Fund Governance Reforms

The committee considered reforms to the governance of the Kent Pension Fund, presented by Ben Watts, Deputy Chief Executive, and supported by Mrs. Green. These reforms are driven by new legislative requirements impacting four key areas: stronger knowledge and training requirements, the creation of a LGPS Senior Officer role, the creation of an Independent Person role, and a new requirement for Independent Governance Reviews.

The committee noted the designation of the LGPS Senior Officer as the statutory officer for the Kent Pension Fund and the selection of Mr. Kevin McDonald as the Fund's Independent Person. They recommended to the County Council that the updated terms of reference for the Pension Fund Committee be approved. It was also noted that the appointment to the LGPS Senior Officer role and its position within the organisational structure are reserved to the Head of Paid Service (Chief Executive).

Councillor Mrs. Foster inquired about the monitoring of conflicts of interest and performance assessment for the independent person, and whether findings from independent governance reviews would be reported to elected member scrutiny. Mrs. Green explained that the independent person has no conflict of interest as they are not employed by Kent County Council and have never been. She also confirmed that the findings and actions from independent governance reviews would be considered by the Pension Fund Committee and potentially reported back to the Selection and Member Services Committee.

Councillor Mr. Mulvill declared an interest as he is on the Pension Fund Committee and asked about the timeline for the LGPS reforms, which are due by 31 December. Mr. Watts confirmed that the requirement to organise the LGPS sits under the control of the head of paid service and aligns with normal HR and recruitment processes.

Sealing of Documents: Constitutional Amendments

Tristan Godfrey, Senior Governance Manager, presented proposed amendments to the council's constitution regarding the use of the common seal. The amendments aim to provide the Monitoring Officer with discretion to waive the use of the seal in certain circumstances, primarily for bureaucratic convenience, such as with call-off contracts for social care packages. This is intended to prevent delays in care packages and reduce administrative burdens, while ensuring the seal is still used where legally required, such as for deeds.

Councillor Mr. Prater raised a point of pedantry regarding the numbering and wording of section 13.13 of the constitution, which was acknowledged and agreed to be amended.

The committee recommended to the County Council that the proposed changes to the constitution, with minor grammatical changes as agreed, be approved.