The General Purposes Committee of Croydon Council convened on 10 June 2024 to discuss proposed changes to the constitution relating to the Health and Wellbeing Board, the Corporate Parenting Panel, and Tenders and Contract Regulations. The committee resolved to recommend the adoption of these changes to the Full Council.

Proposed Changes to the Constitution Relating to the Health and Wellbeing Board

Public Health Consultant Jack Bedeman presented the proposed changes, which were developed following a consultation with the Health and Wellbeing Board and supported by the Local Government Association (LGA). The main changes included:

• Membership and Decision-Making: Adjustments to the terms of reference concerning the Board's membership and decision-making abilities.
• Removal of Section 2.3: This section, which dealt with invitations to attend the Board, was removed to provide greater flexibility.
• Introduction of the Health and Wellbeing Board Executive Group: This informal group will support the Board with work programmes and strategies but will not have decision-making powers.
• Scrutiny Member Exclusion: The Constitution Working Group suggested that scrutiny members should not be permitted to be Board members to maintain the separation of roles.

Councillor Joseph Lee joined the discussion, and the committee addressed questions about future-proofing the constitution, community engagement, and the representation of diverse community views. The committee resolved to recommend the adoption of these changes to the Full Council.

Proposed Changes to the Constitution Relating to the Corporate Parenting Panel

Jane Scott, the Corporate Panel Transformation Lead, presented changes based on recommendations from a national advisor from the Department of Education (DFE) and underpinned by the Children and Social Work Act 2017. Key proposals included:

• Broader Inclusion: Increased participation of external partners and incorporation of young people, including a young person co-chair and young ambassadors.
• Name Change: The panel will be renamed the Corporate Parenting Board to reflect best practices.

The committee clarified that the Corporate Parenting Board is advisory and not a conflict of interest for members serving on both the Board and Scrutiny. The selection process for the Care Experienced Young Person Co-Chair will be properly advertised and follow HR procedures. The committee resolved to recommend the adoption of these changes to the Full Council.

Proposed Changes to the Constitution Relating to Tenders and Contract Regulations

Head of Procurement Scott Funnell presented the proposed changes, which included:

• Procurement Thresholds: Adjusting the Council’s procurement processes to start from £100,000, aligning with most councils, with a procurement threshold at £180,000.
• Removal of Duplication: Streamlining the internal officer approval regime while maintaining rigorous approval processes.
• Future Changes: Anticipating further changes in October 2024 with the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023.

The committee discussed the impact on the real living wage, monitoring and review schedules, and the ambition to work with local small and midsize enterprises. The committee resolved to recommend the adoption of the revised Tenders and Contracts Regulations to the Full Council and noted that further revisions would be considered once the impact of the Procurement Act 2023 was established.

For more details, you can refer to the Minutes - 3 April 2024 and the Public reports pack 10th-Jun-2024 18.30 General Purposes Committee.