An apology for absence was received from Councillor Lesley Boycott (Vice-Chair).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2016 were signed by the Chair.

No declarations of interest were made.

Further to Minute 8 (27.07.2016), the Monitoring Officer advised that all of the applicants were written to and asked for further career details and why they felt that they met the constitutional criteria set out in paragraph 3 of the previous report. The following five applicants responded:-

·         Jag Sidhu, Director of Nick Building Contractors Ltd;

·         Idowu Anthony-Ajileye of Tonidol (UK) Ltd;

·         Jasvinder Gill, Senior Partner of Hatten Wyatt Solicitors;

·         Maxine Fothergill, Managing Director of Amax Estates (also an elected Member of the London Borough of Bexley);

·         David Brown, Partner of Gullands Solicitors.

The Monitoring Officer informed the Committee that he was satisfied that the five applicants met the criteria and had sufficient standing and experience to serve as Members of the Independent Remuneration Panel and recommended that all five applicants be appointed especially in the light of the need to convene meetings of the Panel in the immediate future. Having five Members will provide the Council with some flexibility in setting up a Panel in the event that one of two Members are unable to attend. Also going forward Members of the Panel will be appointed for a four year term and should one of two Members wish to stand down the Panel will still be properly constituted and continue to function.

The Committee expressed concern regarding a potential conflict of interest as one of the applicants was currently an elected Member of the London Borough of Bexley and felt that it would be appropriate for this applicant not to be appointed to the Panel. The Committee felt that four Members would still provide the Council with the flexibility as referred to above.

The Committee reiterated that when the new Panel is constituted and reviews Members’

Allowances, the Panel be given parameters/comparisons on a suitable increase.

Resolved that the Standards Committee recommends to Full Council that the following applicants be appointed to the Council's Independent Remuneration Panel:-

·         Jag Sidhu;

·         Idowu Anthony-Ajileye;

·         Jasvinder Gill; and

·         David Brown.