MPA calendar of meetings 2007/08

Report: 9
Date: 19 December 2006
By: Chief Executive and Clerk

Summary

This reports proposes the MPA calendar of meetings for its formal meetings for July 2007 to July 2008.

A. Recommendation

That

1. the proposed calendar of meetings given at Appendix 1 to the report be agreed; and
2. the Chief Executive and Clerk of the Authority seek from the Home Office a dispensation to hold the annual meeting in July 2008.

B. Supporting information

1. Each year members are asked to approve the calendar of meetings for the full Authority and its other formal committees and sub-committees.

2. In drafting the calendar, it should be noted that, as previously agreed with the GLA and other functional bodies, Thursday afternoons (last Thursday afternoon morning of each month for full Authority meetings) should continue to be allocated for MPA meetings in order to minimise potential clashes. Members have also previously agreed that where a Thursday was not available, meeting should be programmed into the calendar for Thursday mornings, Mondays or Fridays.

May 2008 – GLA elections

3. The calendar for 2007/08 and in particular for, May 2008 has been drafted to reflect the GLA elections. These elections are scheduled to take place on Thursday 1 May 2008 and the mayoral appointments to the Authority in the past have taken several days to be agreed and submitted to the MPA. With this in mind, meetings scheduled for that month have been incorporated into either April or June 2008.

Independent Members – annual meeting of the Authority 2008

4. A further consideration needs to be reflected in the calendar for 2008 and this involves independent members of the Authority. The term of office for current Independent members is to 2 July 2008 and for magistrate members to 1 July 2008. This means that the Authority could not hold its annual meeting in June 2008. It is therefore proposed that Chief Executive and Clerk to the Authority seek from the Home Office a dispensation to hold its annual meeting in July 2008 as opposed to June 2008. There is a precedent for this as similar arrangements were agreed 2004.

5. As part of an extensive consultation process, officers have discussed the proposed calendar with at the GLA and other functional bodies, the MPS, leading officers within the MPA, as well as chairs of committees and have attempted to incorporate any views into the proposed calendar.

6. Some members have raised concerns that some meetings are scheduled during school half term periods. Consideration of this issue was taken into account, but as different local education authorities across London have half terms at different times it has proved difficult to accommodate this request.

C. Race and equality impact

In drafting the calendar, consideration has been given to possible religious holidays and observances.

D. Financial implications

There are no financial implications arising from this report.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report author: Nick Baker, MPA.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

Appendix 1

MPA calendar of meetings 2007/08

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