Lead member roles

Report: 6b
Date: 06 September 2002
By: Clerk

Summary

This report proposes how the committee might define the role of lead member and asks to which areas the committee would want to allocate lead members.

A. Recommendation

That the Committee

1. approves or amends the lead member 'job description' set out in para 2 of this report;
2. decides which subject areas require lead members and to appoint to those positions or seek expressions of interest as appropriate (paras 3 and 4); and
3. agrees that lead member roles be reviewed annually and decides whether to ask lead members to produce a written report on their activities at that time.

B. Supporting information

1. As part of the Authority's review of the committee structure earlier in the year, it was agreed that the role of individual members in leading on particular issues or subject areas should be more clearly defined and formalised. This committee's terms of reference include:

"To approve the allocation of lead roles to individual members, including their appointment to external or MPS bodies on behalf of the MPA. In doing so, the committee will determine the scope of these lead roles and will maintain a list of lead member responsibilities."

2. The committee is invited to consider the following as a generic 'job description' for the lead member role, including both what the role involves and what its limits are:

• To act as champion for that particular subject area.
• To be the initial point of contact for the MPS or others wishing to discuss issues informally with an MPA member or to sound out views.
• Under some circumstances, and particularly in the event of non-availability of the Chair, to act as a spokesperson.
• To contribute to policy development locally and nationally as appropriate, by representing the MPA on other bodies etc.
• Committee Chairs are by definition the lead member for those areas in their committee's terms of reference, unless another member has been allocated a specific responsibility – in such cases it is preferable for that member to be drawn from the committee's membership.
• Lead members do not have the authority to commit the MPA to a course of action or to make decisions on its behalf.
• In carrying out their role or speaking publicly, the lead member must promote and represent views or policies agreed by the MPA or its committees even if these are not their own views.
• Lead members have a responsibility to keep the relevant committee informed of their work by way of regular written updates, and to keep themselves informed of the key developments and issues in their lead area .
• A lead member can request briefings/information on their subject area from MPA and MPS officers (within reason in terms of the time it might take to produce a briefing).
• The lead member role does not attract a special responsibility allowance unless specifically agreed by the MPA and the general assumption is that SRAs will not apply, given that basic allowances were set at a comparatively high level to recognise such demands on MPA members.

3. The committee is also asked to consider in what specific areas it wishes to appoint lead members. Members have been asked to indicate whether they consider themselves to be carrying out a lead role on behalf of the Authority. The following responses have been received:

• Asian issues: Abdal Ullah
• Best value: Reshard Auladin (subsequently confirmed by the Planning, Performance and Review Committee)
• Child protection: Richard Sumray
• Community police consultative groups: Nicholas Long
• CRR training: Cindy Butts
• Domestic violence: Jennette Arnold
• Estates issues: Nicholas Long (already formally appointed by the MPA)
• Faith communities and the black majority churches: R David Muir
• Forensic services: Sir John Quinton
• Independent Custody Visiting: Elizabeth Howlett, Nicholas Long and Richard Sumray (role agreed by CDO Committee in May 2002)
• National/international functions: Sir John Quinton (as the Home Secertary's appointee)
• Pension forfeiture: Cindy Butts
• Public order policing: Nicholas Long
• Road safety: Jenny Jones
• Youth issues: Abdal Ullah and Cecile Wright

4. Up to now there has not been a consistent process for approving lead member roles (although some, such as best value and estates have been formally approved). As a result the lead roles in the above list may have come about in various ways, possibly informally or by self-selection, and do not necessarily represent a balanced list of those issues for which the committee feels it necessary to appoint a lead member. The committee is therefore asked:

• to decide which of the above should be formally designated as lead member roles
• to confirm or change the lead member
• to decide whether there are other areas for which a lead member is required so that expressions of interest can be sought from MPA members – possible areas include:
  • street crime
  • health and safety (see report elsewhere on this agenda)
  • MPA responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act

5. It is recommended that all appointments to lead member roles are reviewed, and reconfirmed or changed, annually by the committee, at its first meeting after the Authority's annual meeting. This does not preclude additional appointments being made during the year if a need is identified. It is implicit in an appointment that there is a role that needs to be carried out – the committee may decide that it would be helpful if lead members were asked to produce a written report on their activities during the year and an assessment of whether there was a continuing need for that role.

6. This report has been copied to all members of the Authority in draft to give them the opportunity to comment on the lead member areas and their interest in any of these. Any comments received will be tabled at the meeting.

C. Equality and diversity implications

7. The principle of having individual members responsible for leading on specific subject areas is an opportunity to address equalities issues in a focussed way and to give emphasis to issues which are either considered important or which do not get sufficient attention in the committee process

D. Financial implications

8. There are no specific financial implications.

E. Background papers

None.

F. Contact details

Report author: Simon Vile, MPA.

For information contact:

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

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