Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Committee Room 1, 1st Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: Tim Hogan, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4850, E-mail: tim.hogan@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Note | No. | Item | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf
of Councillor Louise Alexander and Reverend Prebendary Ron Swan,
Ms. Frances Simmons and Mr Danny McLaughlin, Co-opted Members. The Chair moved and it was:-
RESOLVED
That the apologies for absence be noted. |
||||
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST To note any declarations of interest made by Members, including those restricting Members from voting on the questions detailed in Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992.
Minutes: There were no declarations of interest made. |
||||
7.35pm |
UNRESTRICTED MINUTES To confirm a correct record of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 8th November 2005. Minutes: The Chair moved and it was:-
RESOLVED
That the Section One Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on Tuesday 8th November, 2005 be confirmed as a correct record of the proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them subject to the LAP meeting referred to in paragraph 2 on page 3 of the Minutes being amended to read “LAP 6” and the last line of paragraph 4 of Minute 9 on page 5 to read “….. implications for the proper implementation of those powers”. |
|||
7.40pm |
REQUESTS TO SUBMIT PETITIONS/DEPUTATIONS To be notified at the meeting. Minutes: There were no requests to submit petitions or deputations. |
|||
REPORTS 'CALLED IN' To note that there have been none. Minutes: The Chair MOVED and it was:-
RESOLVED
That there were no reports “Called In” from the Cabinet’s 8th November, 2005 meeting be noted. |
||||
REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
||||
7.45pm |
TOWER HAMLETS STRATEGIC PLAN MONITORING REPORT AND INDEX (O&SC030/056) Minutes: The Chair welcomed the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive to the meeting. The Chair went on to explain that the Leader and Chief Executive had been invited to the meeting to discuss strategic issues arising from the monitoring report.
Ms. Gilbert began by thanking the Chair for the opportunity of addressing the meeting. Ms. Gilbert went on to provide a powerpoint presentation which highlighted the general progress made by the Council. The latest CPA results were expected to be announced on the 15th December. Ms. Gilbert then went on to describe the changes in the CPA process, including the change to a starred rating system.
It was noted that the Authority’s Education and Social Services were performing extremely well and the Authority’s Children’s Service had achieved level 4, only 4 other Local Authorities in the country had achieved this standard. It was noted that the Authority was not meeting its Environment/Transport targets. Housing apart from two areas was performing well.
Ms. Gilbert went on to highlight the change in emphasis for this year’s CPA, which was now looking at service provision in a holistic manner, using Local Area Agreements as a tool for analysis. The Authority was also focusing on the issues of concern raised by local residents.
Ms. Gilbert then went on to answer a series of detailed questions raised by Members of the Committee, including questions related to the monitoring of Anti-Social Behaviour Orders, appointment of School Governors, progress in the reduction of violent crime, Members Inquiries.
The Chair thanked the Leader and the Chief Executive for their attendance and informative presentation and MOVED and it was:-
RESOLVED
That the performance identified in paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 of the report be welcomed and noted. |
|||
8.30pm |
CLEANER SAFER PLACES BEST VALUE REVIEW - IMPLEMENTATION PLAN UPDATE (O&S031/056) Minutes: The report was introduced by Ms. Alex Cosgrave, Corporate Director, Environment and Culture. Mr John Palmer, Head of Street Services also provided detailed responses to questions from Committee Members on the work to be undertaken on anti-graffiti, fly posting and the use of litter bins as well as recycling initiatives, including the possible recycling of food waste. In welcoming the report the Committee were of the view that the numbers of key activities currently monitored should be reduced.
The Chair MOVED and it was:-
RESOLVED
That the progress made in implementing the Council’s Best Value Review on Cleaner Safer Places be noted. |
|||
9.00pm |
FOOD LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE PLAN 2005/6 (O&S032/056) Minutes: The report was introduced by Ms. Alex Cosgrave, Corporate Director, Environment and Culture and Mr Colin Perrins, Head of Trading Standards and Environmental Health (Commercial).
Mr Perrins outlined the background to the Plan and the role of the Food Standards Agency, and noted that the aim of the plan was to ensure that food was produced and sold under hygienic conditions, was without risk and was of the quality expected by consumers.
Mr Perrins and Ms. Cosgrave responded to a number of detailed questions put by Members of the Committee, including questions relating to the monitoring of food premises, the recruitment of Environmental Health Officers and the education and publicity activity carried out by the Team.
The Chair welcomed the report and MOVED and it was:-
RESOLVED
That the report be noted and that the Committee’s comments be referred to Cabinet for consideration. |
|||
9.15pm |
PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF SECTION ONE (UNRESTRICTED) CABINET PAPERS Minutes: The Chair advised that questions to be put forward to the Cabinet meeting to be held on 7th December, 2005 had been tabled for consideration by the Committee by Councillor Louise Alexander.
Following discussions, the Chair MOVED and it was:-
RESOLVED
That questions submitted by Councillor Louise Alexander in relation to:-
· Cabinet Agenda 7.1 – Housing Strategy Statement 2005-2006 to 2007/2008 (CAB106/056);
· Cabinet Agenda 9.1 – Open Space Strategy (CAB108/056)
be submitted to Cabinet for consideration. |
|||
EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC In view of the contents of the remaining items on the agenda the Committee is recommended to adopt the following motion:
“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting for the consideration of the Section Two business on the grounds that it contains information defined as Exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972.”
EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL SECTION (Pink Papers)
The exempt committee papers in the agenda will contain information, which is commercially, legally or personally sensitive and should not be divulged to third parties. If you do not wish to retain these papers after the meeting, please hand them to the Committee Officer present. Minutes: The Chair moved and it was:-
RESOLVED
That, under the provisions of Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act, 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act, 1985 the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting for the consideration of the Section Two business on the grounds that it contains information considered to be Exempt as detailed in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972. |
||||
SUMMARY OF SECTION TWO PROCEEDINGS During Section Two of the proceedings, the Committee considered the Section Two Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on Tuesday 6th November, 2005 and Section Two Pre- Decision Question in relation to the Waste Collection and Street Cleansing Contract 2006-2007. |
||||
SECTION TWO MINUTES To confirm an accurate record of section two of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 8th November 2005. |
||||
SECTION TWO REPORTS “CALLED IN” FROM THE 9TH NOVEMBER, 2005 MEETING OF CABINET |
||||
PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF SECTION TWO CABINET PAPERS – CABINET 9TH NOVEMBER, 2005 |