Agenda item
Chair's advice of Key Issues or Questions in relation to Unrestricted Business to be considered
To receive any advice of key issues or questions in relation to the unrestricted business of the Cabinet, arising from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 7th March 2011.
Decision:
Nil items.
Minutes:
Councillor Jackson, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, addressed members of the Cabinet:
· Formally thanking Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, and Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, for attending the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) to discuss/ answer questions on agenda items relating to their Cabinet Member portfolios.
· Scrutiny Spotlight – Cabinet Member for Regeneration
o Outlining the key issues on which this discussion focused:
Ø Jobs for local residents from local and regional regeneration projects
Ø Regeneration of area around Bethnal Green tube station and how this could be better planned.
Ø Developing better understanding of the demographic of unemployed people. Factors keeping people unemployed and if and how this could be changed.
Ø Developing local peoples skills to equip them to access jobs at the Olympic site, and how the Authority might secure more from the opportunity of the 2012 Games, for example jobs beyond the end of the Games.
Ø Support for King Edward Memorial Park: concerns regarding the works being undertaken requiring careful action from officers, for example restoration of the Park once works were finished.
Ø Poplar Baths regeneration: The potential for connecting with Chrisp Street regeneration to reduce disruption.
· Referrals from Full Council
Ø Mayor’s Office - staffing proposals: reporting that despite concerns regarding proposed costs, the OSC agreed not to consider this because of the commitment given by Cabinet, in February 2011, to set up a cross party group to examine support to the Mayor’s Office and support for councillors.
Ø Confidentiality of Members Enquiries: reporting that the OSC referred this to the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) to review and report back. Further understanding was needed as to what must remain confidential.
Ø Bancroft Library: reporting that the OSC were to consider this issue at their April meeting.
· Performance and Budget Scrutiny
· Advising of key elements of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s consideration of the report “Strategic Performance and Corporate Budget Monitoring to December 31st 2010” to inform Cabinet consideration of the same report:
Ø Shortfall relating to leasehold charging.
Ø Overspend in communication budget in Children, Schools and Families Directorate, in particular why school redundancy costs had not been budgeted for appropriately.
Ø Overspends in Adults Health and Well Being Directorate.
Reporting that written responses regarding these issues had been received and circulated to members of the OSC.
Mr Dalvi, Corporate Director Development and Renewal briefly clarified why it was not possible to connect the regeneration of Poplar Baths and that of Chrisp Street, given different delivery agents and legal mechanisms.
The Mayor commented:
· Commented that Poplar Baths had been a priority for the Administration when he had been Leader of the Council and since becoming Mayor he had ensured it had again become a priority. He expected that within the next few months a solution acceptable to the Council and the Community would be brought forward.
· Commented that the issues relating to the costs of running a Mayoral Office had been settled on 8th March at the meeting of the full Council to set the Budget. The costs for the Mayoral Office had been capped at £271,000 and he hoped this would draw a line under the matter.
· Thanked Councillor Jackson for presenting this element of the contribution of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.