Issue - meetings
TO RECEIVE QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
Meeting: 13/04/2011 - Council (Item 8)
8 TO RECEIVE WRITTEN QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL PDF 59 KB
The questions which have been received from Councillors to be put at this meeting are set out in the attached report.
A maximum period of 30 minutes is allocated to this agenda item.
Decision:
8.1 Question from Councillor Kosru Uddin regarding youth unemployment – response by Councillor Oliur Rahman, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services.
8.2 Question from Councillor Tim Archer regarding East End Life – response by Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ohid Ahmed.
8.3 Question from Councillor David Edgar regarding engagement with GPs and the PCT on health service changes in the Borough – response by Mayor Lutfur Rahman.
8.4 Question from Councillor Fozol Miah regarding anti-social behaviour around Brick Lane - response by Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ohid Ahmed (no supplementary question was asked).
8.5 Question from Councillor Amy Whitelock regarding the impact of the Government's welfare benefits changes – response by Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing.
8.6 Question from Councillor Peter Golds regarding the Thames Water Tunnel – response by Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources.
8.7 Question from Councillor Bill Turner regarding expenditure on consultants and agency staff - response by Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources.
8.8 Question from Councillor Harun Miah regarding the acute shortage of homes in this borough for larger families - response by Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing (no supplementary question was asked).
8.9 Question from Councillor Carlo Gibbs regarding how successful the Council has been on tackling benefit fraud in the Borough - response by Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources.
8.10 Question from Councillor Dr Emma Jones regarding access to GPs and dentists – response by Mayor Lutfur Rahman.
The above questions and in each case (except where indicated) a supplementary question were put and were responded to by the Mayor or relevant Cabinet Member as noted.
In relation to Question 8.7 (from Councillor Bill Turner regarding expenditure on consultants and agency staff), Councillor Rachael Saunders moved, and Councillor Bill Turner seconded, ‘that under Council Procedure Rule 14.1.4, the matters raised in the question and response be referred to the Council’s Audit Committee for consideration.’ This procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
DECISION
That the matters raised in Question 8.7 and the response thereto be referred to the Council’s Audit Committee for consideration.
(Action by: Isabella Freeman, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) and John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Questions 8.11 to 8.19 were not put as the time allowed for this agenda item had expired. Written responses will be provided to each question.
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Minutes:
8.1 Question from Councillor Kosru Uddin
“Given the impact of the recent cuts and loss of jobs and the subsequent rise in unemployment, in particular the significant rise in youth unemployment, what is the Mayor proposing to do to help address unemployment in the borough and help young residents who are out of work and bordering on the realms of disillusion and feelings of dejection?”
Response (by Councillor Oliur Rahman, Cabinet Member, Children’s Services)
Tackling unemployment and helping more people into work is one of the key priorities of the Mayor. We have implemented a series of initiatives to help young unemployed into work. As a result, the number of young people aged 16-18 not in employment, education or training (NEET) is at an all time low of just 5.3%.
Youth unemployment of 18-24 year olds has in fact fallen by 2.8% since the Mayor came into office.
Clearly, we are making a difference. And we will ensure that this continues. Last month, our budget had some of the lowest compulsory redundancies in London. People of Tower Hamlets can be proud that the Mayor is creating jobs and tackling youth unemployment.
We know for a fact that the Labour Group leadership were proposing to cut jobs, for example by getting rid of Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers. This is just one example.
If we look at the huge levels of job cuts in other Labour councils, we can get a sense of what a Labour budget would have looked like in Tower Hamlets. It would have meant thousands of people, including young people losing their jobs.
Let me tell you some of the initiatives that we have already delivered.
· We helped 600 more people into work through the council’s Skillsmatch programme in the last year
· We have secured 1000 potential Olympics jobs - we are working to prepare residents to apply for these opportunities
· Our Youth and Connexions Service is working hard to help young people into work
· We have maintained a careers guidance service in every school
· We supported over 450 of the most vulnerable Year 11 pupils to make a transition into further education
· We re-engaged over 400 16-18 year olds through the New Start project
· Our 14-19 Partnership has increased the range of further education opportunities available locally
· We doubled the number of Apprenticeship opportunities in 2010
Summary of supplementary question: Can the Cabinet Member say more about what activities are being undertaken by the Council to deal with the problem of youth unemployment and the working together agenda?
Summary of Cabinet Member’s reply: Thank you for your supplementary question. Last week I met with a range of organisations working in the field to identify how best we can work together to improve provision. I am happy to discuss this matter further with the Councillor and examine all possible options.
8.2 Question from Councillor Tim Archer
“As previously stated, Parliament completed the process by March 31st to introduce a revised code of practice which ... view the full minutes text for item 8