Received and noted the Annual Report that provided a summary of the work the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the Health, Housing and Grants Sub Committees and Scrutiny Leads have delivered in the 2017-2018 municipal year.

The report highlighted the range of work delivered by Scrutiny during the municipal year this includes five in-depth reviews focusing on fire safety, access to health and social care services for homeless people, recreation activities for young people, gangs and serious youth violence and budget scrutiny. Scrutiny also held a one-off challenge session looking at the impact of Brexit on the Council. A key focus for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee it was noted had been on the progress in delivering the improvements in Children’s Services. The Committee was reminded that it had held a number of sessions with internal and external stakeholders to understand this and welcomed the positive feedback received from Ofsted. However, it recognised that this is an area of on-going work and it is important that the 2018-19 Overview and Scrutiny Committee remains committed to undertaking further work.

The Chair Moved and it was:-

RESOLVED

The Committee received and noted the Annual Report that provided a summary for Council the work of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, the Health, Housing and Grants Sub Committees in the 2016-2017 municipal year.

The questions and comments from Members on the presentation are outlined as follows:

The Committee:

·         Noted that over a number of years the scrutiny function has operated as part of the overall governance framework of the Council and has been structured with a main Overview and Scrutiny Committee supported by a Health Scrutiny Sub Committee;

·         Was reminded that in 2016-2017 the Council had introduced changes to the scrutiny arrangements recognising the need for scrutiny to adopt and embrace the changing structural and governance environment which it operates within;

·         Was reminded that in Tower Hamlets the majority of the social housing provision is managed by Registered Social Landlords and housing is a key priority for local people as noted in the Annual Residents Survey. Recognising this importance the Council had established in 2016 a Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee which provided a vehicle for scrutiny and dialogue with the decision makers within those bodies;

·         Noted that a Grants Scrutiny Sub Committee has also been set up as part of the Best Value Action Plan with the aim of scrutinising the grants making process and overall approach to grants ensuring that an objective, fair, transparent and co-ordinated approach is adopted and implanted;

·         Noted that Tower Hamlets is also the current host of the Inner London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee comprising of the neighbouring boroughs of Newham, Hackney and City of London. This Committee has considered the local Sustainability and Transformation Plan;

·         Agreed to place on record their thanks to Victoria Ekubia who had passed away recently. Victoria had been a Co-opted Member for a number of years on this Committee and a stalwart of the local and voluntary community sector. She had made a very positive input to the deliberations of the Committee particularly with reference to provision of children’s services and that she had been deeply committed to the Roman Catholic Church and a governor on two local Catholic Schools;

·         Noted that Councillor Muhammad Ansar Mustaquim as the Scrutiny Lead for Governance would be undertaking a scrutiny challenge session on opportunity and integration, in Tower Hamlets;

·         Noted that the Mayor and the Cabinet wanted be challenged effectively on a range of the issues and to engage with elected members on those issues that needed to be addressed.

As a result of a full and wide ranging discussion on the above the Chair Moved and it was:-

RESOLVED

To note the Annual report.

The Committee received and noted the Annual Report which summarised the work of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and the Health Scrutiny Panel in the 2015-16 municipal year, and is presented to the Committee for its approval prior to being presented to Council. 

The report outlined the various elements of this work in 2015/16, arranged by the portfolios held by lead members. This included its scrutiny of the council and partners’ services (including through dedicated “spotlights”), its contributions in reviewing budget proposals, and its work in leading improvement and policy development work, through reviews and challenge sessions. It also covered scrutiny of the executive’s decision-making, through pre-decision questions, and call-ins by other members.  The Committee also noted the comments of the Co-Opted Members who had welcomed the opportunity to be involve in the process at such an eventful and informative time in the Boroughs history.

As a result of discussions on the report Committee agreed:

1.    That the report to be submitted to Council; and

2.    To authorise the Corporate Director of Law, Probity and Governance to make any amendments to the report after consultation with the Chair of the Committee prior to submission to Council.