Issue - meetings
PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF SECTION ONE CABINET PAPERS
Meeting: 26/10/2016 - Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Item 10)
PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF UNRESTRICTED CABINET PAPERS
To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet.
Minutes:
Item 5.3 Housing Strategy 2016-2021
The Chair thanked Martin Ling who was in attendance to discuss the Housing Strategy with particular reference to the strengthening of the relationship with Registered Social Landlords, the impact of welfare reform. There was also a discussion on how to improve ‘intermediate offer’ options for residents who did not qualify for social housing but who could not afford market rents
A summary of the questions and comments from Members is outlined as followed:
|
Comment: |
There needs to be development of inclusive models for regeneration across both Council and ex Council estates, building on the lessons learnt from the regeneration of the Ocean Estate and Blackwall Reach |
|
Comment: |
The reduction of the benefit cap has impacted especially hard on households living in particularly high cost areas such as Tower Hamlets. Therefore, what is being done to mitigate this? |
|
Response: |
Effectively addressing the impact in the reduction of the benefit cap goes beyond addressing immediate issue and requires a sustained commitment to help these households get out from under the cap e.g. provision of appropriate support to get them into employment through the raising of skills levels. |
|
Comment: |
What is the current position on succession rights? |
|
Response: |
There will be a report coming to the Committee on succession rights. |
Item 5.5 Our Borough, Our Plan: A New Local Plan Consultation Document
The Chair welcomed Councillor Rachel Blake who had come to the meeting to talk about the consultation on the new Local Plan, looking at the 15 year vision on how to deliver for the community and local economy. It was noted that there was a particular role to place for local ward councillors particularly around issues such as town centres and local infrastructure.
|
Question: |
Will there be programme of digital engagement as part of the consultation and what structures are in place to allow comments to be fed into the process? |
|
Comment: |
The infrastructure (e.g. schools; transport and health centres) needs to be able to meet the growing community. |
|
Response:
|
There will be programme of digital engagement as part of the consultation and there will be an opportunity for both the community and council committees to submit comments. |
|
Comment: |
Need to ensure the provision suitable green space and to maintain and develop social housing. |
|
Response: |
Discussions are taking place on the provision of affordable homes to meet the needs of the communities that we seek to serve e.g. Family homes being a priority. |
|
Comment: |
The consultation process needs to be able to reach out to local communities; partner agencies and relevant stake holder groups. Consideration also needs to be given to ensure that the services being developed are accessible to all; meet the needs and aspirations of all our residents; utilising must be made of the findings of the Somali Task Group; use must be made of councillors local knowledge so as to extend the councils reach into those hard to hear groups and the Plan needs to be made available in community languages |
|
Response: ... view the full minutes text for item 10 |
Meeting: 28/09/2016 - Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Item 9)
PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF UNRESTRICTED CABINET PAPERS
To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet. With particular reference to the:
· Corporate Budget Monitoring - Month 4 (Q1 2016/17);
· Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) Update 2017-18 to 2019-20 (First stage in the review of the MTFP); and
· Transparency Commission Action Plan and Transparency Protocol.
(Time allocated – 50 minutes).
Minutes:
Item 5.3 Waste Management Services- Delivery Options (contract extension)
1. Regarding the proposed extension of the current Waste Management Contract, what action is being considered to increase user engagement in order to achieve better outcomes by extending the contract?
RESPONSE
One of the key reasons for the extension is to enable the Council to engage with residents, and ensure we provide a fit for purpose service that meets their needs. The service will need to be redesigned, and it is important that engagement is a key element of this process. Therefore the extension will provide time to ensure effective engagement takes place.
2. What assurances can be given that the performance for all the main environmental services (waste collection, street cleansing, etc.) included in the Contract will improve as a result of the proposed extension?
RESPONSE
These are key front line services, and it always a challenge to meet the increasing expectations from our residents and businesses. The current contract would have been developed 15 years ago, therefore is no longer fit for purpose. There will be substantial growth in the Borough over the next 10 years, therefore a redesign is necessary. Through this process we will have a service fit for the future, therefore achieve the expected improvements required.
3. What opportunities will be provided for all Members, including those on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the sub-committees, to get involved in the extension process?
RESPONSE
It is important that all Members are involved in the process of redesigning the service, and will be invited to attend workshops to ensure they are engaged throughout the process.
Item 5.9 Contract Forward Plan-Quarter 3 (2016/17)
4. When the Greenwich Leisure Limited contract expires in 2018, will there be a thorough retendering process to ensure the Council achieves best value from the next contract?
RESPONSE
The Council is currently in negotiation with GLL to extend the existing leisure management contract beyond the 2019 expiry date. Any retendering process will take into account a new contract expiry date determined with GLL as part of the contract extension process.
5. As part of the specification for the contract, and given the Council’s new focus on Outcome Based Budgeting, will broader health indicators be considered for inclusion into the procurement Process?
RESPONSE
Yes. The current national policy context has sport/leisure provision closely aligned with public health outcomes. Subsequently, it is anticipated that the procurement process will involve an output based contract specification which would address this issue by including broader health indicator targets. However, it should be noted that any specification would be subject to changes to national and local policy at the time of procurement.
6. Can assurances be given that if there are significant savings achieved from the leisure services contract, these will not be at the expense of employee terms and conditions- given Tower Hamlets is a London Living Wage Council ?
RESPONSE
It is expected that the implementation of the London Living Wage would be a specification requirement for any ... view the full minutes text for item 9