The report “Strategic Review of Housing Management Options” was considered by the Mayor in Cabinet on 31st July, 2019. The following decisions were agreed and published on Friday 2nd August, 2019

1.    To note the findings of Altair’s independent review of current housing management arrangements and appraisal of future options (Appendix 1 to the report).

2.    To note the outcome of the recent consultation exercise (Appendix 2 to the report) and agree to proceed with the extension of the Council’s management agreement with Tower Hamlets Homes for four years (to 2024), with a possible extension for a further four years (to 2028).

3.    To delegate to the Corporate Director (Place) after consultation with the Corporate Director (Governance), authority to complete the said extension by July 2020 and do all that is necessary for this purpose including negotiating and approving a revised Management Agreement.

Decisions above have been ‘Called-In’ by Cllr Puru Miah; Cllr Ehtasham Haque; Cllr Shah Ameen; Cllr Shad Chowdhury and Cllr Gabriela Salva Macallan.  This is in accordance with the provisions of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules of the Council’s Constitution.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) considers:

1.    The contents of the attached report, review the Mayor in Cabinet’s decision (provisional, subject to Call In) arising; and

2.    Decide whether to accept the decision or to refer the matter back to the Mayor with proposals and reasons.

CONSIDERATION OF THE “CALL IN”

Having met the “Call In” request criteria, the matter is referred to the OSC in order to determine the “Call In” and decide whether or not to refer the matter back to Cabinet for further consideration. 

The following procedure is to be followed by the Committee for consideration of the “Call In”:

·         Chair to invite a call-in member to present call-in.

·         Chair to invite members of the Committee to ask question.

·         Chair to Invite Cabinet Member to respond to the call-in.

·         Chair to invite members of the Committee to ask questions.

·         Followed by a general debate.

N.B.    In accordance with the OSC Protocols and Guidance adopted by the Committee at its meeting on 4th June, 2013, any Member(s) who present(s) the “Call In” is (are) not eligible to participate in the general debate.

It is open to the OSC to either resolve to take no action (which would have the effect of endorsing the original Mayoral decision/s), or to refer the matter back to the Mayor for further consideration setting out the nature of its concerns and possibly recommending an alternative course of action.

The Committee noted that the decision made by the Mayor in Cabinet on Wednesday, 31 July 2019 in respect of agenda item 6.3 ‘Strategic Review of Tower Hamlets Homes’ had been ‘called in’ under the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Procedure Rules of the Council’s Constitution by Councillors Gabriela Salva-Macallan, Ehtasham Haque, Puru Miah, Shah Ameen and Shad Chowdury (‘Call-in Members’).

The Committee considered the:

·         Cabinet report

·         Mayor in Cabinet Decision published on 2 August 2019

·         “Call in” requisition from the Call-in Members (undated)

·         Representations by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Sirajul Islam. 

·         Representations by the Call-in Members