The agenda order was changed to consider item 9, Verbal Updates from Scrutiny Leads and Item 8.1, Budget Scrutiny, as the first main items of business.

To note any declarations of interest made by Members, including those restricting Members from voting on the questions detailed in Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992.  See attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest were received at the meeting.

Councillor Andrew Wood declared a Non - DPI in agenda item 6.7 of the Cabinet agenda regarding the Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Plan-Validation of Submission. This was on the basis that Council Cllr Wood is a Member of the Isle of Dogs Neighbourhood Planning Forum.

To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 25^th November, 2019.

The Chair Moved and it was:

RESOLVED

That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 25 November, 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and the Chair was authorised to sign them accordingly.

To receive any petitions (to be notified at the meeting).

Nil items

Noted

Nil items

Councillor Bex White, (Scrutiny Lead for Environment and Community Safety)  gave a presentation on the report and recommendations regarding engagement with hard to reach groups. Asma Begum, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Equalities) was also present.

was pleased to report that the Challenge Session was well attended and followed a revised format. The session looked at a number of issues including: awareness of the TH Ward Panel meetings and the barriers to participation at these meetings. The sessions were resident led and had formulated 11 recommendations and it was aimed to deliver these within existing resources. There had been a late submission from the Toynbee Hall, and most of the survey findings agreed with the recommendations of the report.

Cllr Begum advised that there were two recommendations for the Council to carry out, relating to communications and publicity – and that work had already been undertaken in these areas, including Member seminars. The Executive accepted these recommendations and were committed to carrying them out.  It was also noted that the Borough Commander for Tower Hamlets and Hackney is to attend the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on 13 January 2020 and it was felt this invite should be extended to the SNB Chair for Tower Hamlets.

In response, a Committee Member expressed the view that the issues identified in the report remained a problem such as late notification of meetings. It was also felt that it was important to get a better understanding of what’s happening at Ward Panel meetings, such as the frequency of meetings and who was attending, to review if they were realistically achieving their aims.

RESOLVED:

1.         To note the report and agree the recommendations identified by the Scrutiny Lead for Environment and Community Safety within the report.

Th Committee will receive presentations on the following:

§  Budget Scrutiny 2019-20;

§  Children & Culture Directorate; and

§  Health, Adults and Community Savings Update.

The Chair introduced this item and welcomed the participants to the meeting.

Children and Culture Directorate

Councillor Danny Hassell ,(Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Young People) and Debbie Jones (Corporate Director, Children and Culture) gave a presentation on the budget for 2019-20 for the directorate.

Councillor Hassell drew attention to the increasing levels of demand for children’s services (in the context of government cuts) and the need for additional resources to continue the improvement journey’ following Ofsted finding in respect of Children’s Social Care. The over spend consisted of:

•           Children’s Social Care (£2.9 m)

•           Special Educational Needs (£1.7 m)

•           Youth and Commissioning (£1.5m)

•           Children’s Resources (£1.3m)

•           Sport and Leisure (£0.6m)

Some of the key issues highlighted included: the rise in the number of complex placements, including mother and baby assessment; additional pressures on the Leaving Care Services following changes in legislation and new responsibilities for Unaccompanied Asylum Seekers amongst other issues.

To address the issues, a recovery plan had been put together to achieve further savings and efficiencies.

The activities highlighted included:

• Funding for additional social work posts to ensure case-loads remained low, and good quality decision making
• Action to convert agency staff to permanent Social Work staff
• Preparation of a recovery plan for SEND services to reduce the historic overspend on the High Needs Funding Block
• Submission to the Cabinet in February 2019 of measures to address the over spend in contracted services

• The Committee were also advised that the Council had recruited newly qualified social workers to work alongside experienced staff with a focus on encouraging retention. The salaries were competitive
• The Committee sought clarification of the term ‘right sizing the budget’ for Children’s Social Care’ and ways of speeding up the recruitment of permanent social workers
• The Committee heard about the level of funding invested into the service in 2016/17, (the Ofsted Improvement Budget), and the funding decisions thereafter to address the needs of the service and continue to deliver service improvements.  This was what was meant by ‘right sizing the budget’

In response the presentation, the following points were raised and noted:

• The Committee asked further questions about the post Ofsted budget funding decisions, especially the decision to rebase the budget. The view was expressed that these decisions were not anticipated by the Committee. This was important given the impact it has had on the overall budget.  In view of this, assurances were sought about the measures to ensure the overspend was effectively managed.
• The Committee were reminded of the continuing pressures on the service, as set out in the presentation. A detailed assessment had been carried out of the budget requirements, in light of these factors. It was also emphasised that the bench marking data showed that the Council fell below other London Borough’s in terms of the number of agency staff.
• In view of the above, it was requested that further details be provided of the areas that needed more investment.
• The service would be bringing forward  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.1

Cllr Alam, Scrutiny Lead for Children and Education, reported that the next meeting of the Scrutiny Sub–Committee would to be held on 17 December 2019. Items on the agenda included: a presentation on Youth Service Provision for Girls and Children’s Social Care Early Help. The Sub–Committee would also receive an update on the Victoria Park 1 O’clock club. Since the last OSC, she has had regular meetings with Divisional Directors and the Lead Members about budget issues.

Cllr Khan, Scrutiny Lead for Resources & Finance provided an update on the 27 November 2019 Challenge Session that looked at the issue of premises charges and the Community Benefit Rent Reduction Scheme. He intended to bring the recommendations to the Committee in January 2020.

Cllr White - Scrutiny Lead for Community Safety & Environment referred to the Challenge Session report considered earlier.  In addition, she advised of her work with officers and the Lead Member in preparing for the budget and reminded the Committee about the Borough Commander’s attendance at the next Committee meeting.

Cllr Das, Scrutiny Lead for Housing & Regeneration advised that the Sub–Committee last met on 26 November 2019 at which the Sub-Committee looked at the Council’s emergency planning procedures, in light of the delays in responding to a gas leak. The Sub–Committee also considered Area Based Delivery Plans with the Mayor and the London Living Wage.  The next meeting in January will be looking at housing policy including, ways of increasing the delivery of housing and a high density living.

To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet.

(Time allocated – 30 minutes).

The Committee received and noted those questions to be presented at Cabinet by the Chair in relation to unrestricted business on the agenda attached as appendices to these minutes.

To consider any other unrestricted business that the Chair considers to be urgent.

The Committee noted information circulated to the Committee regarding the scrutiny of Key Decisions from the Council’s Constitution. It was requested that Committee should further consideration to this.

As the agenda circulated contained no exempt/confidential business and there was therefore no requirement to exclude the press and public to allow for its consideration.

Nil items

No items.

Nil items

No items

To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet.

(Time allocated 15 minutes).

No items

To consider any other exempt/ confidential business that the Chair considers to be urgent.

No items