Apologies were received from Councillors Asma Islam and Sabina Khan.

The Chair stressed to the Committee the importance of attending the training being organised to help them acquire and develop the necessary knowledge and skills e.g. to (i) provide a ‘critical friend’ challenge to the executive, external partner authorities, and agencies; (ii) reflect the voice and concerns of the public and its communities, (iii) take the lead and own the scrutiny process on behalf of the public; and (iv) make an impact on the quality of delivery of public services.

Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, please see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

Members are reminded to declare the nature of the interest and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it’s the Members’ responsibility to declare any interests form and to update their register of interest form as required by the Code.

If in doubt as to the nature of your interest, you are advised to seek advice prior to the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services

1. Councillor Marc Francis in the interests of transparency declared that his wife Councillor Rachel Blake was the former lead member for the Councils Capital Programme including aspects of the Council’s Housebuilding Programme.

To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the last meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 26 July 2022.

The Chair Moved  and it was:-

RESOLVED

That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 28^th July, 2022 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of the proceedings.

To consider the Call in requests regarding the following In Individual Mayoral Decisions (IMD):

1.    No. 302 - 3-5 Arnold Road: Approval to increase project budget to enable build contract to be awarded. 8th September 2022; and

2.    No. 303 - Redevelopment of Bancroft and Wickford Street Garages, Mayor's Executive Decision Making - Wednesday, 14th September 2022.

The Committee considered the Call-in requests regarding the following In Individual Mayoral Decisions (IMD):

1.            No. 302 - 3-5 Arnold Road: Approval to increase project budget to enable build contract to be awarded. 8th September 2022; and

2.            No. 303 - Redevelopment of Bancroft and Wickford Street Garages, Mayor's Executive Decision Making - Wednesday, 14th September 2022.

The Committee noted that the above Individual Mayoral Decisions had been ‘Called-In’ by Councillor James King (signed also by Councillors Leelu Ahmed; Sirajul Islam; Amina Ali; Amy Lee; Shubo Hussain and Faroque Ahmed) in accordance with the provisions of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules of the Council’s Constitution.

Accordingly, the Committee considered:

v  Individual Mayoral Decision No. 302 - 3-5 Arnold Road: Approval to increase project budget to enable build contract to be awarded published on 8th September 2022.

v  Individual Mayoral Decision No. 303 - Redevelopment of Bancroft and Wickford Street Garages published on 14th September 2022.

v  the “call in” requisition from the Call-in Members.

v  representations by the Call-in Members; and

v  representations from the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Inclusive Development and Housebuilding, Councillor Kabir Ahmed.

In addition, the Committee noted the following alternative course of action proposed in the call-in to:

A.            Fund the increase in the contract for the Arnold Grove and Bancroft TMO/Wickford Street Schemes from Housing Revenue Accounts Reserves.

B.            Provide an impact and financial appraisal of funding the increase from different sources; and

C.            Keep, amend, or cancel the Gill Street scheme after a transparent impact and financial appraisal.

Councillor James King on behalf of the Call-in Members then formally presented to the Committee the reasons for the call-in and above-mentioned alternative course of action which also indicated:

D.            Tower Hamlets Council Strategic Plan 2022-2026 : Priority 2 states an ambition to ‘deliver a minimum of 1000 social homes for rent per annum’. Priority 8 states the council will ‘Deliver a balanced budget, innovate to improve value for money, deliver modern services, and improve customer satisfaction across council services. This Mayoral Decision does not provide value for money when £849,000 of spend is to be scrapped.

The discussion on the Call-In can be abridged as follows:

The Committee:

v    Noted that the Call-In asks why an uplift of £4.49 million to fund the Arnold Grove site and an uplift of £3m Bancroft Tenant Management Co-operative (TMC) and Wickford Street garages site could be funded from alternative sources e.g.  including but not limited to underspends within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), reserves within the Housing Revenue Account, commuted sums from off-site affordable housing contributions which have not yet been spent.

v    Noted that the Call-In states that (i) the cancellation of the Gill Street site is unexplained and not necessary in order to free up HRA funds; and (ii) the report provides no appraisal of the risks and outcomes of this decision.

v    Noted that the cancellation of the development at Gill Street loses 15 units for social and affordable rents, a new community space  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To note the Boards Action Log.

Noted the updated Action Log and the Committee.

**Support for Customers who cannot access Digital Services**

In response to the performance data on satisfaction level of residents who are unable to access services digitally.  The Committee noted concerns expressed by Councillor Marc Francis that:

v  The data provided is in relation to the whole of the Borough in terms of access services digitally and it would have been more useful if that information had been broken down between the in-house and outsourced providers to provide a comparative analysis to measure just how significant that impact has been and is continuing to be on customer access.

v  constituents have expressed concerns about the difficulty that they are having, in engaging with the Council online whether it is about (i) reporting missed bin collections; or (ii) the inability to get through to parking or housing services.

v  prior to the pandemic residents were able to talk to staff directly when they had issues in areas such as council tax and housing.  However, despite the easing of restrictions people are being increasingly directed to access services online, leading to concerns people are not getting the help they need at a time of crisis.  Therefore, immediate steps need to be taken to provide in person advice to help support people in greatest need.

**Performance data on number of young people attending and number of those achieved accredited outcomes**

v  The performance data for the period April 2021 – March 2022 has seen an increase in the number of contacts, participants, recorded outcomes, and accredited outcomes leading up to the end of Q4 last financial year.

v  This achievement has been supported by a number of factors such as increased ‘on-line activities;’ ‘outreach’ and ‘detached’ work. This has allowed youth providers to put on a wider selection of activities that have appealed to young people keen to come out and re-engage in a youth club setting post Covid. In addition, parents and carers have also been very flexible in allowing young people to engage due to the negative impact of Covid has had on young people being isolated and on their mental health and well-being.

Finally, the Chair thanked Councillor Frances for highlighting his concerns in regard to these issues.

The Committee is asked to note:

1.    The most recent editions of the Forward Plan.

2.    The Forthcoming Decisions Plan (or 'Forward Plan') will be published at least 28 days before each Cabinet meeting setting out information on all the Key Decisions that are expected to be taken at that meeting, along with other Cabinet decisions where known.

3.    Publication dates for future Forthcoming Decision Plans are available on the Cabinet web pages. In advance of being published on the new Plan, individual notices of new Key Decisions will be published as they are known and these are listed as New Issues.

The Committee noted:

1.    The most recent editions of the Forward Plan.

2.    The Forthcoming Decisions Plan (or 'Forward Plan') is published at least 28 days before each Cabinet meeting setting out information on all the Key Decisions that are expected to be taken at that meeting, along with other Cabinet decisions where known.

3.    Publication dates for future Forthcoming Decision Plans are available on the Cabinet web pages. In advance of being published on the new Plan, individual notices of new Key Decisions will be published as they are known and these are listed as New Issues.

To monitor the council’s financial performance to ensure it supports council priorities and provides residents with value for money

Members are asked to refer to the report included in the Cabinet - Wednesday, 28^th September 2022 5.30 p.m. as published on the Council’s website.

Tower Hamlets Council - Agenda for Cabinet on Wednesday, 28th September, 2022, 5.30 p.m.

The Committee considered a report included in the Cabinet - Wednesday, 28th September 2022 5.30 p.m. that provided details on the Council’s financial performance to ensure it is supporting the Council priorities and provides residents with value for money. The main point of the discussion summarised as follows:

The Committee

v  Wanted to understand (i) if the Council's savings targets are on track; (ii) if there are any significant overspends and the reasons behind this; (iii) the main financial risks facing the Council; (iv) the implications those risks will have on decisions; (v) and what actions are being taking to tackle these.

v  Noted that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is forecasting (i) an adverse variance of £0.5m when compared with budget. It is assumed that this balance will be transferred from general HRA balances at year-end; and (ii) an unbudgeted energy cost pressure totalling £2.4m for gas and electricity in 2022/23.

v  Noted that these costs are partly recoverable from leaseholders where they relate to communal areas and this additional income has been reflected separately in the forecast.

v  Was informed that further cost increases in 2023/24 will result in an unbudgeted cost pressure of £8m which will need to be met from existing HRA income streams. Whilst other variances in the HRA relate to delegated budget, which is forecasting a year-end favourable variance of £0.7m.

v  Noted that the management fee is forecasting a year-end adverse variance of £0.4m and the non-delegated budget is forecasting a year-end favourable variance of £1.6m.

v  Noted that the forecasts are based on usage data provided by the Council’s energy providers over the summer period and this review will continue throughout the year. As the Council is facing significant pressure this year as a result not only of energy price increases but also inflation and the projected increases to the National Living Wage.

v  Noted that through a new government scheme energy prices for non-domestic energy customers such as businesses, charities and public sector organisations will be cut – protecting them from rising energy costs, whilst the government will collaborate with suppliers to reduce wholesale energy costs – and the significant rises in bills that businesses have seen this support is in addition to the Energy Price Guarantee for households.

v  Considered that it was important to promote the benefits of flexible retirement to the Council employee as it would (i) help staff work to continue working in the LBTH for longer, by varying the nature or pattern of work in the lead-up to retirement, (ii) assist succession planning by retaining valuable skills and experience which can be passed on to other staff; and retaining valuable staff reduces the time and costs of recruitment and training.

v  Observed that are assumptions being made about overspends in the first half of the year and then towards the end of the financial year or even the after the financial years close e.g., there have been times when LBTH has found itself with a surplus  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.1

To review resident access to services and consider how the council ensures its services are accessible for those who find it difficult to access digital provision.

Members are asked to refer to the report included in the Cabinet - Wednesday, 28^th Wednesday 2022 5.30 p.m. as published on the Council’s website.

Tower Hamlets Council - Agenda for Cabinet on Wednesday, 28th September, 2022, 5.30 p.m.

Item deferred.

To agree the scrutiny work programme

The Committee received a report that set out the 2022/23 work programmes for the:

• Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
• Health & Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee.
• Housing & Regeneration Scrutiny Sub-Committee; and
• Children & Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

The report also described the work programmes for the Scrutiny Leads:

• Resources & Finance; and
• Environment & Community Safety.

The Committee:

v  Noted that the work programme has been informed by a councillor workshop session, discussion with all councillors at first Sub-Committee meetings, and in consultation with senior officers and partner agencies.

v  Noted that the Work Programme also used intelligence from a range of sources including the Mid pandemic residents survey, council performance reports, annual complaints data and horizon scanning on key national, regional, and local issues that scrutiny may want to engage with.

v  Noted that the gambling policy had been added for consideration at the October meeting of this Committee which as a budget and policy framework item needs to be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and that Work Program will remain agile and flexible to accommodate any new significant issues that are likely to have an impact on residents and wider community.

v  Noted that Housing Scrutiny on 20^th October had agreed subject to formal confirmation that it would consider (i) Social Landlord’s Performance and Parking on Estates; and (ii) Council representation on the boards of social landlord’s meeting.

As a result of discussions

The Chair Moved  and it was:-

RESOLVED

Agreed the proposed Scrutiny Work Programme 2022-23 as set in Appendices 1-6 of the report.

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

(Time allocated – 30 minutes).

The Committee agreed the particular questions that they wanted to raise with Cabineton the 26^th September 2022.

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

Nil items.

To receive updates from the Scrutiny Leads:

Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee Chairs Scrutiny Lead Update:

v  Attended Borough Commanders open day with Cllrs

v  Visited St Andrew’s Surgery – Bromley by Bow supporting Cllr Ahmodur Khan HASSC Chair

v  Visited School in Lansbury Ward with the Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning

v  Attended the Fosters Award day at Hailybery Centre in Stepney

v  Attended cultural community events in the borough including Somali community in Whitechapel and Bromley Football club

v  Met with Deputy Mayor and Corporate Director to understand portfolio issues and challenges

v  Met with scrutiny network support officer to develop scope for the scrutiny challenge session.

Environment & Community Safety Scrutiny Lead Update:

v  Attendance of Community Safety (Walkabout) visit with Police and Members to get a sense of the minor offences/crimes being committed and the issues the police dealt with.

v  Had discussion with Community Safety Lead Member on anti-social behaviour in Mercury Walk, particular laughing gas drug use.

v  Attended Overview and Scrutiny awayday in Poplar to write the forward plan.

v  Attended meeting with Scrutiny Support Officer to discuss Scrutiny Review on Women’s Safety.

Health and Adults Scrutiny Lead Update:

v  Had meeting with the Cllr Gulam Choudhury, Cabinet Lead Health, Wellbeing and Social Care to understand some of the key strategic issues faced by the council and has quarterly further planned meetings.

v  Carried out site visits to GP surgeries e.g. St Andrews Health Centre and has further visits planned as part of the preparation for December’s HASSC meeting.

v  Engaged with scrutiny network support officer to develop the scope for HASSC scrutiny review on H&SC Workforce.

The Committee received and noted the updates that had been received from Scrutiny Leads in regard to their portfolio’s. 

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

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

(Time allocated 15 minutes).

Nil items.

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

Nil items.

As there was no other business the Chair declared the meeting closed and reminded Members that the next meeting is scheduled for Monday, 24^th October 2022, 6.30 p.m.