Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: M71, 7th Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: Angus Taylor, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4333, E-mail: angus.taylor@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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COUNCILLOR S. ISLAM (CHAIR) IN THE CHAIR
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence.
Minutes: Apologies for absence were received on behalf of: · Councillor T. Archer, Scrutiny Lead – Healthy Communities, for whom Councillor D. Snowdon was deputising. · Councillor S. Eaton. · Councillor B. Turner, Scrutiny Lead – Excellent Public Services · Mr H. Mueen Uddin Muslim Community Representative · Mr S Halsey, Corporate Director Communities, Localities and Culture, for whom Mr R. Beattie, Acting Service Head Strategy and Resources, Communities, Localities and Culture, was deputising.
Councillor O. Ahmed gave apologies for having to leave the meeting early in order to attend another meeting.
Noted
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PDF 29 KB 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 Chief Executive.
Minutes: Councillor D. Jones declared a personal interest on the basis that she was: · A member of the governing body of Tower Hamlets National Health Service Primary Care Trust. · A representative of the Authority on the governing body of Tower Hamlets Homes. · A member of the governing body at Mulberry Secondary School.
Councillor A. Heslop declared a personal interest on the basis that he was a representative of the Authority on the governing body of Tower Hamlets Homes.
Noted.
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UNRESTRICTED MINUTES PDF 72 KB To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 01 September 2009.
Minutes: The Chair Moved and it was: -
Resolved
That the unrestricted minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 1st September 2009 be approved and signed by the Chair, as a correct record of the proceedings.
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REQUESTS TO SUBMIT PETITIONS To receive any petitions (to be notified at the meeting).
Minutes: The Chair advised that the Assistant Chief Executive had received no requests to present a petition in respect of the business contained in the agenda.
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REQUESTS FOR DEPUTATIONS To receive any deputations (to be notified at the meeting).
Minutes: The chair advised that the Assistant Chief Executive had received no requests for a deputation in respect of the business contained in the agenda.
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UNRESTRICTED REPORTS 'CALLED IN' There were no unrestricted reports ‘called in’ from the meeting of Cabinet held on 02 September 2009.
Minutes: The Chair advised that no requests had been received by the Assistant Chief Executive to “call in” for further consideration, by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, any provisional decisions taken by the Cabinet, at its meeting held on 2nd September 2009.
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SCRUTINY SPOTLIGHT The Lead Member for Cleaner, Safer, Greener Councillor Abdal Ullah, will attend to report on his portfolio.
(Time allocated – 45 minutes)
Minutes: The Chair welcomed Mr John Biggs, Metropolitan Police Authority Link Member, to the meeting, commenting that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee now had responsibility for scrutinising the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, and Mr Biggs could add a regional perspective to this work. The Chair considered it both important and good practice to explore how the working relationship between the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, the Metropolitan Police Authority and the Police Community Consultative Group could be improved. In particular he saw a key role for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in facilitating a regular “Community Question Time”.
The Chair also welcomed Mr Paul Rickett, Borough Commander (Metropolitan Police), to the meeting.
Councillor Abdal Ullah, Lead Member Cleaner, Safer, Greener, then gave a presentation on the key issues, successes and challenges arising from his portfolio; and Officers from the Communities, Localities and Culture Directorate supplemented this with aspects of detail. The presentation focused on the following points:
Safer · Community Safety o Reduced crime Tower Hamlets over 5 successive years. o Recent praise from the Chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority/ Deputy Mayor (Mr Monkhouse) for the exemplary performance of Tower Hamlets in relation to crime reduction. o Successful introduction of Tower Hamlets Environmental Officers (THEOs). o A Reducing Reoffending Programme recognised nationally for its best practice and given a Beacon Award. o Successful introduction of 8 new drug outreach workers. o Continuation of the “Dealer a Day” initiative with its significant impact on drug dealing, with 440 arrests to date. · Road Safety o 100 percent coverage of schools with School Travel Plans. o Road safety schemes and introduction of more reduced vehicle speed zones targeted at accident hotspots. o New higher visibility vehicle activated speed signs to raise driver awareness of speed. · Transport · Partnership working to improve the Docklands Light Railway to a 3 car service. · Introduction of a bus service linking the Isle of Dogs to Chrisp Street Market free of charge for the elderly. · Residents could now renew their permits at any Council One Stop Shop improving access to the service. · Late night enforcement of parking regulations had been increased to deal with problem areas. CCTV surveillance for parking violations had also commenced in Brick Lane in late 2008. It was noted this had been suspended pending a review of the parking enforcement function. · The importance of recognising the parameters of the Council’s responsibilities and residents taking up issues with the appropriate Registered Social Landlords such as Poplar HARCA regarding streets and spaces managed by them. · Trading Standards & Environmental Health o Successful and pending enforcement action/ prosecutions and premises closures undertaken relating to illegal trading, food safety, health and safety. A successful food safety event at the Royal Mint also with healthy options being examined by local restaurants was highlighted. o Council initiative to tackle illegal cabs and touting.
Cleaner · Fantastic work to remove graffiti, with an additional £175, 000 invested in two extra graffiti ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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PERFORMANCE MONITORING |
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Tower Hamlets Index - June to July 2009 PDF 133 KB To consider and comment upon the contents of the report.
(Time allocated – 15 minutes)
Minutes: Ms Stephanie Ford, Interim Performance Manager, at the request of the Chair, in introducing the report, summarised the salient points contained therein.
A discussion followed which was centred on the following points: · Consideration that the units of measure for data relating to some of the performance indicators required additional clarity. Indicators particularly referenced included: o RES058 Strategic 110 – ‘Average waiting time for calls to Hot Lines to be answered’ o LAA Local 213 – ‘The number of households who considered themselves as homeless, who approached the local authority’s housing advice services and for whom housing advice casework interve3ntion resolved their situation’ Ms Ford undertook to provide a written response to Councillor Snowdon and to address the point in the next report to the Committee. · Clarification was sought and given as to why some targets for July were identical for the annual 2009/10 target whilst others were different. Further clarification to be provided in writing. · With reference to CE 046a RES 046 Strategic 105 ‘Number of working days/ shifts lost to sickness absence per employee’, consideration that whilst a narrative explanation for the rise in sickness had been detailed, there may be an underlying issue regarding sickness management and a comparative data regarding annual appraisals undertaken between 2008/9 and 2009/10 would be helpful in gauging this. Ms Ford undertook to provide a written response to Councillor Heslop. · Clarification was sought with reference to Strategic 225 ‘Average time to re-let property (days) (ex BV212)’ as to whether an unchanged target for Tower Hamlets Homes was a typographical error. Ms Ford undertook to provide a written response to Councillor Heslop. · With reference to LAANI 151 National 151 Strategic 111 ‘Overall Employment Rate (working age)’ clarification was sought regarding the numbers comprising the increase of 1 percent since the previous month in the Job Seekers Allowance claimant count yet the traffic light indicator remained green. · With reference to LAANI 117 National 117 Strategic 308 ’16 to 18 year olds who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) consideration that whilst the detailed narrative explanation was welcome, a sense of numbers would also be helpful in relation to this important target. · With reference to CE 001a Strategic 106 ‘Response time to Members enquiries - % completed within 10 working days – Corporate’ clarification was sought and given regarding the steps being taken with Registered Social Landlords to improve performance, referred to in the narrative. Further clarification to follow in writing. · Consideration that data entered in month columns should relate to that month and not be the data entered in that month an 8 month timelag was unacceptable ie July being the collection point for data relating to December. Ms Ford undertook to detail additional information in the next report to address this. · Ms Ford was thanked for including a section in the report which responded to requests for clarification from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their previous meeting.
The Chair Moved the recommendation, as contained in the report, and ... view the full minutes text for item 8.1 |
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VERBAL UPDATES FROM SCRUTINY LEADS Scrutiny Lead Members will report on their portfolio areas.
(Time allocated – 10 minutes) Minutes: Scrutiny review – Preventing Childhood Obesity · Councillor David Snowdon, deputising for Councillor Archer, Scrutiny Lead – Healthy Communities, updated those present in relation to the Scrutiny Review ‘Preventing Childhood Obesity’: · Two review meetings had been held since last update: o The first a fact finding session to understand the extent of childhood obesity in Tower Hamlets. The Working Group had been joined by NHS Tower Hamlets who advised that the focus of the review should be around increasing the availability of healthy options. Accordingly the review now had the aim “To promote healthy eating by increasing the availability of and access to healthy food choices and reducing the availability of and access to foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt”. The review also now had the key focus to develop appropriate recommendations to ensure the issue around prevention of an over-concentration of fast food outlets could be operationalised. o The second a session that evaluated the response of the Planning Department to childhood obesity, with consideration given to local planning policy, in particular the LDF Core Strategy which provides specific responses to childhood obesity, including: “Reduction of the over-concentration of uses that are negative to the health of local people”.
· The next review meeting in October would consider ways in which schools can encourage healthy eating through the food they provide. · Councillor Heslop considered it might be useful if the review looked at the benefit of food cooperatives which the Tower Hamlets PCT had invested in for a number of years. · The Chair considered it would be helpful to examine the linkage between child obesity and poor educational attainment · The Chair also considered the engagement of Praxis would add value to any review/ recommendations particularly in the context of the challenges faced by new communities to the boroughin accessing services.
Noted
Scrutiny review – Strengthening Local Community Leadership · Councillor Ann Jackson, Scrutiny Lead – One Tower Hamlets, updated those present in relation to the Scrutiny Review ‘Strengthening Local Community Leadership’: o The review would focus on developing and supporting local councillors in community leadership. o Her experience from the 2008/9 Child Poverty review was that capturing local level information to inform service development was a challenge for any community leader who wanted to make change. Another challenge was how changes needed to deliver better outcomes for residents increasingly required working across a range of organisations. o The review would examine how the arrangements in place to deliver better outcomes for residents could be strengthened, and also how to strengthen the role and powers of councillors, and scrutiny more generally, across the work that could be undertaken with partners. o Councillor Call for Action has been discussed for some time and a proposal had been developed for implementing this locally. The review was a useful opportunity for Members to test and shape how well this would work and how councillors could be meaningfully engaged in a less adversarial way. o The review would endeavour to engage residents, ... view the full minutes text for item 9. |
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PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF UNRESTRICTED CABINET PAPERS To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/ comments to be presented to Cabinet.
(Time allocated – 10 minutes)
Minutes: The Chair informed members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that a sheet of pre-decision questions/ comments in respect of the unrestricted business contained in the agenda for consideration by the Cabinet, at their meeting to be held on 7th October 2009, had been Tabled, a copy of which would be interleaved with the minutes.
The Chair Moved and it was Resolved:-
That the following pre-decision questions be submitted to Cabinet for consideration:
Agenda Item 6.1 - The Leisure Facilities Strategy(CAB 050/090)
1. A key recommendation from the ‘Scrutiny Review on Young Peoples Participation in Sports Leading Up to the Olympics’ undertaken in 2007 was to review the pricing policy of leisure services. Can the Cabinet outline how this has been considered in the development of this strategy and in particular the development of any new leisure facility?
2. Can the Cabinet provide a breakdown of the figures provided in paragraph 5.4.2 and also explain how this was worked out?
3. To what extent has this strategy considered access to the Olympic Aquatic Centre in increasing the supply of leisure facilities and can the Cabinet update us where we are with the legacy use of this facility for Tower Hamlets residents?
Agenda Item 6.2 - An Overcrowding Reduction Strategy for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (200912) (CAB 051/090)
1. Is it legally possible for someone receiving cash incentive scheme grant to purchase a shared ownership property and if not, can this be investigated as this may increase the number of people taking advantage of the scheme?
2. The strategy does not address the issue of car free developments. Many overcrowded families do not bid for large family housing due to the property being designated within a car free zone and the fact that they will lose the benefit of having a resident parking permit. As a possible solution could Cabinet agree as part of this strategy that existing tenants transferring into car free zone developments retain and enjoy the usage of their existing resident parking permit?
3. The strategy does not make reference to mutual exchanges. A good management of mutual exchange system could contribute towards reducing overcrowding. Will the Cabinet consider developing a higher profile mutual exchange system?
Agenda Item 7.2 Bishops Square Amended Programme – adoption of capital estimates (CAB 055/090)
1. Regarding the new proposal for a capital estimate of £0.60m for the Chicksand Ghat Playspaces and the revised estimate of £1.850m for the Banglatown Culture Trail, which projects have been replaced or deleted from the original programme of works agreed by Strategic Development Committee on 10 May 2007 on Bishops Square?
2. Did any of the projects rely on the section 106 financial contribution as matched funding and are any of those projects now unable to go ahead. If this is the case how will local people and third sector organisations in Tower Hamlets be affected?
3. Can the Cabinet provide the full list of proposals for the revised ... view the full minutes text for item 10. |
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ANY OTHER UNRESTRICTED BUSINESS WHICH THE CHAIR CONSIDERS TO BE URGENT To consider any other unrestricted business that the Chair considers to be urgent.
Minutes: The Chair advised that there were no business to be considered under this section of the agenda.
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EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC In view of the contents of the remaining items on the agenda the Committee is recommended to adopt the following motion:
“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting for the consideration of the Section Two business on the grounds that it contains information defined as Exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972.”
EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL SECTION (Pink Papers)
The exempt committee papers in the agenda will contain information, which is commercially, legally or personally sensitive and should not be divulged to third parties. If you do not wish to retain these papers after the meeting, please hand them to the Committee Officer present. Minutes: The Chair Moved and it was: -
Resolved:
That in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting for the consideration of the Section Two business on the grounds that it contained information defined as exempt or confidential in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government, Act 1972.
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SUMMARY OF EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS
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EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES - TO FOLLOW To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the exempt/ confidential minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 28 July 2009.
Minutes: Minutes of Cabinet meeting held on 28th July 2009 Tabled and agreed.
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EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS 'CALLED IN' There were no exempt/ confidential reports ‘called in’ from the meeting of Cabinet held on 02 September 2009.
Minutes: Nil items
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PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL CABINET PAPERS To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/ comments to be presented to Cabinet.
(Time allocated – 5 minutes) Minutes: Nil items.
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ANY OTHER EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIR CONSIDERS URGENT To consider any other exempt/ confidential business that the Chair considers to be urgent.
Minutes: Nil items.
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