Agenda and minutes
Venue: Room M71, Seventh Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: Amanda Thompson, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4651, E-mail: amanda.thompson@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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COUNCILLOR ANNE JACKSON IN THE CHAIR
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Fozol Miah.
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PDF 52 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: There were no declarations of interest made.
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UNRESTRICTED MINUTES PDF 75 KB To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 7 June 2011.
Minutes: The Chair Moved and it was:-
RESOLVED
That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 7th June 2011 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of the proceedings subject to the correction of Councillor Fozol Miah’s name in the Apologies for Absence (item 2).
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REQUESTS TO SUBMIT PETITIONS To be notified at the meeting. Minutes: None received.
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SECTION ONE REPORTS 'CALLED IN' |
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Report 'Called In' - East End Life Review PDF 67 KB Additional documents:
Minutes:
At the request of the Chair, Councillor David Snowdon on behalf of the Call-in Members referred to the reasons for their requisition and highlighted the main issues that they held with the Cabinet’s provisional decision regarding the East End Life Review agreed on 8th June 2011.
CouncillorSnowdon considered that the decision contravened government guidance regarding the frequency of Local Authority news letters i.e. that they be no more than quarterly. The proposed frequency exceeded that adopted by the vast majority of other Local Authorities. Due to these breaches, the decision was unlawful.
Furthermore, the cost analysis in the report overlooked many key factors. For instance, the savings predicted from closure only took into account one off costs ignoring the many other savings that could be achieved by this. The section on advertising costs was unrealistic. It overlooked many key factors i.e. the savings from block purchasing, availability of discounts. No real quotes were sought. The pricing assessment overlooked many other costs, for example IT, Human Resources, accommodation costs. There were no real like for like comparisons. In view of these issues, it was requested that the costs implications of the options be properly reviewed.
CouncillorSnowdon also considered that greater consideration should have been given to the other alternatives available. This could include:
The Committee carefully considered Councillor Snowdon’s presentation. The Committee shared his concerns that the costs of the options were not fully considered.
It was also felt that further consideration should be given to the following options:
Concern was also expressed at the independence of the review since it was undertaken by the officer responsible for East End Life, rather than independent persons. This placed the officer in a difficult position. It was very important that the review was impartial. Furthermore the survey results were based on only a small number of responses, less than half of which supported the recommendation. It was therefore felt that there was inadequate consultation.
The Committee also shared the view that there needed to be a real like for like comparison in evaluating alternatives. It was also noted that only two other Councils in London had weekly newspapers. It felt ... view the full minutes text for item 5.1 |
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SCRUTINY SPOTLIGHT Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources, will attend with Mr Chris Naylor, Corporate Director Resources, to report on the work of the Resources Directorate. Minutes: Councillor Alibor Chaudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources, supported by Mr Chris Naylor Corporate Director Resources gave a presentation on the key issues, achievements and challenges arising from the Resources portfolio.
Councillor Chaudhury began by highlighting the ICT plans allaying some of the concerns around this project. (This would be considered in detail during the presentation). The aim of which was to secure a high quality IT service whilst safeguarding local employment and staff opportunities.
Mr Naylor gave a detailed presentation reviewing the first 3 years of the Resources directorate. This focused on its structure role and aims including the following points.
Mr Naylor referred to the savings challenges up to 2014/15. Further savings would be realised by modernising the IT, HR and finance practices at least cost and risk. The service was currently procuring a strategic resources partner to assist with delivering such improvements and to secure long term benefits and learning opportunities for staff.
In relation to the staffing implications, the changes would honour the Council’s social objectives in relation to the workforce alongside delivering better services.
Mr Naylor outlined the timetable for the ICT project. The Council was currently undertaking a competitive dialogue to find a partner to facilitate the plans with an Executive decision planned for the start of 2012. Staff and trade unions were fully engaged and frequently consulted.
The Committee then asked a number of questions about the plans which focused on the following issues:
Mr Naylor then responded to each point highlighting the following:
Resources were working closely with Legal Services and relevant Council Officers to scrutinise the ICT plans and bids etc to ensure they were legal and secured the aims. The plans ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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PERFORMANCE MONITORING |
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Additional documents:
Minutes: Councillor Alibor Chaudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources, supported by Mr Chris Naylor Corporate Director Resources presented the performance and monitoring report for year end 2010/11
The reports measured progress in 2010/11 against the Strategic Plan, Strategic Performance Indicators and National Indicators.
In considering the report, the Committee sought further information and secured assurances from Officers regarding the following indicators:
RESOLVED
1. That the Quarter 4 Year End 2010/11 performance be noted;
2. That the Council’s financial position as outlined in paragraphs 3 and 4 and appendices 1-7 of the report be noted; and
3. That the transfers to and from contingencies and earmarked reserves, as set out in the report and at appendix 4 be noted (to be tabled at Cabinet for approval).
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Cabinet Four Month Forward Plan PDF 809 KB Minutes: The Committee considered the Cabinet’s Forward Plan for July 2011 – October 2011.
Accordingly it was agreed that the August meeting of the Committee would focus on a number of issues in the Cabinet plan. This would include the Contracts Forward Plan, Youth Services and the Enterprise Strategy.
The Health and Wellbeing Board Arrangements were also due to be considered by the August Cabinet. As a result it was considered appropriate to explore the practice elsewhere to help develop local proposals.
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Annual Residents' Survey Results 2010/11 PDF 49 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Ms Laura Spence (Research Officer, Chief Executive’s Directorate) presented the results of the Annual Residents’ Survey for 2010/11. Ms Spence explained the methodology based on face to face interviews considering the views of 1,150 local residents about the Council’s services and the local area. The fieldwork was completed in January and February 2011 before the implementation of the government’s strategy which should be borne in mind when reading the results. (A copy of the presentation was subsequently sent to Committee Members).
Overall, the Survey presented a positive picture of continuous improvement but there were areas that still needed to be addressed.
In summary the top concerns identified included:
Other issues considered were:
It was noted that the Committee’s suggestions for improving the questionnaire would be taken on board.
Accordingly, Members were invited to define what exactly they would like to see looked at for to identify the most appropriate survey method.
It was also recommended that the results be read in conjunction with other contextual surveys.
The Committee should also use the findings in scrutinising Council performance.
A question and answer session then following covering the following points:
Concern was expressed at categorising ‘teenagers hanging around’ as ASB. It was felt that this in itself was not a problem. However in the event that this was seen as a problem, the specific reasons why it was should be defined, for example foul language, bad behaviour etc and then be renamed to reflect this rather than merely teenagers hanging around.
In response, it was noted that certain questions were national indicators. Care should be taken in changing these in the interests of continuity. There would be opportunities to review the indicators and the questionnaire at the consultation stage.
It was also felt that the questions should be made more specific to identify where people felt the fault lies – with the Council or at a national level. Was it a national or a local problem?
Assurances were also sought and secured regarding satisfaction with children’s centres down by 10%. In response, it was considered that the sample for this were very ... view the full minutes text for item 7.3 |
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PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF SECTION ONE (UNRESTRICTED) CABINET PAPERS Minutes: The Chair advised that no pre - decision questions for the Cabinet meeting on 6th July 2011 had been received.
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ANY OTHER SECTION ONE (UNRESTRICTED) BUSINESS WHICH THE CHAIR CONSIDERS TO BE URGENT |
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Inner North East London Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Interim Appointments Minutes: Reasons for special circumstances and urgency agreed.
The reason being that the Joint Committee was due to meet before the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Hence appointments had to be made now to enable Members to represent the Council at that meeting.
The Committee were invited to make interim appointments to the Inner North East London Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee established following the merger of the three east London Primary Care Trusts.
It was noted that the Members would be appointed to serve at the next meeting of the Joint Committee as interim appointments. A further report would then be brought back to this Committee to appoint permanent Members of the Joint Committee for 2011/12.
Councillor Rachael Saunders as Chair of the Health Scrutiny Panel confirmed the intention the Councillors nominated to attend meetings of the new Committee if they so wished and to continue to participate at such meetings.
RESOLVED
1. That Councillors Rachael Saunders, Lesley Pavitt and Denise Jones be appointed as interim Members of the Inner North East London Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and
2. That a further report be brought to the Committee to appoint permanent Members to the Inner North East London Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2011/12.
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OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY AWAY DAY Minutes: Noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Away day would be held on Thursday 28th July 2011. |
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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 resolution to exclude the Press and Public was not adopted as there was no Section 2 ‘Exempt’ business for consideration.
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SECTION TWO REPORTS 'CALLED IN' There were no Section Two reports ‘called in’ from the meeting of Cabinet held on 8th June 2010.
Minutes: Nil items.
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PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF SECTION TWO (RESTRICTED) CABINET PAPERS Minutes: Nil items.
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ANY OTHER SECTION TWO (RESTRICTED) BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIR CONSIDERS URGENT Minutes: Nil items.
The Chair thanked those present for their attendance and declared the meeting closed.
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