Agenda and minutes
Venue: Room M71, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: Antonella Burgio, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4881, E-mail: antonella.burgio@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Co-opted Member James Olanipekun and Councillor Amy Whitelock,
Cabinet Member, Councillor Ohid Ahmed apologised that he was unable to attend at agenda item 6.2.
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PDF 53 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: No declarations of personal or prejudicial interest were made.
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UNRESTRICTED MINUTES PDF 87 KB To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 4th October 2011. Minutes: The Chair Moved and it was:-
RESOLVED
That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 4 October 2011 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of the proceedings.
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REQUESTS TO SUBMIT PETITIONS To be notified at the meeting. Minutes: Nil items.
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SECTION ONE REPORTS 'CALLED IN' There were no Section One reports ‘called in’ from the meeting of Cabinet held on 5th October 2011. Minutes: There were no decisions called in from the meeting of Cabinet held on 5th October 2011.
The Chair informed the Committee that on the 31st October, a Mayors executive decision had been published on the Council’s website. The decision concerned the contract for the 2012 Olympic Festival Live site in Victoria Park. In accordance with Committee’s request to be made aware of decisions taken under this provision, Members had been notified of the decision. The Chair advised that the decision was subject to call-in. The call-in period would expire on Monday, 7 November 2011 at 5.00 p.m.
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REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
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Raising Attainment - Successes and Challenges To receive a presentation led by representatives from Children Schools and Families with representatives from Development and Renewal.
Minutes: A presentation was given by Isobel Cattermole, Acting Corporate Director Children Schools and Families, Anne Canning, Service Head Learning and Achievement and by Ann Sutcliffe, Service Head Building Strategic Property and Capital Delivery, Development & Renewal.
Prior to her presentation, the Acting Corporate Director commented on media coverage of national adoption performance and adoption statistics for councils in England and Wales. She informed the Committee that the Authority was confident in its adoption processes and advised that issues highlighted and details of the council's own adoption performance would be addressed via a members briefing to be circulated on Friday, 4 November.
The presentation comprised three elements; educational attainment, building schools for the future programme and discretionary educational grants.
In opening the Acting Corporate Director informed the Committee that the Government had made substantial changes to education policy since following the General Election 2010. Arising from these, three academies were due to be established in the borough (orders had been issued by the Secretary of State for Education) and the Secretary of State had granted permission for three free schools (one had already been opened, two more being expected to open in 2012). These new structures were funded by directly by Government transfer and created a new type of relationship between the Council and schools. There would also be implications on funding available to the Council; therefore the Directorate had reviewed its trading arrangements with schools in order to make savings where there were schools did not wish to purchase services.
Concerning educational achievement, the Committee was informed that 2011 had seen the Borough’s best performance at GCSE. There had been continued improvement at Key Stage One (KS1) and above average performance at Key Stage Two (KS2) in English and Maths. It was noted, however, that improvements at GCSE had not been continued into post-16 qualifications at a similar level.
In her presentation, the Service Head Learning and Achievement highlighted the following:
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Meeting Our Public Sector Equality Duty To receive a presentation from the Service Head, one Tower Hamlets
Minutes: Michael Keating, Service Head, One Tower Hamlets, gave a presentation updating the Committee of progress on equality matters. The Committee was informed that:
The priorities identified in 2010/11 for targeted action were women and worklessness and the transformation of adult social care. In 2011/12 the priorities are to consider the consequences of welfare reform and services for people with learning disabilities.
After the presentation, the following information was provided in response to Members’ questions:
Although the Government had decided not to implement the socio-economic duty the Council would always need to ensure that tackling poverty was a key part of local equalities work given the nature of the community
Our work on embedding One Tower Hamlets is a central part of how we could demonstrate ‘due regard’ for the public sector Equality Duty
The previous scrutiny work undertaken by Councillor Ann Jackson, for example on tackling child poverty and using the Councillor Call for Action, had highlighted how development of the community leadership role of councillors would be crucial for delivering One Tower Hamlets. It will therefore be important for the Committee to continue to play a role in monitoring and evaluating work in this area.
RESOLVED
That the report be noted.
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Scrutiny Review Tracking Report PDF 144 KB To receive an update on progress in implementing the recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee through scrutiny reviews since 2007/08.
Minutes: Sarah Barr, Senior Strategy Policy and Performance Officer presented the report circulated at agenda item 6.3. This provided an update on the implementation of the Committee's recommendations made through its reviews dated from 2007-08 onwards.
The committee was asked to note the progress and to comment or query any matters. In discussion the Committee was provided with the following information:
Action Senior Strategy Policy and Performance Officer
RESOLVED
That the report be noted
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Covert investigation under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 PDF 43 KB To update Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Council’s use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (“RIPA”).
Additional documents: Minutes: The Head of Legal Services - Community provided Members with a quarterly update on the Council's use of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA). He reported that this power had been used on one occasion during each of the first and second quarters.
It was noted that the reduction in the Authority’s RIPA usage had been queried by the Standards Committee and a further report would be presented to answer this matter.
In response to Members' questions, the following information was provided:
Action: Head of Legal Services - Community
Action: Head of Legal Services - Community
RESOLVED
That the report be noted
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VERBAL UPDATES FROM SCRUTINY LEADS (Time allocated – 5 minutes each) Minutes: The following updates were provided by Lead Scrutiny Members:
Councillor Zenith Rahman had undertaken a number of visits in relation to her portfolio and had met with the Corporate Director Culture, Leisure and Communities.
Councillor Uddin was reviewing the impacts of the changes in housing benefits and was due to attend a budget session on 15th November.
Councillor Islam was to undertake a small review of asset management.
Councillor Rachael Saunders had identified a need to explore how the work of Overview and Scrutiny and the Health and Well-Being Board would compliment and contrast with each other. Verbal updates were given on budget driven changes in the personalisation agenda and the merger of 3 East London hospital trusts.
Councillor Amy Whitelock was continuing her investigations into children’s centres.
Councillor Tim Archer was continuing his review of the cost of East End Life publication.
Councillor Ann Jackson was progressing her review of public consultation and engagement.
RESOLVED
That the verbal updates be noted.
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PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF SECTION ONE (UNRESTRICTED) CABINET PAPERS (Time allocated – 30 minutes). Minutes: Nil items.
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ANY OTHER SECTION ONE (UNRESTRICTED) BUSINESS WHICH THE CHAIR CONSIDERS TO BE URGENT Minutes: Nil items.
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