Agenda and minutes
Venue: Room C1, 1st 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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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from councillors David Snowdon. Councillor Golds attended the meeting as his designated deputy.
Apologies for lateness were received from Memory Kampiyawo
Apologies for leaving early were received from Rev James Olanipekun. |
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST PDF 56 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 Interim Monitoring Officer. Minutes: No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made. |
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MOTION TO VARY ORDER OF BUSINESS Following a request from the Lead Member for Resources, the Chair moved and it was
RESOLVED That the order of business be varied from that which was published. Accordingly the Committee considered the following items as the first business items of the meeting: Item 6.2 Reference from Council - Investigation into Old Poplar town Hall; Item 6.5 - Burial provision for Tower Hamlets residents and Item 6.1 - Reference from Council Executive Mayor's Car. Following consideration of the above items, the remaining agenda items were considered in the published order.
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UNRESTRICTED MINUTES PDF 102 KB To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 4th February 2014 and 11th February. Additional documents: Minutes: It was noted that the minutes of the meeting held on 4th February 2014 had been omitted from the agenda due to a publication error. These would be presented for approval at the next ordinary meeting of the Committee. The minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 11th February 2014 were then presented.
The Chair Moved and it was:-
RESOLVED
Action by: Antonella Burgio (Committee Officer, Democratic Services)
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REQUESTS TO SUBMIT PETITIONS To receive any petitions (to be notified at the meeting). Minutes: Nil items |
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UNRESTRICTED REPORTS 'CALLED IN' No decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet (4th February 2014) in respect of unrestricted reports on the agenda were ‘called in’. Minutes: No decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet (4th February 2014) in respect of unrestricted reports on the agenda or Individual Mayor’s Executive Decisions were ‘called in’. |
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SCRUTINY SPOTLIGHT To receive an oral presentation from Mayor Lutfur Rahman. Minutes: The Chair noted that the Executive Mayor had declined to attend the meeting to participate in the spotlight session. He advised that, therefore, he had again asked the Service Head Democratic services to formally write to Mayor Rahman requiring him to attend OSC under the terms of the constitution on 1 April 2014.
The Committee noted and discussed the implications of Constitutional Note on Invitations to / Giving Account at OSC that had been circulated to all OSC Members. The Chair advised that the protocol would be invoked should Mayor Rahman fail to attend as required. He also asked that all necessary arrangements be made for this meeting and that it take place in the Council Chamber.
Action by: Antonella Burgio (Committee Officer, Democratic Services)
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UNRESTRICTED REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
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Reference from Council - Executive Mayor's Car - Draft OSC report to Council PDF 70 KB To consider the findings of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and refer the arising recommendations to Council. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair presented the report noting the recommendations arising from the Committee’s investigation and invited Members to make any further comments they may wish and also to endorse the report. The Committee considered the report and endorsed the recommendations without amendment.
RESOLVED
1. That the report of the committee following its investigation of the use of the executive Mayor's car be endorsed and 2. That the recommendations contained at section 2 of the report be referred to full Council
Action by: Matthew Mannion (Committee Services Manager, Democratic Services)
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Reference from Council - Investigation into Old Poplar Town Hall PDF 76 KB To consider the referral made by Council. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair welcomed Meic Sullivan-Gould, Interim Monitoring Officer Chris Holme Acting Director of Resources, Councillor Alibor Choudhury Cabinet Member for Resources and also Councillor Peter Golds who had proposed the referral at Council on 22 January 2014.
The Interim Monitoring Officer introduced the report and referred to the referral at agenda item 6.2 noting the Council's resolution that the Statutory Officers of the Council in conjunction with the District Auditor undertake an immediate investigation into the marketing and sale of the former Poplar Town Hall and its change of use. The Committee was informed that having been consulted on the referral, the District Auditor also wished to undertake its own investigation on this matter and the resulting enquiry was being pursued with full rigour. The District Auditor's report was almost complete but was presently awaiting recovery of archive documents. Upon release this report would convey the District Auditor's position.
The Monitoring Officer asked the Committee to consider whether it wished to add any additional considerations and the following comments were made:
The Chair noted the matters raised and asked that the report respond to these issues. Additionally he asked that the matter be brought back to Committee at its meeting on 1 April 2014.
RESOLVED
1. That the referral from Council be noted 2. That the verbal update be noted 3. That the report of the district auditor include answers to the above matters
Action by: Meic Sullivan-Gould (Interim Monitoring Officer)
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To approve the draft report and the recommendations contained in it and authorise the Service Head for Strategy & Equality to amend the draft report before submission to Cabinet, after consultation with the scrutiny review group. Additional documents: Minutes: Cllr Whitelock-Gibbs, Scrutiny Lead for Children Schools and Families presented the report. She informed the Committee that, this municipal year, it had been agreed that work would focus on school places. A challenge session had been held at which representatives from London Councils and Barking and Dagenham Council were interviewed.
The following conclusions were drawn from the investigation arising from key questions that formed the terms of reference for the challenge session:
The Chair thanked Councillor Whitelock-Gibbs for her report and commended the thorough investigation undertaken. He noted that as building assets disposed of by the council could never be retrieved, it was therefore necessary to ensure that school provision was one of the council’s priorities in terms of planning benefits across the borough.
In discussion the Committee noted the following: · there had been closer collaborative working in regard to schools planning between the directorates of Education, Social Care and Well-being and Development and Renewal · Concerning provision of alternative accommodation in the event of an unforeseen school closure, the Committee was informed that the directorate had measures to ensure there was other unused capacity that could be drawn upon if such a situation were to occur. However there was growing pressure on school places and this would affect finite resources which, in turn, might mean that such access might not be available in future. The Committee noted the importance of this matter and asked that in future, where the Council wished to dispose of buildings, that consideration first be given to whether the intended disposal could first be used for extra school places before proceeding to sale. · Members felt that there was a tendency for fast food shops to open near the premises of private schools and it was recommend that that the Council work with these bodies to ensure that the healthy eating agenda was promoted. The Committee was informed that healthy eating was a public health matter and the responsibility of the whole community. Members heard that the Council has no mandate in relation to independent schools, however it will explore ways in which healthy eating could be promoted to these schools. · Concerning how decisions to fulfil the number of childcare places were made, the Committee was informed that educational premises were often unable to accommodate both ... view the full minutes text for item 6.3 |
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Removing Barriers to Youth Employment - Progress Report of the Scrutiny Working Group PDF 142 KB To note the report findings and consider whether further scrutiny into youth employment is required at this time. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Ann Jackson, Chair of the Working Group, apologised she was unable to attend for the presentation of the review progress report. The Service Manager One Tower Hamlets presented the report which reviewed progress against the original recommendations of the scrutiny working group on Removing Barriers to Youth Employment.
The Committee was advised that the Chair of the working group was pleased with progress on the majority of these actions, namely those in relation to careers and mentoring support given to NEETs; increase in introductory work experience opportunities; raised awareness and perception of the apprenticeship scheme; re-design of the Council’s web pages, which now provided information to young people, schools, parents and businesses; and securing additional funding for this by ESCW staff. OSC asked for further information about the progress of the following activities which supported the implementation of some recommendations:
o That high achieving pupils in the Borough might act as mentors for peers in other schools. o That employees of the Council or NHS might also act as youth mentors.
It was noted that some of these actions were long-term projects and a further update would be brought to Committee in September 2014.
The Committee also noted the following information:
The Committee noted the limited resources available but nonetheless encouraged an aspirational approach to be adopted.
The Chair thanked Councillor Jackson for her ongoing work on this review.
RESOLVED
1. That the findings of the report noted 2. That progress on the recommendations be pursued and 3. That a further report be brought six months hence
Action by: Anne Canning (Service Head Learning and Achievement, Education Social Care and Wellbeing) Mark Cairns (Senior Policy, Strategy and Performance Officer)/ Antonella Burgio (Democratic Services)
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Burial Provision for Tower Hamlets Residents To consider provision for residents in the Borough. Minutes: The Interim Head of Legal Operations introduced the item, referring to the tabled Mayoral Executive Decision on Tower Hamlets Multi-faith burial ground published in June 2013. He advised the Committee that the procurement of the burial ground incorporated a number of criteria which required negotiation. This negotiation had yet to be concluded; its details were commercially sensitive and therefore exempt. Notwithstanding, this decision was being progressed urgently.
The Committee noted the following matters
The Chair advised that the discussion concerned the burial subsidy and burial site:
The Chair enquired whether the programme would be concluded by 22 May 2014 and was informed that this was not yet known. The Chair noted that funds had been set aside for the purchase of a burial site and wished to be apprised of the proposed use for these funds if they were to be used for other ... view the full minutes text for item 6.5 |
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OSC Annual Review 2013-14 PDF 66 KB To consider the draft annual review (report to follow). Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair introduced the report circulated in the supplementary agenda and advised the Committee that he had requested that the report be presented in the current municipal year to enable the work of Members retiring at the forthcoming election to be acknowledged before Council.
The Committee considered the report noting the work of Members of Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Health Scrutiny Panel undertaken during the course of the municipal year. The Chair also highlighted conclusions arising from the scrutiny work that had been undertaken and work proposals for the forthcoming municipal year.
A Committee Member noted paragraph 3.15 and requested that the last sentence be revised to "supporting staff with specific learning difficulties e.g. dyslexia"
RESOLVED
That the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2013-14 be approved and referred to Council
Action by: Matthew Mannion (Committee Services Manager, LPG)
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To note the contents of the attached log of actions that have been requested at previous meetings and progress made on actions that remain outstanding. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair introduced to the report which provided an ongoing summary of actions requested by the Committee arising from the reports and matters that had been considered in the current municipal year
The following matters were noted:
RESOLVED
1. That the log of actions that have been requested by Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted. 2. That the progress made on actions that remained outstanding and the completed actions as indicated in the log be noted.
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VERBAL UPDATES FROM SCRUTINY LEADS (Time allocated – 5 minutes each) Minutes: Nil items. |
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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 – 30 minutes). Minutes: Nil items. |
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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: Nil items. |
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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: 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 15 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. |