Agenda and minutes
Venue: Room C1, 1st Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: Antonella Burgio, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4333 E-mail: antonella.burgio@towerhamlets.gov.uk
No. | Item |
---|---|
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies received from Councillor Peter Golds and Co-opted Member Dr Rice. In addition, it was noted that Councillor Craig Aston was substituting for Councillor Peter Golds.
|
|
FILMING OF THE MEETING The Committee was advised of a request to record the meeting and that the constitution gives the Chair discretion to agree to the request. Accordingly, he agreed that:
|
|
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: There were no declarations of disclosable pencuniary interest.
|
|
UNRESTRICTED MINUTES PDF 146 KB To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 8 July 21014. Minutes: The minutes of the OSC held on 8th July, 2014 were presented.
RESOLVED
That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 8th July, 2104 were approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of the proceedings.
|
|
REQUESTS TO SUBMIT PETITIONS To receive any petitions (to be notified at the meeting). Minutes: Nil items.
|
|
UNRESTRICTED REPORTS 'CALLED IN' No decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet 9 July 2014 in respect of unrestricted reports on the agenda were ‘called in’. Minutes: No decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet held on 9th July, 2104 in respect of the unrestricted reports on the agenda were “called in”.
|
|
UNRESTRICTED REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
|
Reference from the Council - Investigation into the Sale of Old Poplar Town Hall PDF 77 KB Report to follow. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Interim Monitoring Officer introduced the report that provided Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee with the outcome of the investigation mandated by the Council at its meeting on 22 January 2014 into the disposal of Old Poplar Town Hall and the subsequent grants of planning permission that allowed the option for the sites redevelopment as an Hotel. The main points arising from the discussion of the report are summarised as follows:
1. The report set out the serious nature of the matter raised in the Council resolution which alleged that a Member had misused his/her powers to sell an asset under the market value; 2. The allegation had not been supported by the facts as revealed by the Mazars investigation; 3. Whilst there are some gaps in the audit trail, the Monitoring Officer assessed these as failure to follow process and contended that they did not constitute illegal activity; 4. Despite speculation that the property was worth millions of pounds, at the time of marketing the property, it was estimated to be worth between £750,000 and £950,000, and was actually sold for £850,000.
In conclusion, the report indicated that the building had not been sold undervalue; it had been marketed openly and that the bidder accepted was the one that provided the quickest possible completion.
The Chair then invited representative from Mazar’s to make their presentation. In response they advised the Chair that they did not wish to add anything more to the report that the Committee had received but they were happy to answer questions. In addition, it was noted that the Mazars auditors who had undertaken this particular investigation belonged to Mazar’s Specialist Investigations Team. Responding to Members questions the Mazars representatives informed the Committee that:
1. Mazars investigators had been given unfettered access to all the relevant documentation and information; 2. Whilst Mazar’s does have a property section, valuation of this particular property had not been part of the scope of the investigation; 3. Mazar’s had been appointed on 10th February, 2014 following consultation with the external auditors and that an interim report had been produced by Mazar’s on 28th February, 2014 for senior officers. Following submission of this interim report the Statutory Officers asked that Mazar’s look at the legal file relating to the sale and other documentation which increased the time taken to produce the final the report; 4. The decision to defer the sale of the property until the real estate market had improved was outside the scope of investigation; 5. The draft of the report had been discussed with regards to factual accuracy but no significant changes had been made nor had any information been removed; 6. With regards to the next draft of the report that had been submitted to officers this had been produced on 4th March, 2014 with proviso that Mazars had yet to meet with the realtor BNP Paribas and that they had then needed to review email trail which had been completed on ... view the full minutes text for item 6.1 |
|
Strategic Performance and Corporate Revenue and Capital Outturn Q4 2013/14 (Month 12) PDF 233 KB To note the Strategic Performance and Corporate Revenue and Capital Outturn Q4 2013/14 (Month 12). Additional documents:
Minutes: Acting Corporate Director introduced the report that detailed the draft financial outturn position of the Council at the end of the financial year 2013/14 compared to budget, and service performance against targets. Further adjustments it was noted may be required as the statement of accounts are finalised and the final position is reviewed by KPMG as part of the year end audit. The report included details of:
It was noted that this report will be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 23rd July, 2104. Whilst the draft Statement of Accounts, including the Comprehensive Income and Expenditure Account, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement, was considered by Audit Committee on 30th June, 2104. The Accounts will be ‘subject to audit’ with the Audit Commission who are due to sign them off by 30th September 2014. The main points arising from the discussion of the report may be summarised as follows:
RESOLVED
|
|
To appoint three Members to represent the authority on the Inner North East London Standing Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (INEL SJHOSC). Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair introduced a report that provided a background to the establishment of Inner North East London Standing Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and asks the Committee to appoint 3 Members for the duration of the municipal year.
The Committee received the following nominations for the appointment of two Labour Members to INEL JHOSC. These were Councillors Asma Begum and David Edgar and noted that a position remained to be appointed to.
RESOLVED
|
|
Overview and Scrutiny Committee Outline Work Programme 2014/15 To consider and approve the outline workprogramme for the municipal year. Minutes: The Strategy, Performance and Policy Manager tabled a revised draft work programme for consideration.
The Chair advised that the work programme would be presented for formal approval at OSC on 2 September 2014, at which time also, Lead Members would agree the subjects of their Scrutiny Reviews and Challenge sessions. Scrutiny spotlight sessions and requests for items to be brought to the meeting would be added to the work programme in conjunction with the Chair.
It was proposed that the September Scrutiny Spotlight session be undertaken with one of the boroughs registered social landlords. The Chair would liaise with Ward Councillors on this matter
Others work programme topics were noted:
RESOLVED
That the draft work programme and suggested amendments be noted
|
|
VERBAL UPDATES FROM SCRUTINY LEADS (Time allocated – 5 minutes each) Minutes: Nil items.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|
|
EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS 'CALLED IN' No decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet (… date …) in respect of exempt/ confidential reports on the agenda were ‘called in’.
Minutes: Nil items.
|
|
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.
|
|
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.
|