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Home > Council & democracy > Council meetings > Agenda for Overview & Scrutiny Committee on Wednesday, 4th January, 2017, 6.00 p.m.

Agenda and minutes

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Wednesday, 4th January, 2017 6.00 p.m.

  • Attendance details
  • Agenda frontsheet PDF 119 KB
  • Agenda reports pack
  • Supplementary Agenda Pack PDF 309 KB
  • Printed minutes PDF 102 KB

Venue: Room C1, 1st Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG

Contact: David Knight, Democratic Services  Tel: 020 7364 4878 E-mail:  david.knight@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

To receive any apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Amina Ali; Abdul Asad; Julia Dockerill; Oliur Rahman and Helal Uddin.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST pdf icon PDF 67 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 were received.

3.

UNRESTRICTED MINUTES pdf icon PDF 98 KB

To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 8th December, 2016.

Minutes:

The Chair Moved and it was:-

 

RESOLVED

 

That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 8th December, 2016 be approved as a correct record of the proceedings.

 

Subject to the following amendment

 

1.    Item 9.3 Mayor’s Spotlight first bullet point delete “The results of Air Quality reports indicate that traffic calming measures increase the emissions of some pollutants from motor vehicles” and insert “The results of Air Quality reports indicate that some traffic calming measures increase the emissions of some pollutants from motor vehicles; and

2.    Item 9.3 Mayor’s Spotlight twelfth bullet point delete It would seem that traffic calming measures do increase the emissions of some pollutants from motor vehicles however motorists can be re-educated to understand the effects of their driving style and roads can be re-designed” and insert “It would seem that some traffic calming measures do increase the emissions of some pollutants from motor vehicles however motorists can be re-educated to understand the effects of their driving style and roads can be re-designed”.

 

In addition with regards to Item 9.1 Welfare Reform the Committee requested that they be provided with an update on the lobbying of the Government over the reforms in Welfare Benefits.

4.

REQUESTS TO SUBMIT PETITIONS

To receive any petitions (to be notified at the meeting).

 

Minutes:

Nil items

5.

UNRESTRICTED REPORTS 'CALLED IN'

No decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet on 6th December, 2016 in respect of unrestricted reports on the agenda have been ‘called in’.

 

Minutes:

Nil items

6.

FORTHCOMING DECISIONS pdf icon PDF 75 KB

  • View the background to item 6.
  • View the decision for item 6.

Minutes:

The Committee received and noted the published list of forthcoming decisions.

 

7.

OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE QUERY AND ACTION LOG 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 63 KB

  • View the background to item 7.
  • View the decision for item 7.

Minutes:

The Committee received and noted an update on the outstanding actions.

 

8.

PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF UNRESTRICTED CABINET PAPERS pdf icon PDF 160 KB

  • View the background to item 8.
  • View the decision for item 8.

To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet with particular reference to:

 

1.    Strategic Performance Monitoring; and

2.    The General Fund Revenue and Capital Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan.

 

(Time allocated – 30 minutes).

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Cabinet agenda for the 10th January, 2017 the questions submitted and responses received as set out in Appendix A.

9.

SCRUTINY SPOTLIGHT

Nil Items

Minutes:

Nil items

10.

UNRESTRICTED REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION

10.1

Budget Scrutiny

  • View the background to item 10.1
  • View the decision for item 10.1

The Budget Document Pack will be circulated separately.

Minutes:

A.           Budget Scrutiny

 

 

 

The Committee considered a number of reports including the proposals which form part of the draft Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2017/18 to 2019/20; the Council Tax Base 2017/18; Local Tax Reduction Scheme and Fees and Charges 2017/18.

The Committee noted that with the new Budget Process there would be a focus on a three year period so as to ensure a proper balance that would ensure the Council had the staff with the right skills mix to deliver the services needed.  The focus of services would be to meet the specific needs of LBTH and to promote a culture where people have a greater sense of community and independence.

The Chair also reminded the Members of the Committee that this was the first step in a new process and that following on from this formal meeting there would be an informal workshop on 16th January, 2017 and that a note of that workshop would be made available at the next formal meeting of the Committee on the 23rd January.  However, it would be the formal views from that meeting on the 23rd which would go back to the Cabinet so as to be taken into account before making recommendations to Council.

The Committee noted that the new budgetary processes is more explicit than before and has a high level of detail and with a three year period it is anticipated that it is more likely that the outcomes as set out in the report will be delivered.

The Committee then considered the reports on the Cabinet agenda and the questions and comments on these various reports may be summarised are follows:

·         What is being done to address Sickness Absence?

·         What is the current position regarding the Waste Contract?

·         Will schools be able to sustain the level of service with the education in the budget that supports those children with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?

·         What is the current position regarding the establishment of a new collaborative relationship with the Third Sector?

·         Can we know what is the position regarding the New Homes Bonus?

·         What is the position regarding the introduction of Universal Credit?

·         Would it be possible to have details of the numbers of households affected by the introduction of Universal Credit; the numbers of children in the households and what household income is considered?

·         The charging for English as a Second Language courses is that an increase or an introduction?

·         Are the figures set out in the Budget Pack in relation to the Core Grants 2017 – 2020 confirmed?

·         What is the Greater London Authority precept?

·         Have we an indication of the impact of Brexit on businesses in LBTH and what can be done to mitigate the impact?

·         How will the Councils reserves be used to mitigate the reduction in Government funding?

·         What will be done to support Children’s Services?

·         It is apparent both from the 2015/16 outturn position and also the 2016/17 budget monitoring process that there are elements of the Council’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.1

10.2

Appointment of Lead Councillor

Verbal Update

Minutes:

The Committee noted that following the introduction of the new Council structure a review of the Scrutiny lead portfolios will need to be undertaken prior to any appointments of Lead Councillors being agreed.

10.3

Appointment of Co-Optees

Verbal Update

Minutes:

The Committee was reminded that following the expiry of terms of office of current co-optees, the Council has conducted a campaign to seek nominations to all six co-opted positions [Including the Muslim faith community representative] on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Nominations for all these positions have now been received and will be considered by Council on 18th January, 2017.

 

11.

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

12.

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 agenda circulated contained no exempt/ confidential business and there was therefore no requirement to exclude the press and public to allow for its consideration.

 

 

13.

EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES

Nil items

Minutes:

Nil items

14.

EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS 'CALLED IN'

Nil items

Minutes:

Nil items

15.

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

16.

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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