Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Oliur Rahman.

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.

No declarations were received.

To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 26^th October, 2016. – To follow

The Chair Moved and it was:-

RESOLVED

That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 26^th October, 2016 was approved as a correct record of the proceedings subject to the following amendment:

Item 12.4 Progress Update on Cycling Safety Challenge Session

The Committee wanted an update on what consultation there had been with Hackney Council on the feasibility of keeping the cycle path in the Park open to cyclists in the evening.

The Committee is asked to note that there is a vacancy for the position of the Scrutiny Lead for Communities, Localities and Culture. Accordingly the Committee is requested to consider the appointment of Lead Scrutiny Member for Communities, Localities and Culture.

The Committee noted that there was a vacancy for the position of the Scrutiny Lead for Communities, Localities and Culture.  Accordingly the Chair asked if there was any Member who wished to be considered for the appointment of Lead Scrutiny Member for Communities, Localities and Culture. As a result of discussions on the report Councillor Muhammad Ansar Mustaquim and Councillor Abdul Asad both indicated that they wished to be considered for this vacancy and were invited to address the Committee as to why they felt able to undertake the work of the scrutiny aligned to this Directorate.

As a result of considering their respective presentations the Chair Moved and it was:-

RESOLVED

To defer consideration of the appointment for the position of the Scrutiny Lead for Communities, Localities and Culture.

No decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet 1^st November, 2016 in respect of unrestricted reports on the agenda were ‘called in’.

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

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

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

To receive a presentation on Welfare Reform and to determine areas for further review.  

The Committee considered the presentation from the Deputy Mayor that highlighted a number of key issues relating to Welfare Reform and this was followed by questions and comments from Members which are summarised as follows:

·         How do we provide clear pathways to advise people especially those in the poverty trap that is preventing them from climbing out of welfare dependency?

·         How do we work with our partner agencies?

·         What practical support do we actually offer families regarding Universal Credit?

·         How can the Council and its partners identify any issues those in receipt of benefits will have with the introduction of direct payments?

A summary of the response is set out below:

·         A fact sheet is being prepared for Councillors to enable them to advise their constituents and their dependents;

·         There is a Welfare Reform Task Group that is made up of key agencies.  It has developed a robust Action Plan to provide information and advice following the introduction of Universal Credit.  Practical Advice is also available from the local Food Banks; and

·         The Council and its partners identify any issues through public health and the data collected by Job Centre Plus.  Also local authorities are lobbying the DWP about the amount of support those being transferred onto the new system will receive.

To receive an update on the Budget consultation, development of Capital & Investment strategies and key messages arising from the Autumn statement.

The Committee considered the presentation from Councillor David Edgar (Cabinet Member for Resources) that highlighted a number of key issues in relation to the update on the Budget Consultation, development of Capital & Investment strategies and key messages from the Autumn Statement. This was followed by questions and comments from Members which are summarised as follows:

·         What did LBTH commit to in order to get Central Government to agree to the four year funding settlement?

·         Concerns have been expressed that the increase in the business rates will make life difficult for companies so what is being done to minimise this impact?

·         What is the risk if many of the large financial businesses were to leave Canary Wharf?

·         Which Minority; Black and Ethnic communities were consulted as part of the Budget Consultation?

·         What discussions have there been on the Sharing of Services;

·         It would be helpful to see how LBTH compares to others authorities with regard to development of Capital & Investment strategies; and

·         The Committee wished to see the bases cases that have been submitted and the impacts these changes will have on communities and businesses in LBTH.

A summary of the response is set out below:

·         Councils are required to develop an Efficiency Plan in order to qualify for the four year funding settlement and can be found on this link;

·         The Government has put in place transitional measures to minimise the impact but consideration will be given to a local scheme to help businesses in LBTH;

·         It is too early to predict the impact of the recent Referendum on those Financial Businesses based in Tower Hamlets;

·         The Council’s Communications Team will provide the detail of which groups were consulted;

·         Services such as Internal Audit; Pensions Administration and Reprographics are potential areas for shared service arrangements; and

·         There have been no formal discussions yet as the benefits in implementing such a service model.

To receive a presentation from Mayor John Biggs and to identify areas for additional review and focus.

The Committee considered the presentation from the Mayor that highlighted a number of key issues in relation to the Key Achievement’s for 2016 and the Best Value Action Plan and this was followed by questions and comments from Members which are summarised as follows:

·         The results of Air Quality reports indicate that some traffic calming measures increase the emissions of some pollutants from motor vehicles;

·         Who is responsible for the cleaning of the cycle superhighway?;

·         How effective are the Registered Housing providers in enforcement against those who dump illegally on their estates?;

·         How many schools are in the Tower Hamlets Education Partnership?;

·         Work needs to be done regarding the enforcement of the 20 mph zones;

·         What is being done to address residents’ concerns about nitrous oxide; discarded needles; drug-related wasteand anti-social behaviour?

·         There needs to be more consideration about how the Council engages with residents e.g. Wider use of the Idea Stores;

·         What is being done to address the use of zero hour’s contracts within LBTH?;

·         What is being done to address the way Altab Ali Day is managed?;

·         What is being done to address the numbers of women employed within the NHS?; and

·         When considering the development of the Cycle Highway across Victoria Park consideration needs to be given to the incidence of anti-social behaviour and road safety.

A summary of the response is set out below:

·         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;

·         LBTH undertakes the cleaning of the cycle superhighway;

·         Discussions are being held with the Registered Housing Providers on the enforcement against those who dump illegally on their estates;

·         The majority of Tower Hamlets schools are within the Partnership;

·         There needs to be a regular programme of enforcement and education regarding the 20 mph zones;

·         LBTH and its partner agencies are working to address the use of nitrous oxide; discarded needles; drug-related waste and addressing anti-social behaviour;

·         It is recognised that there needs to be consideration of how LBTH engages with residents;

·         There is not a significant number of staff employed on zero hour’s contracts in LBTH;

·         We are not aware of any particular issues of a contentious nature but will be considering carefully how next year’s event is managed;

·         The employment of women in the NHS is being monitored by the Health and Well-Being Board and through the Inner North East London Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee;

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The Committee noted that:

1.    Inner North East London (INEL) Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be meeting on 13^th December to consider an Overview of NHS 111 Integrated Urgent Care Procurement and Update on North East London Sustainability and Transformation Plan; and

2.    The Review into the Night Time Economy had been convened twice so far and there would be a public session on the 13th December, 2016 and it was hoped the GLA Lead would be in attendance.

To consider any other unrestricted business that the Chair considers to be urgent.

Special Circumstances Justifying Urgent Consideration

This report is presented to agree changes to the proportional membership of the Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committees following recent changes to the political groups on the Council. The report was not available at the time the agenda was published as the changes to political groups had not been notified at that time. The report cannot wait until the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee because it is required that the proportionality be reviewed at the first available meeting following the changes.

The Committee noted that a number of changes in the political composition of the Council have occurred recently following the Whitechapel Ward By-Election where Councillor Shafi Ahmed was elected. In addition, Councillors Shah Alam, Abdul Asad, Aminur Khan and Rabina Khan had given notice to the proper officer that for the purposes of the Local Government & Housing Act 1989 (‘the 1989 Act’) they are no longer members of the Independent Group.

Councillors Shafi Ahmed, Shah Alam, Abdul Asad, Rabina Khan, Aminur Khan also informed the Proper Officer that they are forming a new Group on the Council called ‘Tower Hamlets People’s Alliance’ with Councillor Rabina Khan as the Group Leader.

Consequent to these changes it was noted that the Council had reviewed the allocation of places on its Committees, including the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on Monday 5 December 2016. It is now for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to do the same for its Sub-Committees as they are also covered by the 1989 Act. The proposed new Sub-Committee allocations are set out at paragraph 4.2 overleaf.

As a result of discussions on this report.

The Committee agreed:

1.    The proportionality as outlined in the report;

2.    The allocation of seats on each Sub-Committee:

3.    The size of each Sub-Committee;

4.    The increase of the Grants Scrutiny Sub-Committee to 7 seats; and

5.    That Members and deputies be appointed to serve on those Sub-Committees in accordance with nominations from the political groups to be notified to the Acting Corporate Director, Law, Probity and Governance.

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To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet.

(Time allocated 15 minutes).

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To consider any other exempt/ confidential business that the Chair considers to be urgent.

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