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 Monitoring Officer.

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest 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 23^rd April, 2019.

That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 20^th May, 2019 were approved as a correct record of the proceedings.

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

The Committee was advised that no requests to submit any petition’s had been received for consideration at this meeting.

The Committee is asked to note the Forthcoming Decisions Plan (or ‘Forward Plan’) that contains information on significant decisions that the Council expects to take over the next few months.

The Committee received and noted the published Cabinet Forward.

No decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet on 24^th April, 2019 in respect of unrestricted reports on the agenda were ‘called in’.

Nil items

The report had not been published five clear days in advance of the meeting.   However, the Chair of the Committee may indicate that he was satisfied that it was necessary to consider information about the Council’s Scrutiny Appointments and Terms of Reference without that consideration being delayed to a later meeting.

The Committee received a report regarding the establishment of the Scrutiny Sub-Committees and Appointment of Members to those Sub-Committees.

The Committee then asked a number of questions about the proposals and the points raised are summarised below:

The Committee:

·         Indicated that there was merit in considering the establishment of a  task and finish group, that would specifically looks at environmental issues to ensure that the Borough is a pleasant place to live for all;

·         Agreed that the Council’s scrutiny of grants process should now be discharged through the main Overview and Scrutiny Committee under the remit of the Scrutiny Lead for Resources. This would ensure that the decision-making process would remain transparent, accountable and inclusive;

·         Formally thanked Kim Hayman and Sue Kenten for their contributions to the work of the Grants Scrutiny Sub-Committee; and

·         Asked if it was possible to consider the co-option of a person or persons on to the Grants Determination (Cabinet) Sub-Committee.

As a result of discussions on the report the Chair moved and it was RESOLVED:

1. To thank Kim Hayman and Sue Kenten for their contributions to the work of the Grants Scrutiny Sub-Committee;
2. That Councillor Sufia Alam would be Vice-Chair of the Committee and Scrutiny Lead for Children’s Services (becoming Scrutiny Lead for Children & Education):
3. That the Scrutiny Lead for Governance (becoming Scrutiny Lead for Community Safety & Environment) would be Councillor Bex White;
4. That the Scrutiny Lead for Health, Adults and Community (becoming Scrutiny Lead for Health & Adults) would be Councillor Kahar Chowdhury;
5. Scrutiny Lead for Place (becoming Scrutiny Lead for Housing & Regeneration) would be Councillor Dipa Das; and
6. Scrutiny Lead for Resources (becoming Scrutiny Lead for Resources & Finance) would be Councillor Tarik Khan.
7. To note the co-option requirements for education in accordance with legislation, as set out at Paragraphs 3.3 to 3.9 of the report;
8. To note that establishment of the Sub-Committees as set out in Appendix 1 to the report;
9. To refer back to the Political Groups for confirmation on the list of Members for the Sub-Committees prior to their formal ratification; and 
10. To agree the respective terms of reference as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

This report introduces the Draft Provisional Outturn report for 2018/19. It includes details of the Revenue and Capital outturn positions, the projected position of the Dedicated Schools Budget and the Housing Revenue Account and outlines progress made against savings targets as well as other key financial indicators.

The Committee is asked to note and comment on the report which is to go to Cabinet on 22nd May, 2019.

The Committee received a report that introduced the Draft Provisional Outturn report for 2018/19. It also included details of the Revenue and Capital outturn positions, the projected position of the Dedicated Schools Budget and the Housing Revenue Account and outlines progress made against savings targets as well as other key financial indicators.

The Committee asked a number of questions about the proposals and the points raised are summarised below:

The Committee noted:

·         That the Council could choose to monitor its budgetary performance against an alternative timeframe but it is considered that the reporting schedule provides the appropriate balance to allow strategic oversight of the budget by members and to manage the Council’s exposure to financial risk;

·         That more frequent monitoring is undertaken by officers and considered by individual Service Directors and the Council’s Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) including approval of management action;

·         That notwithstanding the above, this is the draft outturn report and it is good financial management practice to report this to elected members;

·         That the extent that there are options for managing the issues identified, these have been highlighted in the report in order to ensure that the Elected Members have a full picture of the issues and proposed solutions as part of their scrutinising;

·         The Capital Board and the Corporate Directors to improve performance are holding people to account for the schemes that they are delivering;

·         That the fining of illegally parked cars continues to raise monies to fund improvements/maintenance of the street scene;

·         That consideration is being given to finding a value for money way to utilise assets such as Jack Dash House e.g. Property guardianship whereby people are granted accommodation within such a property in exchange for keeping the property under observation and in good condition, with their continued occupation providing a disincentive for the property to be occupied by squatters;

·         That the Council are working to mitigate overspends through effective policies in service areas e.g. SEN Review solving SEN Budget pressures with particular reference to the Transport Budget;

·         That the Directorates are working to improve recruitment/retention in service areas so as to reduce the need for agency workers;

·         Wished to receive a breakdown of the service areas by budget;

·         That with regard to the Fair Funding Review there are many factors that drive the demand for and cost of services within London. The overarching drivers, however, relate to deprivation, area costs (linked to London’s unique labour and property markets), and London's changing population. Therefore, it is important that the needs assessment within any new funding formula continues to include an area cost adjustment. This is incredibly important for London as the costs of delivering services in the capital and surrounding area are higher as a result its unique property and labour markets;

·         That Quarterly Monitoring reports would be provided to the Scrutiny Lead Member for Resources;

·         It would receive regular updates on the expenditure on the to turn the former Royal London Hospital site in Whitechapel into the Borough’s new Town Hall; and

·         Noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.2

The report had not been published five clear days in advance of the meeting.   However, the Chair of the Committee may indicate that he was satisfied that it was necessary to consider information about the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Toolkit without that consideration being delayed to a later meeting.

The Committee received and noted a report that presented a draft of the Overview and Scrutiny toolkit 2019-20, which has been developed to replace the outgoing scrutiny toolkit 2016-17. The Committee asked a number of questions about the proposals and the points raised are summarised below:

The Committee:

·         Noted that the main purpose of the toolkit is to offer practical guidance for Members, senior leaders and scrutiny support officers when carrying out scrutiny activities;

·         Noted that this draft version has been based upon the 2018 -19 Overview and Scrutiny Committees structure and some of the areas that will need to be amended to reflect the new committee structure and portfolios;

·         Noted that the toolkit 2019-20 will also provide a practical guide to Members, senior officers and scrutiny support officers;

·         Agreed that making the Overview and Scrutiny toolkit 2019-20 accessible to the wider Council will foster and develop a stronger organisational culture of scrutiny e.g. how residents get involved more in the scrutiny function and the equality impact of services.

As a result of discussions on the report the Chair moved and it was RESOLVED to note the report.

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

(Time allocated – 30 minutes).

The Committee received and noted those questions to be presented at Cabinet by the Chair in relation to unrestricted business on the agenda as as an appendices to these minutes.

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

Raine's Foundation SCHOOL

The Committee noted that recommendations have been put forward

that the Council proceeds with a public consultation in June 2019 to close the school in August 2020.The Committee raised a number of questions about the proposals and the points raised are summarised below:

The Committee:

·         Wished to see the engagement of parents in the public consultation process;

·         Agreed that future of Raines School be included in the Children and Education Work Programme and that the Scrutiny Function is actively improved in the process; and

·         Wanted the Sub-Committee to consider as appropriate this issue and its impact across all service areas.

As 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.

Nil items

Nil items

No decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet on 24^th April, 2019 in respect of exempt/ confidential reports on the agenda were ‘called in’.

Nil items

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

(Time allocated 15 minutes).

Nil items

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