Agenda and minutes
Venue: Online 'Virtual' Meeting - https://towerhamlets.public-i.tv/core/portal/home. View directions
Contact: David Knight, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4878 E-mail: david.knight@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Media
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: No apologies for absence were received at this meeting.
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST AND OTHER INTERESTS PDF 214 KB
Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, please see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.
Members are reminded to declare the nature of the interest and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it’s the Members’ responsibility to declare any interests form and to update their register of interest form as required by the Code.
If in doubt as to the nature of your interest, you are advised to seek advice prior to the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services
Additional documents: Minutes: The following Members for transparency declared a potential interest in relation to Item 9 Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions:
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UNRESTRICTED MINUTES PDF 892 KB To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 1st March 2021. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Chair Moved and it was:-
RESOLVED
That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 1st March, 2021 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of the proceedings.
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To note the Committees Action Log – To follow
Additional documents:
Minutes: Received the Action Log, as a result of discussions on the timelines in relations to those matters outlined in the document the Committee noted the following response as to: (i) why the Resources directorate had an overspend of by £4.6m (indicated in the Cabinet Budget Monitoring report for period 9) for temporary accommodation; and (ii) why this overspend had gone unnoticed for so long.
v In previous years it was not uncommon practice to only report gross overspends in Directorates and thus this specific overspend was being offset by underspends elsewhere. The Council’s Finance Improvement Plan is looking to improve budget management and such reporting protocols have now been updated with the need to report all significant under and overspends, which is now taking place and has resulted in this particular overspend being brought to members’ attention. The £4.6m overspend relates to the Housing Subsidy loss from placing Homeless clients into temporary accommodation (T.A.). Rents for T.A. are charged at current Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates + £40, in line with other London Boroughs. This cost is met through the client’s Housing Benefit claim. LBTH claim back the Housing Benefit payment through its subsidy claim at 90% of 2011 LHA rates and the £4.6m represents the difference between the Housing Benefit paid out for T.A. and the amount it can claim back from central government. The rates being paid for TA are higher than the grant received from government and thus if the Council was able to procure more cost-effective accommodation, the level of spend would reduce.
In conclusion, it was agreed to have more detailed breakdowns of such overspends.
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REQUESTS TO SUBMIT PETITIONS To receive any petitions (to be notified at the meeting).
Additional documents: Minutes: No requests were received at this meeting. |
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FORTHCOMING DECISIONS PDF 557 KB To note the published Forthcoming Decisions Plan on those significant decisions that the Council expects to take over the next few months. Additional documents: Minutes: Noted |
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The Committee will receive an update on Covid-19 from Somen Banerjee – Director of Public Health. Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee received an update from Covid-19 from Somen Banerjee – Director of Public Health, the main points of the questioning maybe summarised as follows:
The Committee:
v Noted that the numbers vaccinated are lower than in other local authorities because Tower Hamlets has a disproportionately young population with the lowest proportion of over 65s in the country at 6 percent. However, when one looks at Borough in comparison to the rest of North-East London the numbers vaccinated in relation to the average being 2 percentage points lower. In addition, it was noted that there is work being undertaken in the Borough with GP practices and community pharmacies. v Indicated that careful consideration was required going forward on about how the Committee continues to scrutinise the impact and response of Covid-19 as new challenges and situations emerge and that this will need to be reflected in the Committees Work Programme.
In conclusion, the Chair thanked Somen Banerjee for his presentation and to all members and guests for their contributions in the discussions on this topic.
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SCRUTINY SPOTLIGHT Additional documents: |
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Town Hall - Impact on Assets/LBTH Estate; Financing, Capacity PDF 36 KB The Committee will undertake a review the progress on the plans for the New Town Hall and how this is being delivered.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee considered a presentation that reviewed the progress on the plans for the New Town Hall and how this is being delivered. The presentation covered (i) financing of the project; (ii) changing “the way we work”; and (iii) “Resident Hub” and the “Local Presence” The Chair welcomed Mayor Biggs; Ann Sutcliffe (Corporate Director for Place); Yasmin Ali Project Director and Sarah Steer Project Manager (Town Hall Project) to tonight’s meeting. The key themes arising from the questioning on the presentation may be summarised as follows:
v Was advised that the funding for the project comes primarily from the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) which operates under a policy framework set by HM Treasury and ensures that lending to local government complies with statute. Also borrowing from the PWLB is very straightforward and at a very low rate of interest. v Observed that the new civic centre will make full use of its location in the most accessible part of Tower Hamlets. It will be served by four different train and tube lines including Crossrail, along with well-used bus and cycle routes. The building has been designed to be more than just an office for council staff. v Was reminded that the business case for this project it had been demonstrated that it was better value for money than renting a building elsewhere or extending tenancy agreement for Mulberry Place and that in spite of being subject to a further review in the light of the different financing options becoming available it still is the most viable method of financing the project. v Noted that it is being constructed on the site of the former Royal London Hospital building, the new civic centre will provide 26,700m2 of civic space, with the ground floor designed for public use. In addition, LBTH will be welcoming partner organisations to co-locate in the building, which will enable residents to be served by a diverse range of services from one site. v Noted that the entire ground floor of the new civic centre will be dedicated to public use. A new Idea Store that will include supported access to a full range of council services alongside books, a café, drop in space and new public square. v Expressed concern that as the new civic centre has been designed to be more than just an office for council staff how will this impact on the future of the libraries and arts provision in Whitechapel for example given its close proximity to the London Hospital site on the Whitechapel Idea Store. Especially as this was a trusted space where residents are able to explore and share reading, information, and knowledge. In response it was noted that the Whitechapel Ideas Store was to be re-developed into part of a learning campus with a stronger focus on learning, skills and supporting residents into work. v Noted in response that the intention of the Council regarding cultural and creative enrichment in the ... view the full minutes text for item 8.1 |
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The Committee will undertake a review the extent of Covid-19 impact on Domestic Abuse and effectiveness of partners response
Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee received a presentation that outlined the extent of Covid-19 impact on Domestic Abuse and effectiveness of partners response. Including (i) national and local policy landscape; (ii) culturally sensitive provision; (iii) funding; (iv) impact of pandemic; (v) the Independent domestic violence advisory (IDVA) provision; (vi) adult and children social care; (vii) housing for victims; and (viii) the next steps
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VERBAL UPDATES FROM SCRUTINY LEADS (Time allocated – 5 minutes each) - To follow. Additional documents: Minutes: The Committee noted the updates that had been submitted from the Scrutiny Leads.
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PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF UNRESTRICTED CABINET PAPERS PDF 699 KB To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet.
(Time allocated – 30 minutes). Additional documents: Minutes: Following comments by the Committee the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions (PDSQ) were agreed for submission to the Cabinet on the 24th March 2021 (See attached appendix).
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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.
Additional documents: 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. Additional documents: Minutes: As the agenda circulated contained no exempt/ confidential reports and there was therefore no requirement to exclude the press and public to allow for its consideration.
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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). Additional documents: 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.
Additional documents: Minutes: Nil items
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