Apologies were received from Councillor Bodrul Choudhury.

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

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest were received at the

meeting.

To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 23 January 2023 and 20 February 2023.

Members requested an update on the Gill Street application.

The Chair confirmed that a response from the borough commander has been requested on last committee meeting and officers will circulate this offline to members and include in next month's action log update when it is received.

RESOLVED

That the unrestricted minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 30 January 2023 and 20 February 2023 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of the proceedings

The following items are due to be considered at the Cabinet meeting 29 March 2023. The committee is invited to consider the reports below, which can be found on the links provided to the agenda for the Cabinet meeting.

The Strategic Plan Q3 Performance was presented by Stephen Halsey, Interim Chief Executive, Stephen Bramah, Head of Corporate Strategy, and Improvement, Joseph Leach, Data Analytics, Business Intelligence and Performance Lead.

RESOLVED:

Members noted the report

The Budget Monitoring 2022/23 Quarter 3 was presented by Cllr Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and Cost of Living and Nisar Visram, Director of Finance Audit and Procurement

The committee raised the following comments and questions:

·       Members raised concern about the timelines of budget savings.

·       What are the drivers behind the increase in the year to end actuals? Officers confirmed they would come back in writing with an answer.

RESOLVED:

Members noted the report.

A presentation on the Climate Emergency and A Cleaner and Greener Future for Tower Hamlets was presented by Dan Jones, Director of the Public Realm and Abdul Khan, Service Manager, Housing.

The committee raised the following comments and questions:

·       What planning is in place to ensure that all departments are working towards Net Zero Carbon? Officers reported on the staff working group, which has staff from across the council. More can be done to ensure staff are more aware of the actions they can take, and a training programme is being discussed.

·       What reporting is in place to ensure Cabinet and this committee will be informed of performance reporting? Officers confirmed that quarterly reporting could come to the committee, as requested.

·       What data collection has been done to understand overheating in council homes? Officers confirmed they will return to the committee on overheating in council homes.

·       Is the council communications campaign strong enough with residents to ensure they are aware of the support they could receive for cost of energy? And the action the council is taking around climate change? Officers confirmed that coming strategy around communications around climate, including tendering a new contract to help the council in this way.

RESOLVED:

Members noted the presentation.

Improving Air Quality in Tower Hamlets was presented by Dan Jones, Director of the Public Realm, and Dave Tolley, Head of Environmental Health & Trading Standards.

The committee raised the following comments and questions:

·       What role will low traffic neighbourhoods have on the air quality action plan? Will funding be a concern? Officers confirmed that within the five-year action plan, there is room for review, and this can allow for council and resident feedback, which can include low traffic neighbourhoods.

RESOLVED:

Members noted the presentation

To review the Cabinet agenda and to consider and agree any pre-decision scrutiny questions to be presented to the Cabinet meeting 29 March 2023

Members agreed the following questions:

Item 6.2 – Strategic Plan Q3 Performance Report Whether the Mayor and Corporate Leadership Team will be seeking the views of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee about the suit of Key Performance Indicators to be used in 2023/24 and the targets that will be set for each of those?

Item 6.6 – Voluntary Sector Grants Programme Whether the Mayor will be reinstating the Grants Scrutiny Sub-committee recommended following the Secretary of State’s directions to Tower Hamlets Council in 2014 following receipt of the PwC report, which revealed inadequacies in the allocation of grants to voluntary sector organisations?

To review forthcoming decisions expected to be taken by the Mayor and identify any areas of further Scrutiny for committee.

A copy of the forthcoming decisions can be found here

RESOLVED:

Members noted the forward plan

To consider any decisions that have been called in.

Nil items.

To hear verbal updates from the Overview and Scrutiny Leads on their work across the Council.

RESOLVED:

Members Noted the updates.

For the committee to review and note Work Program and Action Log

RESOLVED:

Members Noted the reports.

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

Nil Items.

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

Nil items.

As the agenda circulated had no exempt/confidential reports and there was therefore no requirement to exclude the press and public to allow for its consideration

Nil Items

Nil items.

Nil Items

Nil items.

Nil Items

Nil items.

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

Nil items.