Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Room C1, 1st Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: Angus Taylor, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4333 E-mail: angus.taylor@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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COUNCILLOR MOTIN UZ ZAMAN (CHAIR) IN THE CHAIR
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence.
Minutes: Apologies for absence were received on behalf of: · Councillor Abdal Ullah, Scrutiny Lead for Development and Renewal for whom Councillor Khales Uddin Ahmed was deputising. · Mayor Lutfur Rahman. · Cllr Oliur Rahman, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services. · Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor · Mr John Wilkins, Deputy CE East London NHS Foundation Trust. · David Galpin (Head of Legal Services - Community) for whom Jill Bell (Head of Legal Services - Environment) was deputising.
Noted
WELCOME
At this point the Chair welcomed those present to the meeting and in particular Robert McCulloch-Graham, Corporate Director Education Social Care and Wellbeing, newly appointed and attending on his first day in the job at LBTH. He also welcomed Councillor Abdal Asad, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, for attending for the Scrutiny Spotlight Session.
The Chair noted that water and refreshments had not been delivered. Accordingly he requested that the Executive ensure that appropriate refreshments were provided at the next and future OSC meetings as a matter of priority.
Action by: Angus Taylor (Principal Committee Officer, Democratic Services, CE’s) Jean Waterson (East India Dock Manager, Facilities Management)
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST PDF 56 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 Monitoring Officer.
Minutes: No declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or other declarations of interest were made.
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UNRESTRICTED MINUTES PDF 162 KB To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 10th September 2013.
Minutes: Matter Arising The Chair informed OSC members that: · At the last OSC meeting he had indicated that: o He would be inviting the Mayor to attend the next OSC meeting [1st October], for one of a series of ‘spotlight sessions’ during the year. o He would also be requesting the Mayor’s diary commitments on future scheduled OSC meeting dates, so as to identify an OSC meeting he could attend if he could not attend on 1st October. · He had extended the invitation at Cabinet on 11th September and formalised this in a subsequent letter. Unfortunately the Mayor had declined the invitation, because of prior commitments and this was the fourth such declined invitation. · In response to the Chair’s written request for the Mayor’s diary sheets, the Mayor had indicated he was available to attend the OSC meeting on 4th February 2014, however no details of his diary commitments on other scheduled OSC meeting dates had been provided. The Chair considered that as the spotlight was intended to focus on the challenges and opportunities the Mayor foresaw for delivery of improved quality of life for local people in the year ahead, with the passage of time the spotlight theme would be less meaningful. Additionally the Chair felt that the Mayor’s attendance should be congruent with the 2013/14 OSC Work Programme and to determine this he required details of the Mayor’s diary commitments on other scheduled OSC meeting dates. · Therefore, with OSC agreement, he intended to invite the Mayor to the next OSC meeting [5th November} for the spotlight session, but also to again request details of the Mayor’s diary commitments on future scheduled OSC meeting dates, should he not be able to attend the meeting on 5th November.
The Chair Moved and it was:-
Resolved
That the unrestricted minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on 10th September 2013, be agreed as a correct record of the proceedings, and the Chair be authorised to sign them accordingly.
Action by: Angus Taylor (Principal Committee Officer, Democratic Services, CE’s)
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REQUESTS TO SUBMIT PETITIONS To receive any petitions (to be notified at the meeting).
Minutes: There were no petitions.
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SCRUTINY SPOTLIGHT - EDUCATION, SOCIAL CARE AND WELLBEING DIRECTORATE To receive an oral presentation from Councillor Oliur Rahman, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Councillor Abdul Asad, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, with a focus on early education provision for two year olds.
Minutes: Councillor Abdal Asad, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing, gave a short presentation, which provided the OSC with a requested update on several key issues including:- · Progress towards targets for individual budgets for social care, and the support available to service users in designing their care packages. · The number of in house homecare workers retained by the Council following service restructure, and management arrangements during the transition. · Commissioning of service hubs for people with learning disabilities, and public health commissioning.
Robert McCulloch-Graham, Corporate Director Education Social Care and Wellbeing, Anne Canning, Service Head Learning and Achievement, andMonica Forty, Head of Learning and Achievement Birth to Eleven, were also in attendance for this item and highlighted the main challenges facing the directorate regarding delivery of improved services for children including: · Pupil Place Planning · Pressures facing the Special Education Needs (SEN) Service · Legislative changes underway to SEN Policy · Adoption targets · Troubled Families Programme · Academies and free schools · Early Learning provision for eligible two year olds (detailed Powerpoint presentation with slides Tabled, a copy of which would be interleaved with the minutes).
A comprehensive discussion followed, which focused on the following points: · Consideration that Tower Hamlets was under-performing compared with other similar London Boroughs (LBs) in turning troubled families around, with clarification sought as to the reasons for this. LBTH had undertaken significant work in this area for some time, had performed well compared with other LBs and nationally and funding had been secured for another year of the Troubled Families Programme (TFP). LBTH was innovative in approach and Job Centre Plus were now engaged with the initiative, which had previously been a block to progress. · Whether there were any early indications that conversion to academies and free school status, was impacting on the viability of existing community schools, as subscription to their school rolls fell. Several schools had already converted, others conversions were underway and there would be more in the future. Pupils at an academy/ free school coming from the catchment area for other community schools, would leave places at the latter for take up by other pupils. As the market opened a displacement effect was anticipated, but this was currently manageable, and the LEA would continue to work collaboratively to serve the needs of the community given it had no legal powers over such schools.. · What were the potential consequences of not meeting the statutory entitlement to early learning provision for two year olds (providing the required pupil places). Also whether Children’s Centres provision was included in the figures for early learning provision for two year olds. Government appeared to now realise that expectations of two year old provision placed on local councils were unrealistic/ undeliverable and was looking for ways to scale back required provision. Children’s Centres were not included unless they operated a linked childcare project for two year olds. · Was there sufficient capital funding for two year olds pupil places, given it was understood a bid for Mainstream Grants Programme funding for a nursery ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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SCRUTINY SPOTLIGHT - MAYOR To receive an oral presentation from Mayor Lutfur Rahman.
Minutes: The Scrutiny Spotlight did not proceed as Mayor Lutfur Rahman had been unable to attend.
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UNRESTRICTED REPORTS 'CALLED IN' Whether any decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet (31st July 2013) in respect of unrestricted reports on the agenda were ‘Called In’ will be notified at the meeting.
Whether any recent unrestricted decisions of the Mayor outside Cabinet, taken under executive powers, were “Called In” will be notified at the meeting.
Minutes: The clerk informed OSC members that: · No unrestricted decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet on 11th September 2013 had been “Called In”. · No recent unrestricted decisions of the Mayor outside Cabinet, taken under executive powers, had been “Called In”.
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UNRESTRICTED REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION Minutes: Variation of Order of Business At this juncture the Chair informed OSC members that he considered it appropriate that the Order of Business be varied so that agenda items 8.1 and 8.2 were considered in reverse order to that detailed in the agenda, to ensure Officers in attendance for the Scrutiny Spotlight and agenda item 8.2 not be unnecessarily delayed from leaving the proceedings. Accordingly the Chair Moved and it was:-
Resolved
That the Order of Business be varied as below: · Agenda Item 8.2 “Reviewing the impact of the Children’s Centres restructure – report of the Scrutiny Working Group Progress Report”be considered as the next business. · Agenda Item 8.1 “Electoral Matters Update” be considered thereafter. · Subsequently the OSC return to the order of business detailed in the agenda.
However for ease of reference OSC deliberations and subsequent decisions taken, are set out below in the order detailed in the agenda.
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Electoral Matters Update PDF 204 KB To consider and comment on the information provided in the report.
Minutes: Please note that the order of business was varied by resolution of the OSC earlier in the proceedings to allow this item of business to be considered after agenda item 8.2. However for ease of reference, OSC deliberations in respect of agenda item 8.1, and subsequent decisions taken, are set out below in the order detailed in the agenda.
Mr John Williams, Service Head Democratic Services and also Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer, introduced and highlighted key points in the report, which provided an update on various matters concerning electoral registration and the conduct of elections, including the development of a local protocol and other ongoing work in liaison with the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and the Electoral Commission to ensure the integrity of the electoral registration and election processes. Louise Stamp, Electoral Services Manager, and James Pack, Deputy Electoral and Operations Manager, were also in attendance for this item. · Regarding the current electoral canvass a publicity leaflet on the canvass arrangements had also been Tabled, a copy of which would be interleaved with the minutes. · In relation to the review of polling districts and polling places, responses to consultation were currently being processed with final proposals to be submitted to General Purposes Committee on 18th December.
A comprehensive discussion followed, which focused on the following points: · Given the concerns expressed regarding alleged postal vote (PV) fraud in recent Council by-elections (although in the great majority of associated complaints no actual fraud had been found), what measures were being taken to prevent PV fraud at the important elections in May 2014. All such complaints had been thoroughly investigated by the MPS and the outcome reported to a recent OSC meeting. The proposed Local Protocol included a dedicated email address for complaints and there was an undertaking to investigate these within 24 hours. The MPS had also undertaken to feedback on all investigations, initially within 48 hours. · Comment that the “Local Protocol” had no standing in Law, if breached; clarification therefore sought and given as to the Officer rationale for considering it would be more effective than previous protocols, also as to consequences/ sanctions for candidates who did not sign up to it. The Protocol did not have any force in Law, and if candidates refused to sign it they could not be forced to do so. However Officers anticipated that most would be willing to sign up to it and would want to be seen to be doing so, and this would raise the profile of issues the Council was trying to address. · Clarification sought and given as to what measures were being taken to ensure electoral canvassers could gain entry to residences in secure/gated blocks. The initial canvass forms were being delivered by Royal Mail and if they did not respond, this would provide a basis to take the matter up with managing agents of the properties for a visit by the canvasser in January. If required the canvasser could be accompanied by a ... view the full minutes text for item 8.1 |
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Children's Centre Scrutiny Review Update PDF 104 KB To consider a progress report on implementation of the Children’s Centres Scrutiny Review recommendations and whether further scrutiny is required or further progress monitoring.
Additional documents: Minutes: Please note that the order of business was varied by resolution of the OSC earlier in the proceedings to allow this item of business to be considered before agenda item 8.1. However for ease of reference, OSC deliberations in respect of agenda item 8.2, and subsequent decisions taken, are set out below in the order detailed in the agenda.
Councillor Amy Whitelock Gibbs, Scrutiny Lead Children Schools & Families, introduced the report, which provided a progress update on implementation of recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Review “Reviewing the impact of the Children’s Centres (CCs) restructure” (May 2012) and subsequent OSC review of progress (April 2013) resulting in additional recommendations and requests for further information. Monica Forty, Head of Learning and Achievement Birth to Eleven, were also in attendance for this item and highlighted progress on implementation of the Review recommendations since April 2013. · Publicising the services on offer in new Children’s Centres - information now available on the Council website. · Children’s Centres Funding and Office Assistants/ Receptionists –Funding had been identified for backdated pay in the restructure period, and also to recruit temporary staff to cover some vacant posts/maternity leave, however the service was operating at the margins now. There was no funding to increase capacity and any future savings required would result in a reduction in frontline staff. · Robust data collection – Ofsted inspections of Governance, Communications and data were underway and going well, so any requirements arising around data collection would soon known. LBTH was linking up with Barking & Dagenham, noted for good practice in data capture/ analysis to undertake work on this in 2013/14. However an additional data analyst post was needed. · Innovative Communications – text and group calls service to communicate with parents hoped to commence in November but there remained some Legal/ technical/ training issues to address. The Parents Forum had been rejuvenated although stricter membership rules were required.
The Chair requested that as work was undertaken to take forward the Scrutiny Review recommendations, that Officers kept Councillor Whitelock Gibbs, Scrutiny Lead Scrutiny Lead Children Schools & Families informed of progress. He then Moved and it was:-
Resolved
The contents of the report be noted.
Action by: Vicky Allen (Strategy Policy & Performance Officer, Corporate Strategy & Equality Service, CE’s)
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VERBAL UPDATES FROM SCRUTINY LEADS To receive an oral update from each of the Scrutiny Lead Members.
Minutes: No updates were given.
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PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF UNRESTRICTED CABINET PAPERS To determine a process for agreement of pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet on 8th October, as on this occasion the agenda for the Cabinet meeting will not be published and available for pre-scrutiny until shortly before the OSC meeting.
Minutes: The Chair commented that, due to the postponement of the October Cabinet meeting by a week, the agenda had not been published and available for pre-scrutiny until shortly before the OSC meeting. An arrangement was consequently needed for agreement of pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to the Mayor in Cabinet on 9th October.
Councillor Rachael Saunders, OSC Vice-Chair, considered that the report “Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) – Revised Draft Charging Schedule” in the October Cabinet agenda lacked clarity. Accordingly Councillor Saunders proposed that Officers draft a briefing note for all OSC members regarding the nature of CIL and the implications of the anticipated reduction in Section 106 resources for the Council.
The Chair Moved (taking account of the proposal from Councillor Saunders) and it was:
Resolved
1. That any pre-decision questions/comments be submitted by email to Frances Jones by 12 noon on Monday, 7th October and that the Chair agree which were to go forward to the Mayor in Cabinet on 9th October, in consultation with Councillor Saunders, OSC Vice-Chair, and a Minority Group Member.
2. That a briefing note regarding the nature of CIL and the implications of the anticipated reduction in Section 106 resources for the Council, be circulated to all OSC members.
Action by: Frances Jones (One Tower Hamlets Service Manager, Corporate Strategy & Equality Service, CE’s) (Resolution 1) Owen Whalley (Service Head Planning & Building Control, Development & Renewal) (Resolution 2) |
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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.
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References from full Council 18 September 2013 To consider the request of the full Council, held on 18 September, for inclusion of items in the OSC Work Programme as below: - · Watts Grove Depot Project & financial mechanisms for Dame Colet House & Poplar Baths projects · Executive Mayor’s Car
Minutes: (1) Watts Grove Depot Project & financial mechanisms for Dame Colet House & Poplar Baths projects
(2) Executive Mayor’s Car
The Chair informed OSC members that the full Council (18th September) had:- · Considered a motion submitted by Members of the Council and agreed to “instruct the OSC to investigate the reasons for the collapse of the Watts Grove Depot project, and the sustainability and suitability of the financial mechanisms used to fund Dame Colet House and Poplar Baths and to report back to full Council (27th November) on its findings.” · Considered the report of the Acting Corporate Director Resources in relation to the Executive Mayor’s Car, and agreed “That, in line with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the OSC be requested to review the report and the issues it raises and to report their findings back to Council.”.
The Chair Moved and it was:
Resolved
1. That:- (a) Watts Grove Depot Project & financial mechanisms for Dame Colet House & Poplar Baths projects be included in the 2013 14 OSC Work Programme. (b) The Executive Mayor’s Car be included in the 2013 14 OSC Work Programme. (c) That both items be placed on the agenda for consideration at the next OSC ( 5th November), with a view to reporting OSC findings to full Council on 27th November; and
2. That, to enable the OSC to undertake full/ appropriate scrutiny of the issues (set out at resolution 1 above) and reach an informed decision/ conclusion, that (a) The Corporate Director Development and Renewal be instructed to prepare a comprehensive report, containing all relevant information on the matter referred to at resolution 1(a) above, for OSC consideration. (b) The Acting Corporate Director Resources be instructed to prepare a comprehensive report, containing all relevant information on the matter referred to at resolution 1(b) above, for OSC consideration.
Action by: Aman Dalvi (Corporate Director Development and Renewal) [Resolution 1a, 1c and 2a] Chris Holme (Acting Corporate Director Resources) [Resolution 1b, 1c and 2b]
Angus Taylor (Principal Committee Officer, Democratic Services, CE’s) [Resolution 1 & 2]
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Fairness Commission Report The Chair informed OSC members that given the Fairness Commission (FC) report had been due to be launched/ issued on 30th September, with the Mayor to respond to its recommendations in due course, he had considered it would be more appropriate for the OSC to consider the FC report after the Mayor has made his response (rather than at the OSC meeting that evening as scheduled in OSC Work Programme), and had asked Officers to re-schedule the item accordingly.
Councillor Rachael Saunders, OSC Vice-Chair, commented that it was disappointing/ regretful that OSC had not been consulted or engaged by the FC, before their report was published, as she considered its broadbrush report could have been strengthened by such engagement. The OSC in other boroughs had been an integral and helpful element in the FC process, and Councillor Saunders had requested previously that the FC attend the OSC in LBTH.
Action by: Angus Taylor (Principal Committee Officer, Democratic Services, CE’s)
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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. 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.
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EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES Nil items.
Minutes: Nil items.
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EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS 'CALLED IN' There were no decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet (31st July 2013) in respect of exempt/ confidential reports on the agenda, and therefore none eligible for ‘Call In’.
Whether any recent exempt/ confidentialdecisions of the Mayor outside Cabinet, taken under executive powers, were “Called In” will be notified at the meeting.
Minutes: Nil items.
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PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL) CABINET PAPERS To determine a process for agreement of pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet on 8th October, as on this occasion the agenda for the Cabinet meeting will not be published and available for pre-scrutiny until shortly before the OSC meeting.
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.
Minutes: Nil items.
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