Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room One - Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG. View directions
Contact: David Knight, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4878 E-mail: david.knight@towerhamlets.gov.uk
No. | Item |
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence had been received from The Mayor Lutfur Rahman. |
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST PDF 64 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 Interim Monitoring Officer.
Minutes: No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest were received. |
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UNRESTRICTED MINUTES PDF 115 KB To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 4th November, 2014. Minutes: The Chair Moved and it was:-
RESOLVED
The unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 4th November, 2014 were approved as a correct record of the proceedings. Subject to the following amendments:
7.5. Reference from Council – Judicial Review on the Best Value Inspection.
Paragraph 4 delete “Popular” and insert “Poplar”.
9. Pre-Decision Scrutiny of Unrestricted Cabinet Papers.
The inclusion in the minutes of the responses received to the pre-decision scrutiny questions submitted to the Mayor in Cabinet on 5th November, 2014.
In addition, the Committee agreed that:
7.2 Covert Investigation Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000
Further to minute 7.2 (4th November, 2014 refers) regarding Covert Investigation Under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act the Committee agreed that it should be provided with a brief update that would give information/figures relating to surveillance without RIPA authorisation on both public land and Council land. |
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REQUESTS TO SUBMIT PETITIONS To receive any petitions (to be notified at the meeting).
Minutes: Nil items. |
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UNRESTRICTED REPORTS 'CALLED IN' No decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet (05 November, 2014) in respect of unrestricted reports on the agenda were ‘called in’.
Whether any recent unrestricted decisions 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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SCRUTINY SPOTLIGHT |
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The Mayor To receive a verbal presentation from Mayor Lutfur Rahman. Minutes: The Scrutiny Spotlight did not proceed as Mayor Lutfur Rahman had been unable to attend. Accordingly, the Committee expressed their disappointment that the Mayor had not attended and officers were instructed to request the reason for The Mayor’s absence on this occasion. |
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Social Housing Provider To receive a verbal presentation from Mick Sweeney, Group Chief Executive - One Housing Group, with a focus on performance.
Minutes: The Committee received and noted a presentation from Mick Sweeney, Group Chief Executive One Housing Group (OHG), relating to the standard of housing management on the estates managed by OHG in Tower Hamlets. A summary of the discussion on this item is set out below.
The Committee:
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UNRESTRICTED REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
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Response to reference from Council - Judicial Review on the Best Value Inspection (To follow) Minutes: The Committee received an update that provided an outline to the unsuccessful judicial review proceedings brought against the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in connection with his decision to appoint Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP (PwC) to undertake a Best Value Review of some of the Council’s functions.
The Committee expressed concern that it had not received the reference in a timely manner. It was pointed out that it had been agreed between the Chair and the Monitoring Officer that it would not be appropriate for this reference to be discussed by the Committee whilst the legal proceedings were ongoing. The reference was reported to Committee at the next available opportunity after the legal proceedings concluded.
It was
Resolved
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Best Value Inspection - Overview and Scrutiny PDF 79 KB Minutes: The Committee received and noted a report that detailed references made to Overview and Scrutiny within the best value inspection report undertaken by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC). A summary of the discussion on this report is set out below:
The Committee noted that on the 4th April 2014 the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) had appointed PwC to undertake a best value inspection of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets pursuant to section 10 of the Local Government Act 1999 (as amended by the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014). The appointment letter it was noted had indicated that the focus of the inspection would include:
1. The Authority’s payment of grants and connected decisions; 2. The transfer of property by the Authority to third parties; 3. Spending and the decisions of the Authority in relation to publicity; and 4. The Authority’s processes and practices for entering into contracts.
Whilst the Committee had not been the specific focus of the inspection, PwC’s report, it was noted, had made it clear that their work had regard to matters escalated through the Council’s own governance processes, including Overview and Scrutiny. This it was noted had included for example, Call-ins informing the sample of contracts selected for detailed review. In addition, the Committee was informed that in the PwC’s report four properties had been identified for further investigation (Poplar Town Hall, Sutton Street Depot, 111 – 113 Mellish Street and Limehouse Library) were also known to them as a result of, ‘third party information and/or the authority’s own governance processes.
The inspection report also referenced a number of other issues, or comments, which had been raised by Overview and Scrutiny Committee, or through a Call-in, in its final report, including in relation to:
1. Mainstream Grants; 2. 954 Fund; 3. Community Chest and Community Events; 4. Disposal of Poplar Town Hall; 5. Lease of Sutton Street Depot; and 6. Transfer of funds from reserves to the Mayor’s Office.
Although the Committee was advised that the inspection by PwC had not directly assessed the effectiveness of Overview and Scrutiny Committee or how it fulfilled its functions, the Committee was of the view that scrutiny is a vital component of good governance and improves councils’ decision-making, service provision and cost-effectiveness. It is political without being partisan; it can provide independent challenge to executive decision-making, delivering the accountability which is crucial to modern, efficient local government. The Committee also felt a strong accountability framework promotes confidence in the Council’s administration and that adequate and effective scrutiny is essential to the Council achieving its Best Value Duty.
However, the Committee considered that its recent experience and the evidence of the PWC report is that this important scrutiny role has not always been adequately facilitated under the current governance arrangements of the Council. In particular, the Committee had raised concerns about not being given timely access to information that would have allowed it to undertake scrutiny and that they felt that the Committee had, had ... view the full minutes text for item 7.2 |
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Implementation of Electoral Commission Recommendations PDF 94 KB (To follow) Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee received and noted a report that provided Members with an update on planning work that has been undertaken so far for the UK Parliamentary election to be held on 7th May, 2015. The report focussed mainly on the plans for the verification and counting of votes, in order to comply with the timetable set out by the Electoral Commission. Amongst other things, the Commission’s report of July 2014 recommended that the outline plans should be subject to consultation with local parties before being firmed up at the beginning of December.
It was noted that the proposals in this report are therefore currently the subject of consultation with all interested parties. In addition, the Committee was informed that further rounds of consultation would address other aspects of the election plans including integrity and security measures, absent (postal and proxy) voting and the management and policing of polling stations on Election Day. The discussions on the report are outlined as follows.
The Committee:
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Full Council Reference Regarding Primary School Performance PDF 68 KB Minutes: The Committee noted that at its meeting on 10th September 2014, Council had considered the following motion on the performance of primary schools in the Borough.
· That in the Bethnal Green and Bow area of the Borough, the percentage of primary school children attending a Local Authority school rated as Outstanding by OFSTED has dropped from 29% five years ago, prior the current administration coming in to office, to 8% this year; · That in the same area the percentage of pupils attending a primary school rated as Inadequate has gone from 0% five years ago to 7% this year; · That across the whole Borough the percentage of children attending a primary school rated as Inadequate (4%) is twice as high as any neighbouring borough; · That the percentage of primary school children attending a school rated as Outstanding in Tower Hamlets (15%) would put it towards the bottom of a local league table of schools; and · That this is despite Tower Hamlets receiving approximately the third highest funding per pupil in London.
Accordingly, the Council had asked this Committee to investigate the causes for this decline and report back as soon as possible. However, as a result of discussions on the report, it wasfelt that given the number of pressing issues on the work programme that there was currently insufficient capacity to give the topic the detailed consideration that it required.
It was:-
RESOLVED
· That consideration of the performance of primary schools in the Borough should be referred to next year’s Committee for consideration on their work programme so as to allow full and detailed consideration. |
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VERBAL UPDATES FROM SCRUTINY LEADS (Time allocated – 5 minutes each) Minutes: The Committee received and noted the following brief verbal updates from the Scrutiny Leads.
Councillor Joshua Peck (Chair Overview and Scrutiny Committee)
The Committee noted that the Challenge session report: The implications of conservation areas for extension of family homes would be submitted to the next meeting.
Councillor John Pierce (Scrutiny Lead for Communities and Culture)
The Committee noted that there is a review of what is being undertaken with regard to Anti-Social Behaviour in the Borough.
Councillor Denise Jones (Scrutiny Lead for Children’s Services)
The Committee noted that the next meeting to consider the review of Children’s Services would take place on the 3rd December, 2014.
Councillor Abjol Miah (Scrutiny Lead for Resources)
The Committee noted that the spotlight session on Waste Management would be taking place on 19th January, 2015.
Councillor Dave Chesterton (Scrutiny Lead for Development and Renewal)
The Committee noted that the Section 106 Challenge Session would be taking place on 22nd January, 2015.
Councillor John Pierce (Scrutiny Lead for Communities and Culture)
The Committee requested that a briefing paper be prepared to inform the committee about the programme of tree pruning in the Borough.
Councillor Joshua Peck (Chair Overview and Scrutiny Committee)
The Committee was advised that the report on Poplar Town Hall was awaiting clearance by the independent legal adviser and would then be circulated. |
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PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF UNRESTRICTED CABINET PAPERS To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet.
(Time allocated – 30 minutes). Minutes: The following pre-decision questions submitted to the Mayor in Cabinet [03 December, 2014].
Agenda Item 6.1
Interim Disposals Programme
Question: The Committee asked that the Mayor defers the decision on the proposals for the disposal of the land and buildings in Whitehorse Road/Commercial Road until the Commissioners appointed by the Secretary of State are in place.
Summary of response received at Cabinet: We are seeking Cabinet consent to approve the proposed sale of legacy problematic buildings on Whitehorse/Commercial Road. Cabinet resolve to dispose will commence a chain of events that will involve the valuation, appointment of selling agents, updating of planning briefs/statements and preparation of marketing packs, all of which will take a number of months. By the time Officers are ready to present the properties to the open market, likely March 2015, Commissioners will be in place, and having agreed, if necessary, the disposal policy/rationale going forward; there will be the opportunity to halt the sale pending alternative agreements with Commissioners. We suggest that we proceed with readying the properties for sale, thereby limiting continued cost exposure to cyclical squatting, and that we continue to seek Cabinet resolve in December, 2014 to agree the principle of the sale prior to the appointment of Commissioners which will ultimately expedite matters in due course.
In any event, it is important to point out that we have identified likely future property sales to the Secretary of State and that we have only been asked to enter in to two undertakings not to sell, neither of which relate to Whitehorse/Commercial Road.
Agenda Item 6.3
Renewal of Temporary Accommodation Lease – Relta Limited
Question: The Committee asked for assurances that the 34 properties supplied by Relta Limited for use as temporary accommodation for homeless are fit to live in.
Summary of response received at Cabinet: The properties are currently all occupied and are not unfit for human habitation. As with any property, repair matters will arise during the term of the tenancy and, as circumstances dictate, these would be brought to the attention of the owner’s managing agents.
Agenda Item 10.1
Single Equality Framework
Question: The Committee noted on Page 55 of the report that four energy auctions had been held with more than 4,000 residents signed up to the Energy Co-operative, saving an average of £150 on their annual energy bill. However, the Committee wanted to know how that figure of £150 had been calculated and to receive some assurance that the figure is real and robust.
Summary of response received at Cabinet: A strand of work for the Energy Co-operative is the Collective Energy Switching Scheme. Cost savings made on household energy bills is provided through this scheme. Tower Hamlets working collaboratively with all the other London Boroughs set up the Big London Energy Switch (BLES). BLES works with a specialist energy switching provider named ichoosr who use specialist software platform linked to the energy market similar to those used by most cost comparison websites.
When a household registers for the Collective ... view the full minutes text for item 9. |
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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.
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. Minutes: Nil items. |
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EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the restricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 22nd July, 2014 (to follow).
Minutes: Nil items. |
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EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS 'CALLED IN' No decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet (05 November, 2014) in respect of exempt/ confidential reports on the agenda were ‘called in’.
Whether any recent exempt/ confidential decisions 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 consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet.
(Time allocated 15 minutes). 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. |