Agenda and 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 JOSHUA PECK IN THE CHAIR
INTRODUCTIONS
Chair, Councillor Joshua Peck welcomed all members to the meeting. He outlined his aims for the Committee’s work in the forthcoming municipal year informing all present that he wished this work, not only to comprise scrutiny of Council services and call-in but also to focus on the overview and policy development elements of the Committee’s role. He asked all Members to support this work which he wished to deliver apolitically.
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APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIR To appoint a Vice-Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the duration of the municipal year. Minutes: Councillor Peck invited nominations for the position of Vice-chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) for the duration of the municipal year. Councillors John Pierce and Maium Miah were nominated and seconded respectively. The nominations were each put to the vote and each received four votes. Chair, Councillor Joshua Peck then made a casting vote and Councillor John Pearce was elected Vice-Chair of OSC for the municipal year.
RESOLVED
That Councillor John Pearce be appointed Vice-Chair of OSC for the duration of the municipal year.
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: No apologies for absence were received.
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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 Interim Monitoring Officer.
Minutes: No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made.
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UNRESTRICTED MINUTES PDF 109 KB To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 1 April 2014. Minutes: The minutes of the OSC held on 1 April 2014 were presented.
RESOLVED
That the minutes of the overview and scrutiny committee held on 1 April 2014 be approved as a correct record of proceedings.
The following matters arising from the minutes were also noted:
Councillor Denise Jones enquired: · whether the action requested relating to the circulation of education maintenance grant criteria to Committee Members had been undertaken and asked that this information be re-circulated to the Committee. · whether the information requested regarding the identity of the auditors engaged to undertake the investigation on the sale of Old Poplar Town Hall had been circulated to the Committee and asked that this information also be re-circulated.
Councillor Peck requested that · questions, comments and information recorded in future minutes be attributed to officers and members with whom they originate. · the resolution relating to scrutiny reports of reviews and challenge sessions requiring “the Service Head For Corporate Equality Strategy And Equality be authorised to amend the draft report before submission to Cabinet after consultation with the Chair …” should be revised to “…in agreement with the Chair of the Panel and of OSC.”
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VARY ORDER OF BUSINESS
Councillor Peck informed the Committee that he had received a request to consider an item of urgent business.
The Chair moved and it was agreed that the order of business be varied. Item 8 was considered as the first item of business and following this, other items were considered according to the printed order resuming from agenda item 5.
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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 FOR CONSIDERATION |
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To note Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Terms of Reference, Membership, Quorum, and Dates of future meetings.
To agree a start time for scheduled meetings during the remainder of the Municipal Year 2014/15; and adopt the protocols as set out at Appendix 4 to the report.
To note the guidance to facilitate the conduct of OSC business, in line with statutory and constitutional requirements.
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Clerk introduced the report circulated at agenda item 6.1, which informed the committee of the internal arrangements and procedures that govern the delivery of OSC meetings.
Regarding Scrutiny Lead Portfolios, the Chair noted that the Directorate structure reported at appendix 1 did not reflect the current corporate structure. The Clerk agreed to refer this matter to the Service Head Democratic Services for review of this element of the procedure in the Council's constitution.
The Chair noted that the forthcoming OSC meeting also fell within Ramadan. He moved and it was agreed that the meeting on 22 July 2014 start at 6.00pm. Members then discussed whether they wished to vary the starting time of ordinary OSC meetings. Following this, it was agreed that, for the remainder of the municipal year, meetings would begin at 7.15pm and that this arrangement be kept under review.
RESOLVED
1 That OSC Terms of Reference, Membership, Quorum, and Dates of future meetings, as set out at Appendices 1, 2 and 3 of the report be noted. 2 That the OSC meeting on 22 July 2014 start at 6.00pm and scheduled OSC meetings for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2014/15; begin at 7.15pm and that this arrangement be kept under review. 3 That the protocols as set out at Appendix 4 of the report be noted. 4 That the guidance to facilitate the conduct of OSC business, in line with statutory and constitutional requirements, as set out at Appendix 4 of the report be noted.
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To determine whether to continue to operate Lead Portfolios in the forthcoming term and appoint Lead Scrutiny Members for the Scrutiny Lead portfolios.
Note the co-option to the membership of the OSC of representatives in respect of education matters.
To note the establishment of the Health Scrutiny Panel by full Council, to discharge the Council’s functions under the National Health Service Act 2006 and subsequent legislation.
To appoint members to the Health Scrutiny Panel for the Municipal Year 2014/15
To agree the co-option of representatives from the Tower Hamlets HealthWatch to the membership of the Health Scrutiny Panel for the Municipal Year 2014/15.
Minutes: The Chair introduced the report, which informed Members of the Scrutiny Lead Portfolios, the requirement to appoint co-opted members to OSC in accordance with legislation and the establishment of the Health Scrutiny Panel by Full Council.
The Chair noted the co-options to the Health Scrutiny Panel and requested that paragraph 2.4 the report expanded and verified
At the Chair’s invitation the following nominations for Scrutiny Leads were made:
Scrutiny Lead for Children's Services: Councillor Denise Jones was nominated and seconded by Councillors Asma Begum and John Pierce respectively. There being no other nominations Councillor Denise Jones was appointed.
Scrutiny Lead for Adult Health and Well-being: Councillor Asma Begum was nominated and seconded by Councillors Denise Jones and John Pierce respectively. There being no other nominations Councillor Asma Begum was appointed Scrutiny for Adults Health & Well-being.
Scrutiny Lead for Communities, Localities and Culture: two nominations were received. Councillor Abjol Miah was nominated and seconded by Councillors Maium Miah and Mahbub Alam respectively; and Councillor John Pierce was nominated and seconded by Councillors Asma Begum and Denise Jones respectively. Four votes were cast for each nominee, the Chair therefore made a casting vote and Councillor John Pierce was appointed Scrutiny Lead for Communities Localities and Culture.
Scrutiny Lead for Development and Renewal: Councillor Maium Miah was nominated and seconded by Councillors Abjol Miah and Mahbub Alam respectively. There being no other nominations Councillor Maium Miah appointed Scrutiny Lead for Development and Renewal.
Scrutiny Lead for Law Probity and Governance: two nominations were received. Councillor Abjol Miah was nominated and seconded by Councillors Maium Miah and Mahbub Alam respectively; and Councillor Peter Golds was nominated and seconded by Councillors Joshua Peck and Denise Jones respectively. The nominations were voted upon and Councillor Abjol Miah received four votes and Councillor Peter Golds received five votes. Accordingly Councillor Peter Golds was appointed Scrutiny Lead for Law, Probity and Governance
Scrutiny Lead for Resources: Councillor Abjol Miah was nominated by Councillors Maium Miah and Mahbub Alam respectively. There being no other nominations Councillor Abjol Miah appointed Scrutiny Lead for Resources.
RESOLVED
1 That OSC continue to operate Lead Portfolios, as set out in the report, in the forthcoming term and the following Lead Scrutiny Members be appointed: Scrutiny Lead for Children's Services - Councillor Denise Jones Scrutiny Lead for Adult Health and Well-being - Councillor Asma Begum Scrutiny Lead for Communities, Localities and Culture - Councillor John Pierce Scrutiny Lead for Development and Renewal - Councillor Maium Miah Scrutiny Lead for Law Probity and Governance - Councillor Peter Golds Scrutiny Lead for Resources - Councillor Abjol Miah
2 That co-option to the membership of the OSC of representatives in respect of education matters, as set out at paragraphs 4.1 to 4.7 of the report be noted. 3 That establishment of the Health Scrutiny Panel by full Council, to discharge the Council’s functions as set out in paragraph 5.1 of the report; with terms of reference and quorum as set out ... view the full minutes text for item 6.2 |
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Planning Work Programme To discuss the work programme for the coming municipal year. Minutes: Mark Cairns Strategy Policy and Performance Officer tabled a draft work programme for consideration. The Chair noted the proposals for reports scheduled during the course of the municipal year. He noted an enquiry from Mr Mustafa regarding whether co-optees might contribute to the work programme and requested that:
RESOLVED
That the draft work programme tabled and discussion on its contents be noted.
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PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF UNRESTRICTED CABINET PAPERS PDF 51 KB To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet.
(Time allocated – 30 minutes). Minutes: The Chair introduced the item referring to the pre-decision questions tabled at the meeting. He noted the procedure given for submission of pre-decision questions as set out in the OSC Guidance and Protocols given at Appendix 4, agenda item 6.1. The Chair enquired and Members confirmed that no further pre-decision questions other than those submitted in the tabled paper were to be referred to Cabinet on 9 July 2014.
RESOLVED
That the tabled pre-decision scrutiny questions be referred to Cabinet.
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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: Reference from the Council - Investigation into the Sale of Old Poplar Town Hall
The Chair informed the Committee that the Council resolution of 22 January 2014 requiring investigation of the sale of Old Poplar Town Hall had led to the matter being referred for investigation by external auditors. The audit report had been circulated confidentially to committee members.
The Chair advised that the matter had not been brought for discussion at the present time but so that the Committee may consider a preferred approach regarding the full consideration of the report, which could take place at the meeting on 22 July 2014.
The Acting Corporate Director Resources informed the Committee that the report was recently made available and had been sent confidentially to Elected OSC Members on 7 July 2014.
Rev James Olanipekun noted that co-opted members had not received the document and the Service Head Corporate Strategy and Equalities advised that the matter was not a substantive business item but had been circulated in order to enable members to consider the approach members wished to take to formal consideration of the matter, proposed to take place on 22 July.
The following were noted arising from Members’ discussions:
The Service Head Legal Services noted that the report would be brought forward for consideration on 22 July 2014 with an appropriate cover report which would make recommendations as to whether the report should be considered on a public or an exempt basis and, if the latter, to what extent. The views expressed by Members would be taken into account in preparing that cover report.
RESOLVED
That the discussion on the preferred approach in presenting the investigation report on the sale of Old Poplar Town Hall be noted
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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: No resolution to exclude press and public was made.
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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.
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