Apologies were received from Jahed Ahmed and Cllr Amina Ali, who joined the meeting online.

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 meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 21 May 2024.

The Chair Moved  and it was:-

RESOLVED

That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 21 May 2024 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of the proceedings.

RESOLVED:

Members noted the action log.

Nil items.

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

Nil items.

Note the revised scrutiny lead portfolio areas 

Resolved:

Members agreed the Scrutiny Lead Portfolio Areas

To review and apply critical friend challenge to the proposed restructur

Mayor Lutfur Raham, Stephen Halsey, Chief Executive, Julie Lorraine, Corporate Director for Resources and Deputy Chief Executive presented the report on the progress on the council’s ‘People First’ transformation journey so far.

The committee raised the following comments and questions

• The restructure places a lot of additional responsibilities on the resource’s directorate, how will this be managed? Officers highlighted that legal, HR and other corporate functions are being moved, in line with other local authorities.
• Can officers give further detail on the proposed roles reporting to Chief Executive, with both a Deputy Chief Executive and an Assistant Chief Executive? Officers confirmed that the Deputy Chief Executive is a role to stand in when the Chief Executive is away and is currently being staffed by Julie Lorraine. The Assistant Chief Executive is a different role that is being developed to include communications and will be placed in December 2024, but it is still being looked into to see if its appropriate.
• Will there be any compulsory redundancies, to follow the current round of voluntary? Officers confirmed that there are no plans for compulsory redundancies as the council has committed to a 3 year financial plan that does not require any compulsory redundancies to happen. Voluntary redundancies will be open annually and this allows the council to assess the level of staffing each year.
• Where does the Mayor’s Office sit within the new structure? Officers confirmed that majority of the office will be under the resources directorate, with other areas moving to other appropriate services, like the residents hub.
• Committee members requested the chair to allow for more time in committee meetings to scrutinise items. This meeting has seen many big items, including this restructure item, which has not been given enough time nor have members been allowed to ask enough questions.

RESOLVED:

Members noted the report.

Track the implementation of recommendations from the scrutiny challenge session on Women’s Safety.

Cllr Abu Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, with Simon Smith, Head of Community Safety, Menara Ahmed Senior VAWG, Domestic Abuse & Hate Crime Manager presented an update on the Women’s Safety Action Plan.

The committee raised the following comments and questions

• Members expressed concerns about inclusion of self-defence initiatives within the action plan, rather than actions to stop men undertaking violent crime.
• How will the council ensure the actions pledged by the Metropolitan Police will be scrutinised and held accountable. Officers highlighted that Community Safety Partnerships ensure ownership of actions in the action plan.
• What has been the community interest in self-defence classes? Officers stated that there has been limited take up to the classes, but this is due to who could take part in the classes. But with increased budget and greater awareness in the community, there has been greater take up.
• Members expressed their concerns about being women in public life and the potential danger they can feel in being councillors. The council needs to ensure that it creates a safe space for current members, officers and candidates. Cllr Abu Chowdhury agreed that members of the council should feel safe to undertake their roles, as well as those who work for the council. Officers highlighted the recent work of the Council’s Women’s Network and its work for staff. Training for members on support for the VAWG campaign is to be scheduled.

RESOLVED:

Members noted the update.

Receive an update from scrutiny leads on work planning

The chair introduced the Overview and Scrutiny workplan and improvement plan, the workplan will be agreed by committee in September 2024.

RESOLVED:

Members agreed the report.

Nil items.

Nil Items.

To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet.

(Time allocated – 30 minutes).

The Chair agreed to add items 6.1 Budget Monitoring 2023/24 Provisional Outturn and 6.4 Annual Strategic Delivery & Performance Report 23/24 from 10 July 2024 meeting of Cabinet for member discussion.

Cllr Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living, with Julie Lorriane, Corporate Director for Resources and Deputy Chief Executive, presented the report on Budget Monitoring 2023/24 Provisional Outturn

The committee raised the following comments and questions

• Within Housing and Housing Options, will there be more investment to deal with greater financial burdens? Officers commented on the areas of financial pressure that affect the council, including insurance and housing revenue overspend outside of capital works. There will be continued pressures with homelessness. Cabinet have recently looked at further investment within housing.
• Can officers provide more detail about the debts of the council and how this affects interest rates? Officers detailed how the interest rates available to the council have a huge impact on the budget, but with interest rates forecast to fall, the council is remaining cautious.
• Has the overall budget outturn affecting communities and vulnerable groups? Officers reported that effects would be the council not delivering on the spending to services that have not be promised. There is no concern that the council has not allocated enough to these groups, but committee members are closer to these communities and officers always welcome feedback on where the council is delivering.

RESOLVED:

Members noted the report

Mayor Lutfur Raham, Cllr Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living, with Julie Lorriane, Corporate Director for Resources and Deputy Chief Executive, John Ainsworth, Senior Performance Improvement Analyst, Richard Williams, Head of Operational Services, Simon Baxter, Corporate Director Communities  presented the report on Annual Strategic Delivery & Performance Report 23/24.

The committee raised the following comments and questions

• The reporting on the school cycling scheme seems to be reduced, can officers provide further detail on this? Cllr Saied Ahmed detailed that building up of cycling instructors to take part in the scheme was an initial issue, but the scheme now is fully supported, so this will improve.
• Members highlighted concerns about the performance of waste and recycling. Officers agreed that further sessions of committee can be held to scrutinise waste and recycling performance.
• The level of Care Home admissions is concerning, what is causing this to perform so poorly? Adult social care in the borough is a growing issue for the council. Officers detailed the demand for adult social care, with both under and over 65 care has been an increase in the complexity of care needs. The council has a home first policy to ensure that residents remain in their own homes for as long as possible.
• When will the council see significant improvement in educational health assessments? Officers detailed how the council is above the national average and within the line of the London average. Additional funding for caseworkers has been provided, which is helping towards an ambitious target for any authority in London. The Mayor stated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

RESOLVED:

Members noted the forward plan

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.

To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet.

(Time allocated 15 minutes).

Nil Items.

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

Nil Items.