Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Denise Jones.

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

The following Members for transparency declared a potential interest in relation to the Item 8 Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions:

1. Councillor Marc Francis due to his wife Councillor Rachel Blake being the Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing;
2. Councillor Ehtasham Haque due to wife Councillor Sabina Akhtar being the Cabinet Member for Culture, Arts and Brexit;
3. Councillor Denise Jones due to her being a Business Owner in Tower Hamlets; and
4. Co-opted Member Halima Islam due to her being an employee of Tower Hamlets Community Housing Ltd.

To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 23^rd November, 2020.

The Chair Moved and it was: -

RESOLVED

That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 23^rd November, 2020 be approved as a correct record of the proceedings and the Chair was authorised to sign them accordingly.

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

Nil items

Noted

No decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet on 25^th November, 2020 in respect of unrestricted reports on the agenda were ‘called in’.

The Committee noted that a decision from the Mayor on the proposed changes to the Common Housing Register Allocations Scheme was awaited.

The Committee will received an update on COVID-19 from Dr Somen Banerjee – Director of Public Health

The Committee received an update from COVID-19 from Somen Banerjee – Director of Public Health, the main points of discussion on the presentation are outlined as follows:

The Committee noted that:

• The New Covid strain had been identified been in South East of England.
• In East London there has been a very rapid rises in the 13 to 17 age group.
• New Covid strain identified that may be responsible for 'faster spread' in South East.
• Regarding testing in schools in the Borough it has been necessary to make some very quick decisions in terms of the locations for the testing units.
• Whilst the Borough had seen high levels of Covid-19 in Bishop Challoners and George Green's testing is not limited just to those two schools and they are working with their neighbouring schools to enable testing of staff/pupils with a focus on the teaching staff and the 11 to 13 age group.

·         The Borough is (i) promoting testing in schools more generally; and (ii) communicating the changes in advice around who can be tested.

·         The message previously was that you only get tested if you have symptoms that has now changed in the context of rising levels of Covid-19 and in the recognition that if you think that you may have been exposed to Covid-19 you can get tested although not presenting with signs or symptoms of infection, illness, or disease (i.e. they are asymptomatic) but can pass on the virus on to a vulnerable person and therefore you are part of a chain that may lead to the death of another. Therefore, as the spread of public health misinformation through social media becomes more prevalent, it is important to develop an effective social media strategy to ensure that the people in Tower Hamlets have access to the correct information.

·         It is especially important message to get across through social media; texts; sending out letters; and word of mouth utilising the Borough’s Team of Covid-19 Champions.

·         Regarding the vaccination programme the Tower Hamlets GP Care Group has texted 3,200 residents about the programme and those who have not responded or not contactable via text or mobile phone are being written to.

·         East One Health and Whitechapel Health Centre are apparently not yet participating in programme, but officers would contact Tracy Cannell - Chief Executive - Tower Hamlets GP Care Group to provide a response.

·         The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advises that the first priorities for any COVID-19 vaccination programme should be the prevention of COVID-19 mortality and the protection of health and social care staff and systems. Secondary priorities to include vaccination of those at increased risk of hospitalisation and at increased risk of exposure, and to maintain resilience in essential public services.

In conclusion, the Chair:

1.    Thanked Somen Banerjee – Director of Public Health for his presentation and for the high level of detail that he had provided; and

2.    Noted that they had considered (i) the Covid-19 and its impact on schools and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Committee will undertake a review and critical challenge of WorkPath – Presentation to be made available prior to the meeting.

Members noted that:

·         WorkPath provides a service to support residents who have significant barriers and are far from employment. It offers three programmes including Information Advice and Guidance (IAG), Employer Engagement and Supported Employment. Employer Engagement targets clients who are job ready or recently out of work and Supported Employment targets clients such as 50+, care leavers and women returning back to work

·         The WorkPath programme helps young people gain invaluable skills and connections that will give them the best possible chance of success by becoming a stronger employable candidate.

·         With regards to Queen Mary University the Council has a good working in partnership with the University to help bridge the gap between Queen Mary’s and the workplace. Whilst in terms of wider health sector LBTH is working to maximise opportunities especially within the Mass Vaccination Programme, as LBTH wants to encourage applicants from the local communities to make sure that there is a safe and effective vaccination programme at the same time as continuing supporting the NHS in offering timely access and minimal impact on other services.

• LBTH work closely with Barts Health who have Healthcare Horizons which is their pre-employability training programme this provides eligible 16-29-year olds the opportunity to access entry level jobs and any upcoming apprenticeship vacancies (as and when available) at the Trust.
• Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman indicated that the reason for the 26% drop in performance in 2019-20 was due to (service restructure -reduced team) and IT issues which plagued capturing the outputs and was resolved in the last quarter.

·         The main challenges facing the Long-Term Unemployed is a lack of relevant, recent experience, a problem only intensified by companies’ unwillingness to take a chance and offer the opportunity to gain the experience. Especially at a time when the level of competition for jobs is far greater than it would ordinarily with a large number of “Job Seekers” only having just left their previous job so in employers eyes they are what is called “work ready” and business owners just want to generate income and profitability therefore their first instinct will be to hire someone who has just “fallen out of work” they consider that they are “work ready” rather than someone that's been out of work for some time. Accordingly, WorkPath focus is currently on supporting those who find it hardest to get work and help them to be better able to compete with those people who have newly “fallen  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.1

The Committee will undertake a critical friend challenge to the Budget Setting process in line with the Council’s priorities – Presentation to be made available prior to the meeting.

The Committee received a presentation that was intended to inform discussion for the next Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting.  The presentation included (i) Introductions from Cllr Candida Ronald, Cabinet Member for Resources, and the Voluntary Sector as well as Kevin Bartle (Interim Corporate Director, Resources); (ii) Economic Outlook for Local Government; (iii) Update on the MTFS process; (iv) Spending Review 2020- main impacting factors; and (v) The Budget Consultation Process. 

A summary of the discussions on the presentation is set out below:

Members:

·         Noted that in February 2021 the Council will agree its budget for 2021-22. In line with previous years, the Council has carried out consultation with residents, businesses, and other key stakeholders to help inform budget decisions. This report for noting provides the results of the Council’s 2021-22 budget consultation that was carried out from October to December 2020.

·         Noted that due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, Tower Hamlets now finds itself in a materially changed environment from that which existed in February 2020 when the budget and medium-term financial strategy were approved by the Council.

• Noted that ongoing financial pressures, including responding to Covid-19, mean that despite saving £200m since 2010-11, the Council now must save a further £30m by 2024.
• The impact of Covid-19 has highlighted the importance of public services. However, while the Government said that local councils should do ‘whatever it will take’ to support their communities they have not fully covered the reduced income and increased costs that the Council has faced.

·         Was informed that the Government’s Core Spending Power calculation makes assumptions about the level of growth in the Council Tax base and that LBTH will increase Council Tax each year up to the referendum limit.

·         Was reminded that following receipt of the final settlement, the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) will then need to be assured of the robustness of estimates and adequacy of reserves and this it was noted will be covered in the report to Cabinet on 27 January 2021.

·         Whilst appreciating the challenging financial situation indicated that it would be helpful to have more financial information.  Accordingly, the Committee raised a question on Temporary Accommodation overspend and asked if this was directly related to Covid or for other reasons. In response it was noted that this was historical.  

·         Wanted to look at which services should be contributing towards savings and to have assurances that any increase in Council Tax would give consideration of the impact on those who would struggle to pay.

·         Wanted details of the methodology used that had indicated the financial difficulties that the Council would face in the current economic circumstances.

·         Whilst accepting that the Council faces several challenges if it is to set a balance budget concern was expressed that running the consultation when it did mean that there was not enough involvement from residents and businesses and this impacts on how informed decision-making process will be.

·         Noted that next year the budget consultation would start earlier

·         Also were concerned that (i) whilst  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.2

The Committee received a report that provided an outline of the review of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.  A summary of the discussions on the report is outlined as follows:

The Committee noted that:

• During the review of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules (Part B of the Council’s Constitution, section 30), Corporate Strategy and Policy it was found that some terms, processes, and arrangements needed to be updated to reflect current practice and improve clarity.
• In a report, submitted for General Purposes Committee on the 8^th December 2020, it had agreed that the Councillor Call for Action should be more explicit.  In summary, the proposed changes being (i) To the role of overview and scrutiny add: Consider any local matter referred to the Committee by a Councillor in accordance with the Council’s Councillor Call for Action procedure; (ii) Overview and Scrutiny Committee terms of reference to include: To consider any local government matter referred to the Committee by a Councillor in accordance with section 9FC(c) of the Local Government Act 2000 which is relevant to the functions of the committee and is not an excluded matter; (iii) Under ‘Agenda Items’ add a reference to Councillor Call for Action and updating the list of excluded matters.
• Regarding Overview and Scrutiny Committee Co-opted Members it had been agreed that the number of such members go from six to two.  With the six co-opted members now on the Children and Education Scrutiny Sub-Committee.
• The Scrutiny Sub-Committee would now be able to (i) hold five times a year instead of the current four; and (ii) to change the Sub-Committee theme if felt appropriate.
• The Overview and Scrutiny Committee will report to Council, Cabinet or the Mayor or appropriate Cabinet Member and make recommendations as appropriate. All reports from Scrutiny Sub-Committees will be agreed by the relevant sub-committee and the Chair of that Committee will provide an update at the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. If the report cannot be agreed by the Sub-Committee, or if there are not any meetings of Sub-Committee, and in other exceptional circumstances, the report can be agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Once it has formed recommendations on proposals for development, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Sub-Committees will prepare a formal report and submit it to the Executive Mayor and relevant Cabinet Member and Senior Officers for consideration and a formal response (if the proposals are consistent with the existing budgetary and policy framework) or to Council as appropriate (E.g. if the recommendation would require a departure from or a change to the agreed budget and policy framework).
• Following discussions with the Mayor’s Office non-executive councillors would now exclude any paid Mayor advisers.

The Chair Moved and it was: -

RESOLVED to:

1.            Note the outdated terms, and processes and arrangements needing clarification in the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules (Part B of the Council’s Constitution section 30);

2.            Recommended an amendment precluding paid Mayoral Advisers from the Membership of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet. click here to access the agenda papers

(Time allocated – 30 minutes).

Following comments by the Committee the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions (PDSQ) were agreed for submission to the Mayor in Cabinet on the 16^th December 2020 (See attached appendix).

The Committee noted:

• The updates that had been submitted from the Scrutiny Leads; and
• That the update from the Scrutiny Lead for Health and Adults would be circulated with the minutes.

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

The Committee received the following items of business:

Call-In: Amendments to the Council’s Housing Allocations Scheme

Members noted that:

• The Committee welcomed the Mayor’s decision to revise his decision in Cabinet on 23rd September removing existing social tenant’s under-50 from Band 3 and reinstate all these applicants to their former position within the Common Housing Register.
• The practice of discharging LBTH’s duty to homeless families into the Private Rented Sector (PRS), should be the subject of a review which would (i) Consider the way that people are treated with reference to the communication with them; and (ii) consider the satisfaction of people who have had been discharged into the PRS.

Spotlight Presentations

Members noted that:

• Spotlight Presentations need to be brief and to the point with 10 minutes being the ideal length of a presentation, and so all presenters should come in under this mark.  Then Members can focus on the content; there will be more time for questions and discussion

As 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.

Nil items

Nil items

No decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet on 25^th November, 2020 in respect of exempt/ confidential reports on the agenda were ‘called in’.

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

Noted