The Committee will receive and verbal presentation from the Chief Executive looking at the Council’s performance and future direction.

The Committee received and noted a verbal presentation from Will Tuckley, Chief Executive of Tower Hamlets Council on the Council’s performance and future direction.  The main points of the discussion maybe outlined as follows:

The Committee

·         Noted that the appalling terror attack which took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 15th March 2019, had left the community feeling vulnerable;

·         Noted that a number of vigils had been held at mosques, to show support and solidarity to Muslim communities around the world and that the solidarity of the community whilst reassuring cannot be taken for granted;

·         Recognised that while many aspects of life for British Muslims have improved in recent years instances of Islamophobia and hate attacks on Muslims remain a continuing issue;

·         Acknowledged that whilst the Christchurch attacks targeted Muslims, other minority groups face attack too, at different times and in different ways, but we note that there have been a number of attacks on places of worship of different faiths in recent years;

·         Indicated that they supported the multi-agency partnerships intention to facilitate access to the Counter Terrorism Programmes Fund;

·         Noted Mayor Biggs has continued to be active in developing a positive dialogue with the community and partners since the terror attack which took place in Christchurch;

·         Welcomed the fact that the Council has already in dialogue on protective security arrangements prior to the events in Christchurch, to ensure that they are properly designed;

·         Noted that whilst trust by staff on the qualitative and quantitative leadership from management had been questioned by staff, it has now improved at every level based on staff’s experience;

·         Recognised that many areas where the Council would wish to achieve outcomes are challenging and all targets are achieved there is a need to ensure that these targets are not too low;

·         Was reminded that as part of the budget setting report at the beginning of 2018, the Council had adopted a set of eleven new corporate outcomes grouped under three priorities. This was the first step on moving the Council to becoming a much more outcome-based organisation which focuses on making a difference to people’s lives;

·         Noted that when developing the new plan, the Council had reviewed and revised its set of strategic performance indicators with the aim of measuring the impact of its work on residents’ lives. The review had resulted in a set of more outcome focused performance measures;

·         Recognised that schools are a vital part of the local community and the Council is aware of pressures and strains upon them;

·         Noted that the Council in partnership with local Schools have the collective interest of the Borough in common and will look to address any breakdown in that relationship;

·         Indicated that it wished to have the opportunity to carefully review the Councils performance indicators as it was noted that performance 41% of targets agreed had been achieved; (i) 15 red; (ii) 5 amber; and (iii) 17 green;

·         Noted with interest the proposals outlined under Tower Rewards including (i) changes to terms and conditions; (ii) benefits to support staff and (iii) rewarding excellence whilst embedding the TOWER values. 

·         Was informed that it an important discussion for the Council to have regarding Tower Rewards which is a challenging task but management is working to achieve an effective dialogue with the staff;

·         Commented that they wished to see that the implementation of changes to terms and conditions in local schools to be undertaken in a consistent fashion;

·         In commenting on the recommendations of the Select Committee on the effectiveness of scrutiny committees had indicated that scrutiny members (i) should have access to financial and performance data held by an authority; and (ii) that this access should not be restricted for reasons of commercial sensitivity.  The Committee wished to have the opportunity to have regular oversite of the implementation of these recommendation;

·         Recognised that the Select Committee has provided much food for thought and the Select Committee model does not always fit well in the local government model.  However, the Council are happy to refresh the view of the Select Committee and how to use that as a basis to develop scrutiny in Tower Hamlets;

·         Noted that whilst sickness absence is gone from 10.5% per year from 10.9% but needs more work to bring this down to local government accepted averages;

·         Noted that the sickness is down to stress; depression; and muscular skeletal issues needed them to support staff as, as fit and healthy as they can be;

·         Was informed that management is working with the Trades Unions on sickness policy and are considering in putting in place systems so that staff can call on a nurse to talk about their conditions and the struggles that they are facing and address any loss of productivity;

·         Agreed that it needs to consider where residents are dissatisfied in service delivery and to critically part on how the Council relates to local people.

The Chair Moved and it was:-

RESOLVED

The Committee

Welcome the presentation from the Chief Executive and look forward to developing the positive dialogue with the Council’s Corporate Leadership.