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 that he feels the investment that council has put into this target will see stronger results soon.

RESOLVED:

Members noted the report