Agenda item
Verbal updates from Scrutiny Leads
Minutes:
Scrutiny Lead Members provided verbal updates on their respective work programmes as follows:
One Tower Hamlets
Councillor Ann Jackson reported that the main area of work initially would be a review on child poverty. She expected that by the end of the week the key issues would be identified to focus on following a meeting to discuss the topic with the relevant services. The review would be conducted using different formats to the conventional review meetings and would emphasise the role of Members as community leaders to research and lead smaller working groups to formulate recommendations.
Councillor Jackson intended also to carry out some work looking at the role of Members as elected community leaders, working with diverse communities and individuals to promote awareness of the role of Members and the democratic process in general.
Safe and Supportive Community
Councillor Shiria Khatun reported that she would be leading a review of alcohol misuse amongst young people. The review would be titled ‘Smashed’ and work had already commenced on the scoping document and identifying dates for the review sessions. Scrutiny officers were working on a questionnaire which would be sent to all secondary schools and involvement had been secured from St Hilda’s and Docklands Outreach. The Youth Service was working to involve the Young Mayor or his deputy and publicity would be undertaken to ensure that local residents are aware of the work.
Prosperous Community
Councillor A. A. Sardar reported that he was working with Scrutiny officers to research possible topics for a review. Possibilities included education for looked after children; parental engagement; city academies; and children’s centres. Councillor Sardar would be meeting the Corporate Director, Children’s Services next week to progress this work.
Healthier Community
Councillor Stephanie Eaton reported that Health Scrutiny Panel Members were taking part in a series of induction visits to all three NHS trusts in the borough. Current areas of work included:
- Finalising priorities within the work programme;
- Agreeing the draft Health Scrutiny protocol which sets out working arrangements between Trusts, other health stakeholders and the Council; and
- Developing the scope of this year’s main Health Scrutiny Review which is looking at ‘End of Life Care’.
The Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee looking at Healthcare for London would be reconvening in October 2008 and would be looking at issues including Social Care.
A Great Place to Live
Councillor Waiseul Islam reported that his scrutiny review would focus on affordable housing. Much could be covered within the scope of this review, which would focus on alleviating the pressures on social housing; on different models of affordable home ownership; and possibly on the planning process and how this can best be exploited for the benefit of the community.
Councillor Islam also reported that he had recently attended a seminar on Housing: The Credit Crunch which had been useful in understanding the national context of the housing situation as well as the local situation and possible solutions for affordable home ownership that would inform the review. Work had started to draft the scoping document for the review.
Excellent Public Services
Councillor Bill Turner reported that he had been in discussion with officers in relation to possible review topics. He would be meeting with Scrutiny officers on 7th July to finalise the year’s work plan which would most likely focus on the customer service aspects.
Scrutiny Officers had also been in discussion with officers from Finance and Performance Management regarding how the performance and budget management aspects of the portfolio could be made more robust.
Finally, Councillor Turner was keen to look at the role of cafes and similar establishments in the borough as shared community spaces playing a role in promoting community cohesion, and to investigate the economic and other factors that might threaten their viability.
RESOLVED
That the updates provided by the Scrutiny Lead Members be noted.