Agenda item
PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF SECTION ONE (UNRESTRICTED) CABINET PAPERS
Minutes:
Draft pre-decision questions for submission to the Cabinet Meeting were circulated for Members’ consideration.
In relation to Cabinet Agenda item 8.1 (LTGDC Draft Bromley-by-Bow Land Use Design Brief), Councillor Shiria Khatun suggested that draft questions 3 and 4 be merged into one question.
On the same agenda item, the Chair suggested that draft question 2 (regarding the inclusion of a Muslim burial ground in the brief) should not be submitted as the matter had already been considered by the Cabinet. In this regard Councillor A. A. Sardar enquired as to progress on the agreed Multi-Faith Burial Subsidy Scheme and the Acting Assistant Chief Executive confirmed that preparatory work was underway and the scheme would be launched shortly.
The Committee endorsed the amendments suggested. Accordingly the Chair MOVED and it was:-
RESOLVED
That the following pre-decision questions be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration:
Agenda Item 6.1 Food Law Enforcement Service Plan 2008/09 (CAB 012/089)
1. Members of the Health Scrutiny Panel have raised issues around ‘approved fast food outlets and general community information on 'cooking practices' in the borough. Will the Cabinet consider instigating a poster campaign in partnership with the PCT about which cooking oil is the healthiest to use and which is not?
2. Can the Cabinet review staffing numbers as it seems that it is top heavy where it needs to be the other way round as most of the visits and inspection are done by the EHO and SEHO?
3. How many employees are directly employed in the food safety department? Can the Cabinet assure us that the staffing level is adequate, as 2339 food premises already exist with a potential increase for the Olympics in 2012? Therefore, should the department increase its number rapidly or look to train well in advance to take on the pressure?
Agenda Item 7.1 Recommissioning LinkAge Plus (CAB 013/089)
1. What is the efficiency saving expected on the new plan? (one organisation to win contract and co-ordinate the others, and the other four lose their co-ordinators) With this in mind have the five host organisations been consulted to ensure that the change and the loss of the other four organisers will not skew focus onto the area covered by the organisation that wins the contract, It is critical that the whole borough benefits equally.
2. At the last Cabinet we saw the fast track procurement process on the Chillers for IT suite in Anchorage House, this Cabinet the procurement process is being limited to only five “Host Organisations”. Can the Cabinet reassure us that this is not becoming a common practice of fast tracking procurement process?
3. Can the Cabinet inform us what monitoring systems are in place to ensure we get the best value from this contract?
Agenda Item 8.1 London Thames Gateway Development Corporation, Draft Bromley-by-Bow Land Use Design Brief (CAB 014/089)
1. The area closest to the Bow roundabout still seems to be lacking in open space under the new plan. In fact the area where the Supermarket, hotel etc is planned seems to have all the open space and lower density housing. We will not address the need of the community nearest the flyover, which is now, and will be, the part most in need of green space to mitigate the road proximity. Can the Cabinet outline how they will address this issue?
2. The Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) has not been fully undertaken and fails to address the needs of our community within the six equalities strands. Can the Cabinet assure us that a comprehensive EQIA is undertaken which addresses all the community needs?
3. The report states that there will be a minimum of 35% affordable housing; this is a ratio so far the Council has struggled to deliver. Can the Cabinet guarantee that this will be delivered and not reduced in future date?
4. The table on page 137 indicate that there will be 25% of larger units, but the break down highlights less of the four and five bedrooms which we needs the most, can the Cabinet revert and increase the numbers of the four and five bedroom homes rather than the one and two bedrooms properties? Will they consider including some six bedroom properties?
Agenda Item 12.1 Housing Revenue Account Provisional Outturn Report 2007/08 (CAB 016/089)
1. Can the Cabinet inform us why there was an under spend of £4m and why was this amount not spent to bring some of the homes to decent standard?
2. Can the cabinet inform us why it is taking so long to create the ALMO and why it has missed the initial deadline with an expenditure of £300,000? Also it informs us that there will be some further stock transfers. Can the Cabinet inform us which estates the Council is intending to transfer and the approximate timeline?
3. Can the Cabinet inform us who has commissioned or approved RSLs to take surveys and hold public meetings regarding the future of housing in Ocean Estate?
4. Can the Cabinet inform us how Leaseholders have been consulted and how the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review on Leaseholders been implemented and considered as part of this report.