Agenda item
VERBAL UPDATES FROM SCRUTINY LEADS
(Time allocated – 5 minutes each)
Minutes:
Councillor Shiria Khatun (A Safe and Supportive Community) reported that the third review meeting had taken place on the 25 November 2008, and the working group had heard evidence on the consequences of alcohol misuse amongst young people. Both the PCT and the Police were present at the meeting and had given a presentation on the health effects of alcohol misuse and the effects alcohol has on crime. Scrutiny officers were currently trying to arrange for members to go on a SNT visit to see the work being undertaken to discourage alcohol consumption amongst the youth population. The next meeting was in January and the group would be looking at some of the local projects in place to help treat young people with alcohol problem.
Councillor Bill Turner (Excellent Public Services) reported that the site visit to Early Intervention services in the Borough had taken place earlier that day and the group had visited duty teams based at Mulberry Place, the Eva Armsby Centre and Norman Grove. This had given group members an excellent insight into how early intervention worked at ground level.
At the next meeting in January the group would be looking at service mapping and value for money.
Councillor A.A Sardar (Prosperous Communities) reported that at the last meeting on 24 November 2008 the working group had heard evidence on local initiatives to engage parents. This included the work of the extended schools service and Parent Information Point service, and it was clear that a lot of good work was happening in Tower Hamlets. The next review meeting was in January and the group would be visiting a local school to what initiatives schools are adopting to engage parents.
Councillor Waiseul Islam (A Great Place to Live) reported that he was currently looking at the Community Land Trust (CLT) model of development to see if there was a way of making homeownership more accessible for local people.A range of external partners were involved with the review including Tower Hamlets Homes, Tower Hamlets Community Housing, Swan and Poplar HARCA and it was also hoped to engage local developers.
The Group would be visiting a CLT model and had arranged for external expertise to determine whether this could work in Tower Hamlets in the current economic climate.
Councillor Ann Jackson (One Tower Hamlets) reported that a number of detailed interviews had been scheduled to take place with a range of residents to try and gain an understanding of life in poverty. These would be taking place in December and January if any other Members were interested could they please let her know.A single parents focus group had already taken place, and a women only focus group where about 20 women attended had given the group some very interesting insights into individual’s experiences of trying to gain employment and the barriers they faced.
A further two sessions in February would consider the availability of child care provision in Tower Hamlets, the role of Childrens Centres, the Working Neighbourhoods fund and also the London Child Poverty Pledge.