Agenda item
PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF UNRESTRICTED CABINET PAPERS
To consider and agree pre-decision scrutiny questions/ comments to be presented to Cabinet.
(Time allocated – 10 minutes)
Minutes:
The Chair informed members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that a sheet of pre-decision questions/ comments in respect of the unrestricted business contained in the agenda for consideration by the Cabinet, at their meeting to be held on 7th October 2009, had been Tabled, a copy of which would be interleaved with the minutes.
The Chair Moved and it was Resolved:-
That the following pre-decision questions be submitted to Cabinet for consideration:
Agenda Item 6.1 - The Leisure Facilities Strategy(CAB 050/090)
1. A key recommendation from the ‘Scrutiny Review on Young Peoples Participation in Sports Leading Up to the Olympics’ undertaken in 2007 was to review the pricing policy of leisure services. Can the Cabinet outline how this has been considered in the development of this strategy and in particular the development of any new leisure facility?
2. Can the Cabinet provide a breakdown of the figures provided in paragraph 5.4.2 and also explain how this was worked out?
3. To what extent has this strategy considered access to the Olympic Aquatic Centre in increasing the supply of leisure facilities and can the Cabinet update us where we are with the legacy use of this facility for Tower Hamlets residents?
Agenda Item 6.2 - An Overcrowding Reduction Strategy for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets (200912) (CAB 051/090)
1. Is it legally possible for someone receiving cash incentive scheme grant to purchase a shared ownership property and if not, can this be investigated as this may increase the number of people taking advantage of the scheme?
2. The strategy does not address the issue of car free developments. Many overcrowded families do not bid for large family housing due to the property being designated within a car free zone and the fact that they will lose the benefit of having a resident parking permit. As a possible solution could Cabinet agree as part of this strategy that existing tenants transferring into car free zone developments retain and enjoy the usage of their existing resident parking permit?
3. The strategy does not make reference to mutual exchanges. A good management of mutual exchange system could contribute towards reducing overcrowding. Will the Cabinet consider developing a higher profile mutual exchange system?
Agenda Item 7.2 Bishops Square Amended Programme – adoption of capital estimates (CAB 055/090)
1. Regarding the new proposal for a capital estimate of £0.60m for the Chicksand Ghat Playspaces and the revised estimate of £1.850m for the Banglatown Culture Trail, which projects have been replaced or deleted from the original programme of works agreed by Strategic Development Committee on 10 May 2007 on Bishops Square?
2. Did any of the projects rely on the section 106 financial contribution as matched funding and are any of those projects now unable to go ahead. If this is the case how will local people and third sector organisations in Tower Hamlets be affected?
3. Can the Cabinet provide the full list of proposals for the revised budget and are there any third sector organisations that will benefit from the revised scheme?
Agenda Item 9.1 Improving Health and Wellbeing Strategy: a Strategy for Primary and Community Care Services (CAB 056/090)
1 Recently the Care Quality Commission raised concern with quality of service provided by Out of Hour GP's. Can you outline how this will be addressed by this strategy?
2 There seems to be a lack of joined up thinking and synergy between this strategy and agenda item 6.1 (Leisure Facilities Strategy). There are no references to each other in either report when both strategies are aimed at improving health and wellbeing of local residents. Can the Cabinet outline how they will develop links between both these strategies?
3 Can the Cabinet undertake a feasibility study to ascertain the benefits and practicalities of accommodating primary and community care services within any future leisure centre developments?