To receive any advice of key issues or questions in relation to the unrestricted business of the Cabinet, arising from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 7^th September 2010.

Sheet of questions and comments arising from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 7^th September 2010 Tabled by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Resolved

That the questions/ comments/ advice of the Overview and Scrutiny

Committee be noted, and that these be given consideration during the

Cabinet deliberation of the items of business to which the questions/ comments/ advice related.

Action by:

ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE – LEGAL SERVICES (I. FREEMAN)

Executive Team Leader, Democratic Services, Chief Executive’s (A. Taylor)

The Chair informed members of the Cabinet that Councillor Jackson, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, had Tabled a sheet of questions/ comments arising from the deliberations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on 7^th September 2010, in respect of the unrestricted business contained in the agenda for consideration, a copy of which would be interleaved with the minutes.

Councillor Jackson, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, addressed members of the Cabinet:

·                    Budget and Policy Framework matters

Orally reporting and expanding as appropriate upon the comments/ advice of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding Agenda item 6.1 “LDF Core Strategy: Adoption of the plan” as follows:

o                   The Final Core Strategy had been welcomed, with a number of points raised for Cabinet consideration when deliberating the adoption of this plan and considering the development of subsequent development plans.

Ø            The LDF should be a more accessible document in terms of content/ structure/ language. The Planning Section needed a more approachable persona.

Ø            Subsequent development plans should engage residents at a level they can easily understand, also making clear how to access consultation/ services, their stake and the constraints.

·               Work around north of the borough with the border of Hackney and Victoria park area how we encourage business to this part of the area

·               The identification of a waste site for the borough

·               Saturation of fast food outlets in the borough particularly near schools and following up last year’s review on childhood obesity

·               Planning policy around open plan development in this borough recognising the need of the diverse communities in the borough who may not find that appropriate.

·                    Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme

Reporting the consideration and agreement of the Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme for 2010/11 and outlining the key elements thereof.

·                    Key Issues or Questions (Pre Scrutiny)

Informing members of the Cabinet that she had nothing to add to the questions/ comments raised by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as set out in the tabled paper regarding: -

o                   Item 6.2        Adoption of Housing Investment Programme Capital Estimates - 2010/11

o                   Item 6.3        Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC) Energy Efficiency Scheme

o                   Item 6.4        Renewal of Housing General Build Repair and Gas Servicing and Repair Contracts

o                   Item 6.6        Poplar Baths - proposed procurement route

o                    Item 7.1       Childcare Capital Projects

o                   Item 7.2        Culloden Primary School - Proposed Expansion

o                   Item 10.1     2009/10 Capital Outturn

o                    Item 12.1     Exercise of Corporate Director Discretions

·                    Reports of Scrutiny Working Groups

Formally introduced the findings and recommendations of two Scrutiny Working Groups as follows:

Private Rented Sector

Ø                  Led by former Councillor Alex Heslop who was keen to ensure better utilisation of the Private Rented Sector (PRS) to reduce housing problems in the borough.

Ø                  Examined issues facing tenants of PRS including any gaps in support available to tenants. Those facing landlords including the growing number of private landlords. Another key aim was to examine whether the Council could provide management services for leaseholders who are subletting.

Ø                  Outlined review methodology and participants giving evidence.

Ø                  Key findings:

v       PRS used by a range of different communities in the borough including professionals, homesless, new migrants and university students.

v       There had been a huge increase in PRS due to high volumes of leaseholders sub-leasing their properties, increased from 10,000 in 1990 to 24,000 now. Consideration given to how to utilise this to reduce pressure on the housing waiting list.

v       The Council in partnership could do more help both landlords and local residents, despite the development of a Housing Strategy and Homelessness Strategy which had elements aimed at improving the provision of PRS housing.

v       Strategic steps would include undertaking a full PRS condition survey to provide an evidence base for the development of a housing strategy to support the PRS. Operational steps included the strengthening the role and profile of landlords and improving healthy and safety aspects of PRS.

Ø                  Welcomed the generally positive repose to the review set out in the action plan.

Youth Offenders – Supporting Vulnerable Young People

Ø                  Led by Councillor Denise Jones who was particularly interested to identify why offending took place and why young people often returned to youth offending units.

Ø                  Outlined review methodology which included visiting a Youth Offenders Institute, the local Youth Court and engaging with young people and their parents about how they could be better supported.

Ø                             Key findings:

3 strands focused on ways to re-engage young people with the education system, re-settlement of young offenders and supporting young people and their families.

The Chair thanked Councillor Jackson for presenting the contribution of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and then Moved and it was: -

Resolved

That the questions/ comments/ advice of the Overview and Scrutiny

Committee be noted, and that these be given consideration during the

Cabinet deliberation of the items of business to which the questions/ comments/ advice related.