Agenda item
TO RECEIVE WRITTEN QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
(Maximum of 30 minutes allowed)
The questions which have been received from Councillors are set out in agenda item 7 attached.
Decision:
7.1 Question from Councillor Judith Gardiner to the Lead Member for Children’s Services, Councillor Shiria Khatun re: GCSE results
7.2 Question from Councillor Zara Davis to the Lead Member for Children’s Services, Councillor Shiria Khatun re: GCSE results
7.3 Question from Councillor Kosru Uddin to the Lead Member for Environment, Councillor Shahed Ali re: recycling
7.4 Question from Councillor Gloria Thienel to the Lead Member for Housing, Heritage and Planning, Councillor Marc Francis re: new lettings policy
7.5 Question from Councillor Aminur Khan to the Lead Member for Community Safety, Councillor Abdal Ullah re: community safety initiatives and CCTV in Whitechapel
7.6 Question from Councillor Peter Golds to the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Joshua Peck re: CCTV facility in the Council Chamber (Councillor David Edgar, Lead Member for Resources, responded to this question in Cllr Peck’s absence)
7.7 Question from Councillor Amy Whitelock to the Lead Member for Housing, Heritage and Planning, Councillor Marc Francis re: the likely effects of cuts to Housing Benefit and ending of lifetime tenancies
7.8 Question from Councillor David Snowdon to the Lead Member for Culture & Creative Industries, Councillor Denise Jones re: library services on the Isle of Dogs
7.9 Question from Councillor Alibor Choudhury to the Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Rachael Saunders re: steps to tackle childhood obesity in the borough
The above questions, and oral supplementary questions, were responded to by the relevant Lead Members.
Due to the lack of time, questions 7.10 – 7.19 were not put. Written responses to be forwarded to the questioners.
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Minutes:
7.1 Question from Councillor Judith Gardiner to the Lead Member for Children’s Services, Councillor Shiria Khatun
“Can the Lead Member tell us how Tower Hamlets’ students did in their GCSE and A-Level exams this year and how this compares to previous years?"
Response of the Lead Member:
Tower Hamlets students performed very well indeed in their GCSE and A-level exams this year, and I want to congratulate all of them, their parents, and their teachers. 99% of our young people got at least 1 GCSE, and the latest figures show that 75% got 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C. This is a huge improvement on last year’s score of 66%. In addition, for the first time, more than half our young people – 51% - got 5 GCSEs at grades A*-C including English and maths. This is also a strong improvement on last year’s figure of 46%. At A-level, the average ‘point score’ per pupil was 635.4 points, up a little from 631 points last year. The average score per exam entry was 204.9, a significant rise from 191.6 last year.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Judith Gardiner:
Do you agree that this superb achievement reflects both the hard work of schools, teachers and parents and the excellent work done by this Council in addressing social disadvantage; and that it is a bit rich for a Government that are petrified of sending their children to state schools to be making cuts to benefits and education services for working people?
Summary of Lead Member’s response:
I totally agree with the sentiment. I am a product of a state school in Tower Hamlets and I send my children to state schools and I am proud of that.
7.2 Question from Councillor Zara Davis to the Lead Member for Children’s Services, Councillor Shiria Khatun
“In the light of this year’s A Level results in Tower Hamlets, which shows that the percentage of entries achieving an A grade is significantly below the national average, what measures are being taken by the Council and the schools and colleges in the borough to deliver a drastic improvement?”
Response of the Lead Member:
Our A-level results this year have improved on last year’s, but we know there is still more to do. We are working with schools and with Tower Hamlets college to develop an improvement plan which promotes improved teaching and learning, better tracking and use of data and a wider course offer. We meet termly for 16-19 Planning and Review sessions which review performance and agree improvement priorities. We are also using data better to track areas of concern, and have widened the work of the School Improvement Partners (who have helped make a big difference to school results) to include an agreed focus on post-16 performance. As well as this, we have been expanding the provision in the borough, with the establishment of the Cambridge Heath Sixth Form, and plans developing for another sixth form collaborative in the east of the borough, which you should be proud of. George Green School has developed the very demanding International Baccalaureate curriculum for its sixth form; the first cohort completed this summer with some very pleasing results.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Zara Davis:
This year we had 200 students who achieved A - A*. If we had achieved the national average rate that figure would have been 400. We are trailing behind the rest of the country and this is holding back many students from getting into universities and top jobs. At Camden School for Girls more than half of their A Level entries get As and A*s. That compares with just 15% in TH getting As and A*s. Will you commit to working with the top schools in London and share the best practise with schools and colleges in Tower Hamlets?
Summary of Lead Member’s response:
Can’t you be happy for those 200 children? We are extremely proud of these young people who have achieved such success. You mention Camden which is a Labour-run authority. If you are so interested in education, can I suggest that you consider mentoring as there are many local children who are keen to be coached in the core subjects.
7.3 Question from Councillor Kosru Uddin to the Lead Member for Environment, Councillor Shahed Ali
“How is Tower Hamlets moving towards being a greener borough and how are we performing against targets for recycling?”
Response of the Lead Member:
The Council is determined to make the borough ‘greener’ and this vision is being driven by the Community Plan, the LDF and our Parks and Open Spaces Strategy, which sets out how we aspire to introduce sustainable solutions in our parks, and open spaces. I am proud of a number of initiatives the Council has introduced for its own staff, including, increasing the opportunities of staff to cycle to and from work, but also utilising our pool bike system to travel around the borough.
Over the last two years recycling rates have more than doubled rising from 13% in 2007/08 to 26.5% in 2009/10. Initial indications are that this rate is higher than some of the traditionally higher performing boroughs in London such as Wandsworth and Westminster. We recently beat several local authorities from across England to win a National Recycling Award for the improvements to our recycling rates. The waste and recycling team have developed an annual plan to secure a 32% performance in the next financial year.
A large communication campaign is due to be launched in Autumn. The details of the campaign are being finalised. As part of our ongoing communication campaign, Mr Recycle More has been commission to attend several events this year.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Kosru Uddin:
There are many new developments springing up. What are you proposing to do to ensure that suitable contracts are in place for waste collection and recycling?
Summary of Lead Member’s response:
Any new developments for the borough are agreed by the Development or Strategic Development Committee. From my side, I and the CLC officers ensure that all the correct information is available to the Committees to make the right decision in each case.
7.4 Question from Councillor Gloria Thienel to the Lead Member for Housing, Heritage and Planning, Councillor Marc Francis
“Will the Lead Member announce when the new lettings policy agreed at Cabinet in March 2010 will be implemented?”
Response of the Lead Member:
Can I thank Cllr Thienel for her question and giving me the opportunity to highlight this Labour council’s important reforms to the Choice Based Lettings system.
As you well know, as councillors, we receive hundreds of enquiries and complaints from constituents who are trapped on the Housing Waiting List. While more new social housing is built here in Tower Hamlets than anywhere else in the country, there will always be a queue for social housing. It is therefore essential that the way that queue works enjoys the strongest possible support in the community.
As the 2007 scrutiny review of Choice Based Lettings made clear, it cannot be said that the current system achieves that objective.
In 2008, the Cabinet instructed officers to develop a new system, which gave more priority to overcrowded families and those who have waited longest for re-housing. We also asked that new systems be much more simple and transparent. That new system was consulted on last autumn and it enjoyed the overwhelming backing of the 2000 residents who responded.
As Cllr Thienel says, Cabinet agreed it in principle in March. In the months since then, officers have been developing an IT facility that could successfully support the new policy. Development work has progressed well and I am hoping to be able to confirm an implementation date in the next week or so. All being well, that date could be by the first week in October.
Whatever the actual date, I can assure Cllr Thienel and the rest of the Chamber, that all households on the waiting list will receive letters informing them of the changes and how they affect their individual circumstances.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Gloria Thienel:
A resident of one of the estates in my ward asked when the new lettings policy would be implemented, I did a Member’s enquiry and another resident asked and two different dates were given. Can the Lead Member assure me that all ALMOs will be given the information so that they can give the correct information to all residents?
Summary of Lead Member’s response:
Yes, I can assure you that the ALMO and all RSLs will have this information and in addition, the applicants themselves will all receive a letter informing them of the change and how it will affect their circumstances. I welcome the Conservative Group’s support for this important development.
7.5 Question from Councillor Aminur Khan to the Lead Member for Community Safety, Councillor Abdal Ullah
“Can the Lead Member give an update on the various community safety initiatives taking place over the summer including the use of CCTV in Whitechapel and tell us how successful they have been so far?”
Response of the Lead Member:
Traditionally there is a peak in reported incidents of crime and anti-social behaviour across the borough. The warmer weather and lighter nights encourages people to socialise in public open spaces for longer periods of time, often consuming alcohol. This year the council in partnership with the police has ensured that a significant resource has been put in place across the summer months to patrol parks and open spaces and the town centres.
The introduction of the Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers (THEOs) has for the first time provided the council with a flexible and resilient resource, able to be deployed directly to deal with anti-social behaviour concerns raised by the community. During the summer months the officers have been able to provide reassuring presence in parks and open spaces, patrol on foot in stairwells and support the police to effectively manage the night-time economy in the town centres.
There have been a large number of community safety initiatives over the summer period, including the activities under Tower Hamlets Safer Together campaign. It would not be possible to mention all the activities that have taken place as there are so many. Below are some of the highlights which we will draw attention to: -
CCTV
CCTV is a very effective tool which is constantly used across the borough. The resource provides vital support to operational police and council staff . The CCTV control room is a valuable resource, providing support and best evidence to ensure activity undertaken maximises the effectiveness of resources. Throughout the summer period staff in the CCTV control room support various operations, providing 24hour support. As appropriate council staff where supported by police officers, for example Operation Mercer; providing a police focus on night-time economy related issues, co-ordinating the various activities taking part in the E1 area. Liaison with THEO's, Police, Parking Enforcement, Local Environment Team and Market Officers was carried out by phone and radio through the CCTV Control Room. The dedicated resource allowed us to concentrate on certain areas and initiate the relevant response to the problem. During the operation, officers dealt with issues concerning thefts, assaults, public order offences, urinating in the street and illegal street trading. The use of CCTV ensures that incidents are able to be indentified, evidence recorded and the appropriate response directed to deal with the incidents.
In relation to the Whitechapel area specifically, over July and August our CCTV has assisted the Police in 89 incidents in LAP 1, 137 incidents in LAP 2 and 74 incidents in LAP 3.
In terms of actual arrests, there were 190 arrests over the three months which were down to the CCTV Control Room monitoring activity on the street and informing the police.
Operation Stairwell
Operation Stairwell is a zero tolerance approach operation targeting ASB in stairwells across housing estates in Tower Hamlets. It was undertaken by Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers along with the Police Joint Enforcement Team. Patrol locations are identified through intelligence.
Results from 5th July to 4th September include: -
· 157 alcohol seizures
· 147 warnings
· 19 warning letters
· 10 arrests
Operation Heat Wave
Operation Heat Wave targets ASB in parks and open spaces across the borough. Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers along with the Police Joint Enforcement Team patrol locations identified through intelligence.
Results from 5th July to 4th September include: -
· 177 intelligence reports gathered
· 82 uses of Community Safety Accreditation Service (CSAS) anti-social behaviour powers
· 8 prosecutions
· 4 tobacco seizures
Operation Beggar
Targeted intervention work to support vulnerable adults into supportive treatment programmes. Drug Outreach Workers and Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers patrolled locations across the borough and offering support services to individuals, before they are moved on by enforcement officers. Officers attended locations to address street drinking/rough sleeping and ASB at these locations.
The aim of Operation Beggar was to crack down on antisocial behaviour within the borough and help support individuals away from their street-based lifestyle. Activities for the Operation are outlined below:
· Individuals were engaged at various sites across the borough and were offered support services before being moved on by enforcement officers.
· Beggars accepted support for drug and alcohol related problems and will now receive help and treatment advice for their addictions
· Officers also attended Cambridge Health Road Train Station to respond to members enquires regarding street drinking /rough sleeping and ASB at this area.
It is planned that this operation will continue to ensure a lasting effect, which should discourage begging and antisocial behaviour on the borough’s streets.
Operation Mercer
This partnership initiative took place within Whitechapel & Brick Lane town centre, focusing on the night-time economy & alcohol related ASB. 40 Police officers along with the partnership conducted operations, as a result of which:
Licensed mini-cabs were targeted by officers from the Whitechapel Town Centre Team working alongside the Joint Enforcement Team. This activity included ensuring vehicles were properly insured, drivers correctly registered and detecting unpaid court fines from Number Plate Recognition. Results from this operation are outlined below:
· Court fines - £1,300 to be recovered
· Fines – a car with outstanding fines of £1,233 was seized
· 3 people being investigated for benefit fraud
Operation Fusion
Partnership working between the Council and Police, including THEOs, Drug Outreach workers and Police patrolling. Licensing and Police worked together to detect offences. Information and literature was given out to the public. Officers engaged with youth at Mile End Park and Climbing Centre
Results included: -
· 8 arrests
· 50 stop and searches
· 64 stop and accounts
· 5 weapons sweeps
· 398 public surveys completed, which were generally supportive of the operation
Operation Cork
Operation Cork was an activity targeting on & off-licensed premises across the borough including food premises, to identify premises responsible for fuelling alcohol related ASB. Police and Licensing officers targeted premises. Activities included: -
· Premises were closed
· Warnings issued
· Licence checks conducted
· Legal action taken
· Test purchases conducted
The operations organised across the summer demonstrate the effective partnership between the council and the police. The introduction of the Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers (THEOs) has provided the council with an effective resource to respond to concerns of anti-social behaviour, whilst freeing the police to deal with the more serious crime. The police have provided the THEOs with additional powers under the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme which has equipped them to respond effectively. In addition the officers are able to enforce council legislation and bye laws. Foe example until the introduction of the THEOs, there have been no council convictions for breach of bye laws for urinating in the street. The THEOs have been deployed daily across the summer period from 0800 hours to 0200 hours. They have provided a highly visible presence on the streets which has no doubt contributed to deterring crime and providing reassurance to the community, often preventing incidents from taking place and preventing people becoming the victims of crime.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Aminur Khan:
How have residents been consulted on these initiatives?
Summary of Lead Member’s response:
There has been good consultation and ‘before and after’ exercises in each case. I have seen a significant improvement in my area and since Cllr Khan has been a Councillor he has been championing for CCTV. I can announce that his ward will next week be the first to receive the Council’s new 3G wi-fi technology.
7.6 Question from Councillor Peter Golds to the Deputy Leader of the Council, Councillor Joshua Peck (Councillor David Edgar, Lead Member for Resources, responded to this question in Cllr Peck’s absence)
“Does the CCTV facility within the council chamber have a ‘record’ programme?”
Response of Lead Members’ response (Cllr David Edgar):
The CCTV equipment in the Chamber does have a recording capability, but this is not turned on. The camera is only used for sending pictures to room C1 during meetings for any overspill audiences. There is in place a protocol that prohibits the recording of Council meetings by officers and the public.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Peter Golds:
I find that a fascinating answer. Other Councils put their meetings on You Tube. I have met the Company that installed our equipment and we have the most expensive facility, including a CD record function. Yet we have previously been told there are no recording facilities. Now we are told that there are protocols, but other Boroughs, the GLA and Westminster do webcast their meetings - why not Tower Hamlets?
Summary of Lead Member’s response:
I cannot comment on answers you have previously received. I believe it would be sensible for us to give consideration to whether we should broadcast the Council’s proceedings in this way.
7.7 Question from Councillor Amy Whitelock to the Lead Member for Housing, Heritage and Planning, Councillor Marc Francis
“What are the likely effects on the residents of Tower Hamlets of the Coalition Government’s proposed cut to Housing Benefit and their comments about ending lifetime tenancies?”
Response of the Lead Member:
Can I thank Councillor Whitelock for raising this important issue.
We all know there are abuses of the Housing Benefit system and, I’m sure we all support decisive action to tackle those abuses. What Labour councillors on this side of the Chamber do not support is the kind of arbitrary slash and burn through people’s benefits being conducted by an ideologically-driven Tory Chancellor and a theologically-drive Secretary of State for Work & Pensions.
This Council’s analysis suggests that around 1,000 households in the private rented sector will find themselves having to make up a benefit shortfall as a result of the introduction of the caps next spring. Some of those shortfalls will be so great as to leave families and vulnerable single people in rent arrears and facing eviction and homelessness. It is just the start of things that the Conservative Government are introducing with the cuts.
The re-calculation of Local Housing Allowance from the 50 percentile to the 30 percentile of rents locally, which is due to come into effect in October 2011, will then increase those benefit shortfalls and draw more people into that situation.
The decision to increase the LHA in line with inflation rather than rent levels will further erode its value and leave tenants facing even greater shortfalls.
The withdrawal of the LHA top-up for those living in cheaper private rented housing will affect another 1,000 or so households.
The backdated uprating of the Non-Dependent Deductions from next April will also affect thousands of social tenants whose twenty- and thirty-something children are still at home with Mum and Dad waiting for a move to a place of their own and the proposed withdrawal of 10 per cent of Housing Benefit for those JSA claimants who have been out of work for more than 12 months will affect thousands more social tenants.
The extension of the caps to the level of Housing Benefit subsidy available to house homeless people in temporary accommodation is estimated to be at least £1 million.
The private sector has contributed to our successes in homelessness prevention and dealing with overcrowding.
If that sector becomes unaffordable, such opportunities will diminish significantly. Indeed, that sector may be the source of homelessness if landlords are unable to sustain tenancies at lower rent levels. At this stage, the overall cost of these cuts is unquantifiable.
But it is safe to say, they will be absolutely devastating to those who rely on Housing Benefit.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Amy Whitelock:
In relation to the security of Council tenancy, I was contacted by a distressed local resident when she became aware of the prime Minister’s comments. Does the Lead Member agree that the Government has no democratic mandate for this, especially as David Cameron dismissed our warnings on the matter as scaremongering? Could the Lead Member assure me that he will do everything possible to oppose the Government’s proposals?
Summary of Lead Member’s response:
I give this assurance and can I apologise for getting so carried away describing the appalling cuts to Housing Benefit that I did not have time to mention David Cameron’s even more pernicious plans to scrap Secure and Assured Tenancies. Security of Tenure is not a luxury, it is a necessity.
London’s first ever council housing was built on the Boundary Estate here in Tower Hamlets. In more than a hundred years since then, council and housing association tenancies have given millions of families the stable and affordable home within which to raise their children, and safeguarded millions more older people in their retirement.
David Cameron’s plan to force tenants out of their homes after five or ten years appears to be especially targeted at pensioners who have a spare bedroom.
We fully support the payment of financial incentives to encourage under-occupying tenants to move somewhere smaller and free up homes for young families. But older people should never be driven out of their homes.
The Tories don’t have a majority in Parliament to drive these changes through. It’s up to us here in the East End – the birthplace of council housing - to stand up for the principle of Security of Tenure and give confidence to MPs to stop its abolition. That’s why Labour’s candidate to be the Mayor of Tower Hamlets is today launching a petition against the Prime Minister’s attempt to water down tenants’ rights.
7.8 Question from Councillor David Snowdon to the Lead Member for Culture & Creative Industries, Councillor Denise Jones
Response of the Lead Member:
The Idea Store Strategy 2009
The future framework for Idea Stores and libraries is contained in the Idea Store Strategy 2009, which was adopted by Cabinet in July 2009. This updated the original Idea Store Strategy which had been in place for ten years. It presents an updated model for the provision of library and lifelong learning services through the Borough’s Idea Stores and Libraries and makes a case for increased efficiencies across the Council by co-locating other services within appropriately located Idea Stores (‘Local’).
The key objectives of the updated strategy are as follows:
· Improve the quality of core library and information services
· Improve the quality and scope of core adult learning services
· Expand the provision of high quality health information, advice and support
· Expand the provision of high quality employment information, advice and support
· Improve the provision of high quality, accessible ICT/ILT infrastructure, services, training and support
· Strengthen inclusion and accessibility
· Co-locate cultural, leisure, and other council services where this will increase efficiency, effectiveness and value for money and enhance the Idea Store offer
Future Plans for the Isle of Dogs
There are no plans currently being developed that will affect Cubitt Town Library; however, should this change at any time in the future there would of course be extensive public consultation.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor David Snowdon:
The Isle of Dogs library is still a library and not an Idea Store, but there seem to be fewer books now than before. Would the Lead Member like to comment on whether some have been removed?
Summary of Lead Member’s response:
The books are likely to be out on loan to users. I would like to inform you that the satisfaction amongst users is 88% so people recognise that this is a good service. The loan figure for Cubitt Town library is 69,632 and for Whitechapel Idea Store 704,500 so this shows that people are using the library. Future plans do not include reducing the number of books and lending levels are up.
7.9 Question from Councillor Alibor Choudhury to the Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Rachael Saunders
“Can the Lead Member explain what steps the Council has recently taken to tackle the high levels of childhood obesity in the Borough?”
Response of the Lead Member:
I recognise the importance of dealing with childhood obesity in the borough. The latest figures show that significant progress has been made at reception age (4-5yrs) old where the trend is now downwards whereas at Year 6 (age 10-11) we still have an upward trend. In close partnership with the NHS we are targeting a major effort at reducing obesity in that age group. Proposals are currently being developed to weigh and measure children in Years 4 and 5 so those most at risk of becoming obese can be identified and effectively directed towards weight management interventions. We are keen to ensure the whole family is engaged in this process. The intervention could be school-based sessions and signposting to other relevant services or a longer weight management programme at a local leisure centre. For all children and young people, we are increasing levels of physical activity through extra sports, play and after schools sessions.
How young people travel to and from school is also important and we are encouraging more walking and cycling. The next ‘walk to school month’ is in October with an event in Mile End Park on the 12th. We are also working with parents to encourage greater awareness of the need for our young people to get the recommended 60 minutes exercise each day as well as increasing the understanding of what a healthy diet should be for primary school children. The Healthy Lives Team work closely with schools to promote healthy behaviour, including supporting schools to develop healthy packed lunch guidance. We also continue to provide an excellent, nationally recognised, school meals service, who ensure healthy meals are served in schools, in line with School Food Trust guidance.
Finally, through our Healthy Borough programme, we are delivering a range of projects that aim to make the borough a healthier environment in which it is easier for everyone, children included, to maintain a healthy weight throughout life.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Alibor Choudhury:
Will you agree that we need to do something about the proliferation of chicken shops in the borough?
Summary of Lead Member’s response:
I hope when the Core Strategy is agreed we can use that to deal with the saturation of fast food outlets and I look forward to working with colleagues on this.
In accordance with Rule 12.10 (expiry of time limit), questions 7.10 – 7.19 were not put. Written responses would be forwarded to the questioners.
Supporting documents: