Agenda item
VERBAL UPDATES FROM SCRUTINY LEADS
(Time allocated – 5 minutes each)
Minutes:
Councillor Ahmed Omer – Scrutiny Lead for One Tower Hamlets –Scrutiny Review On Supporting New Communities, A Case Study of the Somali Community
Councillor Omer reported that during the first two sessions the Panel had heard from a range of representatives from the Greater London Authority, Department for Communities and Local Government and the Migrants Rights Network and also the Councils third sector team on grass roots organisations who were supporting new communities
At the last session there had a round table discussion with various services including Education, Health, Employment, the Police and Housing. The key aim of this session was to identify how services could improve partnership working during a period of efficiency savings and the loss of significant government funding.
Councillor Omer advised that future sessions would take the form of focus groups with local residents and would include sessions with young people, Community Luncheon Clubs, and Somali women and new migrants.
Cllr Rajib Ahmed, Scrutiny Lead for Excellent Public Services - Scrutiny Review on Citizen Engagement Strategy
Councillor Ahmed reported that his Review Panel had visited the Community Champion workshop at IDEA Store Whitechapel on 30 October, as this project would feed into the development of the Council’s Citizen Engagement Strategy. Approximately fifteen community champions had participated and the intention now was to develop a community champion scheme for Tower Hamlets.
Councillor Ahmed had also chaired a Scrutiny Challenge Session on Citizen Engagement Strategy on 4 November, during which over 20 people including Councillors, Third Sector organisations and local residents had participated.
The aims of the session had been to examine the Citizen Engagement Strategy in its development process, and make recommendations to be incorporated into the Strategy.
Councillor Ahmed advised that he would also be chairing a Scrutiny Challenge Session on Customer services at M73 on 25 November to consider efficient and effective access to customer services for all residents. He urged as many Members to attend as possible.
Councillor Lesley Pavitt – Scrutiny Lead for Safe and Supportive Communities - Scrutiny Review on Safeguarding Adults at Risk
Councillor Pavitt reported that 3 sessions for this review had now taken place which had included:
· looking at the current national and local policies concerning safeguarding adults at risk with evidence provided by the Councils Safeguarding Team.
· A visit to Toynbee Hall to find out about the Dignify project which aimed to raise awareness amongst older people and professionals about what elder abuse was.
· A visit and tour of Sonali Gardens day care centre to find out about the services they delivered and a round table discussion with the centre’s Manager.
Councillor Pavitt advised that the next session concerning financial abuse would take place on Monday 15th November 2010.
Councillor Tim Archer – Scrutiny Lead for Healthy Communities and Chair of the Health Scrutiny Panel.
Councillor Archer updated the Committee on issues that had been discussed at the last meeting of the Health Scrutiny Panel held in October which included:
Access to GP services – the Ocean Estate
- GP Surgery being moved as part of regeneration of Ocean Estate
- Improved services including a Dental Practice and Pharmacy in the same building
- Concerns around consultation and involvement of local residents
- HSP to consider outcome from consultation and update on progress at the next meeting or may arrange a meeting in the Ocean Estate on this.
Joint Report on Complaints across the three local Trusts –
- First time report being jointly presented gave a better understanding of patients concerns regarding health services in the Borough
- Concerns expressed about the complaints process and the huge number of complaints at Barts and the London NHS Trust.
East London and City Alliance Commissioning Strategy Plan Update
- This Strategy updated HSP on plans to reduce the financial gap
- Discussion issues around services which may be reduced or stopped
- Will be discussed at a future HSP meeting once further details have emerged
THINk Report
- Really useful report giving detailed information on residents concerns with health and social care services
- May be useful for other Members to have a look at
- HSP to consider response of local health trusts to these concerns
Councillor Archer also reported that a Challenge Session on Polysystems had been held on 29th September, the purpose of which had been to:
- Examine the local picture and what reconfiguration of local primary care and social care services will mean for residents.
- Increase Members understanding around the key issues to enable them to use their community leadership role to communicate change to residents
- Listen to local GPs and hear their opinions on the re-provision of local healthcare services.
- Make recommendations on how the Council could better engage residents in this process and communicate change.
It had been a really useful session well attended by Members, residents and NSH Colleagues.