Agenda item
Chair's advice of Key Issues or Questions in relation to Unrestricted Business to be considered
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 30th November 2010.
Decision:
Sheet of questions and comments arising from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 30th November 2010 Tabled by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Resolved
That the questions and comments 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 related.
Action by:
ASSISTANT CHIEF EXECUTIVE – LEGAL SERVICES (I. FREEMAN)
Executive Team Leader, Democratic Services, Chief Executive’s (A. Taylor)
Minutes:
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 30th November 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:
· Local Implementation Plan 2
o Highlighting the key elements of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s consideration of the report “Local Implementation Plan 2” to inform Cabinet consideration of the same report:
Ø Concern regarding the upgrade of Whitechapel Station to ensure it is fully accessible and consideration that the Authority, in particular the Mayor and Cabinet, should lobby Transport for London and the Mayor of London to progress this faster than currently planned. This in the context of the Olympic Games 2012, and that It was currently anticipated that the Station would be fully accessible two years after the opening of the new Royal London Hospital which will cater for patients from across the United Kingdom.
Ø Concern regarding the cut back on operation times of the Thames Clipper planned by Transport for London and the consequent impact on a vital and easy access way for many residents to reach central London; and again consideration that the the Mayor and Cabinet, should raise this with Transport for London.
· Performance and Budget Scrutiny
o Formally thanking Councillor A. Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources, and Mr Naylor, Corporate Director Resources, for attending the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to present this report and answer questions arising.
· Highlighting the key elements of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s consideration of the report “Performance and Corporate Budget Monitoring Quarter Two” to inform Cabinet consideration of the same report:
Ø Overspend in Older People Commissioning.
Ø Shortfall of income from estate parking and leaseholder service charges
Ø Cost impact arising from the Leaseholder Audit.
o Welcoming the commitment, given by the Cabinet Member for Resources, that an Equality Impact Assessment would be undertaken in relation to all savings proposals; and commenting that the inclusion of these in the Authority’s Budget was now expected.
o Seeking clarification as soon as possible regarding the services to which the Mayor and Cabinet would be giving highest priority when considering the Authority’s Budget for next year.
· Car Free Development Schemes and Parking Permits
o Relaying the concern of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding the continued lack of clarity as to the number of properties and residents that were affected by the Authority’s administrative error in issuing on-street car parking permits to residents of car free developments and subsequent attempt to address this by withdrawing them. Requesting clarity as soon as possible and development of a consistent borough-wide policy. Also, because of the level of associated enquiries to Ward Councillors, requesting an all Member Seminar to clarify the position.
· Scrutiny Review and Scrutiny Challenge Session
o Reporting consideration and agreement by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of the report of the Scrutiny Review Working Group on Citizen Engagement, including a series of recommendations to inform development of an associated strategy.
o Reporting consideration/ agreement of the report arising from the scrutiny challenge session on Poly-systems and highlighting that key recommendations had been made.
· Report of Scrutiny Working Group
o Advising that Councillor T. Archer (Scrutiny Lead – Healthy Communities 2009/10) had been asked by her to formally introduce the findings and recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Working Group on Reducing Childhood Obesity – increasing the availability of healthy choices”, which he had led during the Municipal Year 2009/10.
· 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 6.1 Local Development Framework (LDF) Annual Monitoring Report 2009 – 2010/ Local Development Scheme (LDS) 2010.
o Item 6.3 Options for the disposal of two long term void properties and Council properties previously in shortlife use.
o Item 6.4 Local Implementation Plan 2.
o Item 7.1 Proposed Mulberry & Bigland Green Centre.
o Item 9.1 Children Schools and Families – Contract Awards.
o Item 10.1 Performance and Corporate Budget Monitoring Quarter 2.
o Item 10.2 Budget 2011/12 – 2013/14.
The Mayor thanked Councillor Jackson for presenting the contribution of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and then Moved and it was: -
Resolved
That the questions and comments 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 related.
Variation to Order of Business
The Mayor also indicated that he considered it appropriate that the Order of Business be varied so that following receipt of a presentation, at the request of the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, from Councillor T. Archer (Scrutiny Lead – Healthy Communities 2009/10), in which he would formally introduce the findings and recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Working Group on Reducing Childhood Obesity – increasing the availability of healthy choices” consideration be given next to the report, contained in the agenda, which was the subject matter of the presentation.
Accordingly the Mayor Moved the following motion for the consideration of members of the Cabinet, and it was: -
Resolved
That the Order of Business be varied so that following receipt of Agenda item 5.1 “Chair’s advice of Key Issues or Questions in relation to Unrestricted Business to be considered” that Agenda Item 9.2 “Report of the Scrutiny Review Working Group on Reducing Childhood Obesity – increasing the availability of healthy choices” (CAB 062/101) be considered next, and subsequently the Cabinet return to the order of business detailed in the agenda.
· Report of Scrutiny Review Working Group
Formally introducing the findings and recommendations of a Scrutiny Review Working Group as follows:
Scrutiny Review Working Group on Reducing Childhood Obesity – increasing the availability of healthy choices”
o Set the context: Tower Hamlets was an area of huge health inequalities and life expectancy could vary by up to 10 years depending on where a person lived in the borough. A major factor contributing to the health of future generations was the reduction in childhood obesity, and left untreated their health would be blighted. The serious nature of the problem in Tower Hamlets was highlighted by the facts that:
Ø 25% of 4 to 5 year olds had been found to be clinically obese, the fifth worst authority in the country.
Ø For 10 to 11 year olds the borough was the second worst in the country.
o Outlined review methodology: including evidence given by Council Officers and health professionals from NHS Tower Hamlets and a number of focus groups for residents.
o Highlighted key findings and associated recommendations. The recommendations were bold, but this was necessary given a wrong direction of travel for many indicators in this area and it was not an area where improvement was easy.
Ø Free School Meals for all pupils in Tower Hamlets was considered to be the most important step that could be taken, although there was a recognition of the financial implications of this and also the changed financial environment the Council now faced.
Ø Cashless lunch payment system which would encourage pupils to spend their allowance on a healthy school meal and discourage the purchase of less healthy food outside school.
Ø Closed gate policy at lunchtime to prevent pupils routinely leaving school premises, often resulting in purchase of less healthy food.
Ø Improving the school lunch experience: improved lunch areas, staggered hours to ease queuing and improved meal quality (the latter commended in the review).
Ø Development and Renewal to develop an evidence base to support an emerging local development policy to manage fast food outlets and restrict over concentration in close proximity to schools.
Ø Council, Tower Hamlets Homes and other Registered Social Landlords to encourage healthy food in their capacity as landlords.
Ø Council and partners to ensure their vending and other catering have healthy options.
Ø That THEO (Tower Hamlets Environment Officer) resources were allocated to mitigate problems associated with fast food outlets such as waste, litter and ASB and ensure these outlets acted in a way that met the expectations of the Council.
The Mayor thanked Councillor Archer for his presentation and the hard work undertaken during the Scrutiny Review.