Issue - meetings

To receive the report of the Council Leader, Councillor Claire Kober, on the Cabinet’s priorities for 2009/10.

The Committee received a briefing on the State of the Borough and responses to questions from the Leader, Councillor Claire Kober.

The Committee requested a list of the roads that had been authorised for planned resurfacing.  

The Leader recognised the seriousness of the recession and was liaising with local shop owners to provide support but highlighted that the numbers of empty shops in the Borough were considered to be in line with other similar town centres.

The Leader outlined that the Tottenham Hotspur pre-application phase would be a catalyst for physical and social regeneration in Tottenham.  The application would include a number of set targets for regeneration when brought before the Planning Committee in the next few months.  Ward Councillors would be involved in the target setting process where legally possible. 

The Committee noted that the Council did not currently have the finances to start building Council Housing however dialogue with government on creating the opportunities for doing so were continuing. 

The Committee was informed that the Children’s Safeguarding Policy and Practice Panel had appointed an independent advisor and there would be an opportunity to review how the Panel operated next year. 

Councillor Aitken commented that consultation responses on the Council’s website for proposals for changes to the Leadership model were poor.  The Leader explained that an extensive article would shortly appear in Haringey People and, in response to comments that residents did not read Haringey People, the Leader informed the Committee that the recent resident survey highlighted clearly that Haringey People was the top source of local information for people living in the borough.

The Committee expressed concerns that reductions were being made to the Environment Service yet the report stated that there would be a named Street Enforcement Officer for every ward. The Chief Executive, Dr. O’Donovan, stated that she would ensure exact details of staffing arrangements under the new Enforcement Team Structure would be provided to Members.  The Leader agreed with the Committee that there were hotspots with high amounts of litter in the Borough and explained that officers were concentrating on and monitoring these areas.

The Committee were informed that focus groups would be established as a result of the staff survey where results showed that levels of morale were variable across the organisation.

In response to concerns on possible recent reporting of abductions the Leader explained that she had been aware of a small number of incidents which had been labelled as alleged abductions of children but on further investigation by the Police these cases had been found not to be abductions.  The Leader agreed with concerns and explained that procedures were in place to notify schools in such cases.

The Committee expressed concerns about the vacant Enterprise and Regeneration Portfolio within the Council’s Cabinet.  The Leader explained that, in accordance with the Constitution, she had shared out the duties to ensure that the regeneration portfolio was covered by other Cabinet Members.  A short report would be presented to Council on 20^th July outlining  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6