Issue - meetings

To receive the exceptions report on financial and performance information for the year to August 2009.

The Committee received the report on the performance of the Council and partners in relation to Local Area Agreement and Sustainable Community Strategy Outcomes introduced by Eve Pelekanos (Corporate Head of Performance & Policy).

Graham Oliver (Head of Finance – Accounting Control) introduced the Finance section of the report and the Committee noted that the under-spend highlighted in the report was mainly due to schemes being deferred.  The Committee’s suggestion that Treasury Management training be provided to all members of the Council was noted by officers.

The Deputy Director – Children & Families was asked to circulate further information on costs of support to families at the different stages of service to members after the meeting.  The Committee expressed concerns that the target of 53% of children being assessed within 7-days was low.  The Deputy Director – Children & Families explained that whilst this seemed like a low target, it took into account the backlog of cases and did not mean that children were not being assessed.  The target would rise later in the year and was being closely monitored by the Government of London (GOL) and the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

Committee members noted, in response to their concerns about the length of time taken to complete assessments, that the Council received 200 referrals each week and prioritised using as much information as could be gathered.

The Committee asked for more information to be provided after the meeting on the cost of support provided to families at the different stages of intervention.

Information on what the Haringey Guarantee had achieved would be circulated to members.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

Clerks note:  Councillor Adamou took-over as Chair of the meeting while Councillor Bull left the room briefly

The Committee asked that the Director of Adult, Culture and Community Services informed members if any budget reductions in response to the budgetary overspend were being planned in Adults Services.

Clerks note:  Councillor Bull returned to the room and took-over as Chair of the meeting.

The Committee were informed that 15 out of the 45 performance indicators were not included in the report as the information had not been available but this information and the scorecards (which were available on the Council’s web-site) would be circulated to Committee members.

RESOLVED

i.          That the report and the progress being made be noted.

ii.         That the Council budget changes (virements) set out in Appendix 2 of the report.