Issue - meetings

To receive a verbal update from the Leader, Councillor Claire Kober, setting out the Council’s priorities for the Municipal Year.

The Chair welcomed the Leader of the Council, Councillor Claire Kober, and Nick Walkley, Chief Executive of the Council, to the meeting.

The Leader and Chief Executive provided an outline of the priorities for the Council for the forthcoming year, and responded to questions from the Committee.  NOTED:

-           There was a change in context with the new London Mayor which would provide a number of opportunities, particularly in terms of the devolution deal.  Labour boroughs have had initial meetings with the Mayor, but more would be to come in terms of developing the deal.  London had been offered the opportunity to trial business rates devolution.

-           Finances were a challenge, not just for Local Government but for the wider public sector also. 

-           There were concerns over performance issues within the Health Sector, particularly at North Middlesex Hospital.  The Leader (as the Chair of the Haringey Health and Wellbeing Board) was meeting with the North Middlesex Hospital on a six weekly basis, along with the Chair of the Enfield Health and Wellbeing Board.  It was important that Haringey continued to work with the hospital to ensure that residents of the borough received the care that they deserved.

-           The London Academy of Excellence Tottenham had started their consultation, which would run until 29 June 2016.  The LAET would provide pathways to good universities, high level apprenticeships and direct employment – something which had not previously been available to young people in the area.  The LAET were looking to create good partnership working with schools, to provide a teaching academy to help teachers navigate the changes to GCSE and A Level curriculums, and to provide a strong pastoral system to pupils.

-           Regeneration – the Spurs planning application had been approved in December.  The Employment and Skills Board were looking at how the Council can work with employers and agencies to encourage local employment.  Consultation had been carried out on the Wood Green regeneration, an options appraisal had been carried out, and master-planning work was emerging.  It was noted that it was important that local people were involved, and the Leader assured the Committee that people were engaged with the process.

-           Further information would be provided with regards to the re-provision of services for day care centre users following the closures.

The Chair thanked the Leader and the Chief Executive for attending the meeting.