Executive Member Questions
i) Councillor Bob Harris, Executive Member for Social Services & Health
ii) Councillor Nilgun Canver, Executive Member for Crime & Community Safety
Minutes:
i) Councillor Bob Harris, Executive Member for Social Services & Health
The committee noted that staff were trained in the administering of medicine by the guiding principle that they should provide assistance that a family member would otherwise provide. It was to be re-stated though that they were not medically administering medicine. The committee noted that staff were able to discuss any issue with GPs, who made regular visits to the homes.
Councillor Harris stated that the emphasis on individual choice led to the need for a re-thinking over Adult Social Care Services. The committee noted the further progress being made on the Community Care Strategy, and further noted that a detailed consultation on day care services was forthcoming.
Councillor Harris stated what he saw as his personal objectives over the coming year. He stated that he wished to see a caring Social Services and to encourage the effective and efficient delivery of good practice. He also wished to investigate funding issues and was against the privatisation of any of the services provided.
In response to Member enquiries concerning there being two points of contact for people in residential care homes, the Director of Social Services explained that due the creation of the Arms Length Management Organisation for housing, Homes for Haringey were responsible for tenancy management, while support and care remained the responsibility of the Council. Scheme managers for the Council should assist in helping people contact Homes for Haringey, and we noted that the current system gave residents choice.
RESOLVED:
ii) Councillor Nilgun Canver, Executive Member for Crime & Community Safety
Councillor Canver discussed the briefing which she had provided to Members and highlighted key achievements over the last year, and priorities for the next.
The committee was informed that the Youth Offending Service was climbing up the performance ladder, and the Executive Member offered her congratulations to the team. The committee were informed about the upcoming Police & Justice Bill and its specific reference to the future rôle of Scrutiny committees in scrutinising police services. The committee noted that the annual Haringey Peace Week was due to occur from September 10th to the 17th.
The committee discussed the Enforcement service, enquiring over the use of voluntary overtime by it’s staff, and the mechanism for feedback between themselves and the Planning Service. The Executive Member agreed to look into these issues and report back. The Executive Member assured the committee that she had asked Officers to look at ways of strengthening the service. She also agreed to pass on figures for Enforcement in the borough onto all Members who requested them.
RESOLVED: