Agenda and minutes

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The meeting was webcast on the Council’s website.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Davies.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of urgent business. (Late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items will be dealt with at item 12 below. New items of exempt business will be dealt with at item below).

The committee agreed to admit as urgent business the Scrutiny Review of Housing Lettings Policy, to be considered under item 12.

The report was urgent to because this phase of the review built on the original report that was agreed by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee in September 2006, and that it was improtant that the report and recommendations were considered by the Committee for consideration by the Executive.

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public, with knowledge of the relevant facts, would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgement of the public interest.

Councillor Jones declared an interest in respect of item 6, Executive Member Questions, in that she held the post of deputy Executive Member for Children and Young People.  She had had input into the formulation of the briefing paper of answers to questions provided to Members, and would not take part in that item.

Councillor Davies declared an interest in respect of item 8, the PCT Budget, in that he worked for the Healthcare Commission.

Councillor Winskill declared an interest in respect of item 8, the PCT Budget, in that he had been referred to a specialist over a health matter.

Councillor Cooke declared an interest in respect of item 9, enforcement policy and strategy, in that he held the post of deputy Executive member for Crime and Community Safety.  He had no involvement in the formulation of the briefing paper provided to Members.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Standing Orders.

There were no such items.

Briefing from Councillor Kaushika Amin, Executive Member for Enterprise and Regeneration.

The committee received a briefing from the Executive Member on key issues and priorities in her portfolio area.  She stated that the major current priority was ensuring that the Council’s Reshaping was effective in bringing regeneration activity together into one directorate.  Members noted that David Hennings would be leading on social regeneration, with Shifa Mustafa the lead on Strategic Sites and Planning.  This also enabled the Wood Green and Tottenham High Road town centre management into a single area.

Members noted that officers were confident that the external funding strategy would ensure that projects could continue despite some areas of funding potentially being diverted to the 2012 London Olympics.

Members noted that there was likely to be some deregulation of small scale development.  It was further noted that current activity met the current standards for carbon emissions, and that the target for social housing across the borough was 50% of new build.

Members noted that over 300 businesses were being engaged with as part of the Haringey City Growth Strategy.

The Executive Member had had positive and useful feedback from the recent trip to Manchester; it was requested that a briefing and feedback on future trips of this kind be provided to those interested Members.

Officers re-iterated their desire to work with Tottenham Hotspur Football Club on plans for the redevelopment of their White Hart Lane Stadium, and noted that Spurs were engaging with the Council and local community through various initiatives.

RESOLVED:

1.       That Officers write to the committee, informing them of the position with regards to the planning brief for Hornsey Central Depot.

2.       That the committee note the briefing.

(Update from the Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust)  To summarise progress to date in the 2007/8 planning and commissioning cycle, key deliverables and next steps.

Councillor Davies declared an interest in respect of this item in that he worked for the Healthcare Commission.

Councillor Winskill declared an interest in respect of this item in that he had been referred to a specialist over a health matter.

Councillor Cooke took the Chair for this item.

The committee received an update from the Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust on progress to date in the 2007/8 planning commissioning cycle, key deliverables and the next steps to be taken.  Members noted that the projected available growth for the PCT in the next financial year was estimated to be £3 million.

With regards to the 3.6% top-slicing of PCT budget, the PCT expressed moderate confidence that this percentage would not likely increase.

The PCT confirmed that they were considering bringing in new providers to increase efficiency and patient choice.

With regards to the status of the Mental Health Trust, the committee learned that new information would be considered at the mid-march board meeting, and that a stakeholder engagement session would take place running up to this meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.          That Scrutiny officers enquire as to a response on Hornsey Central Hospital.

2.          That requested budget information be provided to the committee by the PCT.

3.          That the update be noted.

(Report of the Assistant Director for Environment)  To inform the Committee of the work in progress to prepare an Enforcement Strategy and Policy for 2006-2011 and seek views on the content and proposals contained in the first draft.

Councillor Cooke declared an interest in respect of this item in that he held the post of deputy Executive member for Crime and Community Safety.  He had no involvement in the formulation of the briefing paper provided to Members.

The committee received this report to be informed on the work in progress to prepare an Enforcement Strategy and Policy, and received a copy of the current strategy in draft form.

Members stated the need for a dedicated planning enforcement team, and were informed by officers that resourcing and turnover problems preventing this were being addressed.  Officers stated that addressing issues around Houses in Multiple Occupation was a key priority for Enforcement. 

With regards to street wardens, Members re-iterated the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review of Street Wardens, and urged that all new street wardens be able to use full enforcement powers, and that workwear uniforms be redesigned for greater visibility.

RESOLVED:

1.       That the Chair of Overview & Scrutiny write to Enforcement, requesting that Members be informed as to Enforcement activity in their specific ward.

2.       That the report be noted.

Councillor Liz Santry, Executive Member for Children & Young People

i)                    Briefing from the Executive Member  TO FOLLOW

ii)                  Answers to questions from Members

Councillor Jones declared an interest in respect of this item, in that she held the post of deputy Executive Member for Children and Young People.  She had input into the formulation of the briefing paper of answers to questions provided to Members, and did not take part in the discussion.

The committee received a briefing from the Executive Member on the key issues and priorities currently existing in her portfolio.  These included the delivery of the current capital programme, including Building School for the Future, the Sixth Form Centre, the Children’s Centres and a program to increase school place provision in the West of the borough.  The Executive Member also stressed the development of the three networks (North, South and West) and the importance of working with partners closely, particularly around joint commissioning.

It was noted that Haringey’s policy with regard to special schools was to locate them within secondary schools.  A sizeable number of Haringey pupils possessed special educational needs, and it was noted that Council policy was to provide for those needs.  It was further noted that the borough currently had four special schools.  The importance of early intervention was noted by Members, and the Executive Member stated that the figure intervention was taking place now much earlier compared to figures from 2003.

The development of the Pupil Support Centre with regard pupil population was being worked on, with a ‘Hard to Place Pupil Protocol’ currently being worked on.  It was noted that the closure of Greenfields had led to young people staying at the Pupil Support Centre on a longer-term basis, and that the plans existed for the Pupil Support Centre to be developed under Building Schools for the Future.

RESOLVED:

1. That intervention on the efficacy early intervention be incorporated into the School Exam Results report.

2. That the committee note the briefing and answers to Member questions.

(Report of the Chair of the Review Panel)  To approve the final report of the Scrutiny Review Panel on the community safety rôle of CCTV.

The committee received the final report of the Scrutiny Review Panel on the Community Safety Rôle of Closed Circuit Television.

Members welcomed the recommendations made by the report.  Members stated their particular support for the recommendation that each CCTV scheme should have its own operational requirement.

Concern was raised by a Member of the public regarding signage advertising CCTV, and associated data protection issues.

RESOLVED:

1. That the conclusions and recommendations of the Review by approved by Members.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the following meetings:

i)                    18 December 2006

ii)                  10 January 2007 (special meeting)  TO FOLLOW

18^th December 2006

To amend the final sentence of paragraph three, minute OSCO106, to state:

An effective way for lobbying and campaign groups to play a part in the Joint Committee would be as stakeholders and witnesses.

To amend minute OSCO106, resolution 2 to state:

That Councillors Bull, Jones and Newton be appointed Haringey¹s representatives on this committee.

For Officers to provide clearer information in respect of the items on SAP, Wards Corner and Corporate I.T.

10^th January 2007

To amend minute OSCO112, Declarations of Interest, to state that Councillor Winskill is a user of the Crouch End Health Clinic, rather than the Fortis Green Clinic.

RESOLVED:

1.       That, subsequent to the above changes being made, the minutes of the meetings of the following meetings be confirmed and signed:

i)                    18 December 2006

ii)                  10 January 2007

Scrutiny Review of Housing Lettings Policy  (Report of the Chair of the Scrutiny Review Panel)  To report to the Committee the Scrutiny Review Panel recommendations regarding the new Housing Lettings Policy and to seek the Committee’s endorsement of the recommendations contained in the report of the Scrutiny Review Panel.

The committee agreed to admit as urgent business the Scrutiny Review of Housing Lettings Policy.

The report was urgent to because this phase of the review built on the original report that was agreed by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee in September 2006, and that it was important that the report and recommendations were considered by the Committee for consideration by the Executive.

Following discussion, Members decided to defer consideration of this report to the meeting of 26^th February 2007

RESOLVED:

1. To write to housing asking for clarification over their removal of the ‘Good Neighbour’ points allocation.

2. To defer consideration this report to the meeting of 26^th February