Agenda and minutes

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at the meeting.

The meeting was webcast on the Council’s website.

No apologies for absence were received.  Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Cooke and 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 13 below).

There was no such business.

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 Davies declared an interest in respect of item 7, Annual Health Checks, by nature of him being an employee of the Healthcare Commission.

Councillor Jones declared a prejudicial interest in item 9, by nature of her being the Deputy Executive Member for Children & Young People.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Standing Orders.

There were no such items.

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Toni Mallett, Executive Member for Finance.

The committee received an update on key issues in the portfolio of the Executive Member for Finance.  The committee were also provided with answers to questions submitted in advance of the meeting.

Members enquired as to whether Council assistance was available to help groups apply with the new community buildings policy framework.  The Executive Member informed the committee that the work on the new framework was on-going, with problems being addressed as they arose, and that ways were being formulated to help groups fulfil their obligations.

Officers reported to Members that Haringey was on course for a £350,000 saving in energy consumption achieved by avoiding price escalation in the Council’s contracts.

Members raised concern over sub-contracting and its relation to the Homes for Haringey Contract Standing Orders.  The Council were to be informed in writing should the Homes for Haringey Contract Standing Orders be amended, and the Executive Member promised to report back to the committee on the procedure.  Members also questioned operating procedures relating to snagging; Officers informed Members that work should not be handed over until all issues were resolved.

RESOLVED:

1.         That Members be provided with a one-page statement of position on Hornsey Central Depot.

2.         That Members be provided with information by the Executive Member for Housing on the Contract Standing Orders of Homes for Haringey, and the process of notification of the Council should they change.

3.         That the Director of Corporate Resources provide to the committee information on the protocol and usage of snagging money.

4.         That the committee note the briefing and questions answered.

(Report of the Director of Urban Environment)  To update the committee on the progress made by the Housing Service to address the recommendations of the Scrutiny review entitled ‘The Council’s Approach to Private Sector Housing’.  TO FOLLOW

Councillor Bevan expressed his thanks to Officers for providing computer access to information to the Empty Property Officer as requested.

The committee received this report to be updated on progress made by the Housing Service to address the recommendations of the Scrutiny review entitled ‘The Council’s Approach to Private Sector Housing’.

In response to questions from Members, Officers informed the committee that 30 contenders for ‘enforcement orders’ had been identified, and work was continuing on Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs).  Officers agreed to provide to Members more information on the administration processes involved in issuing CPOs.

Members were informed that money generated by sales would be re-invested in the Council’s corporate capital programme.  In response to Member enquiries, Officers stated that some of this money had been earmarked for projects tackling homelessness.  Members were further informed that as no Compulsory Purchases had yet been completed, no money had yet been transferred in this manner.

RESOLVED:

1.       That the committee be provided information on the administration of the process of CPOs.

2.       That the report be noted.

(Rerport of the Chair of Overview & Scrutiny) To inform the Committee of the comments that were made by the Committee in the Core Standards  self- declarations by Local NHS Trusts.

Councillor Davies declared a personal interest in this item by nature of him being an employee of the Healthcare Commission.

The committee was informed of comments made by the Committee in the Core Standards self-declarations by Local NHS trusts.

The committee noted that the submissions contained within the report were well-received by partners and would be passed to the Primary Care Trust upon their final agreement.

The Committee re-iterated their opposition to government top-slicing of the PCT budget, particularly in terms of increasing the workload of GPs.  Members noted that Access to GP Services would be a likely topic in the 2007-8 work plan for Scrutiny.  Other Councils had expressed their disappointment at top-slicing at a recent meeting between the London Scrutiny Network and the Chief Executive of the London Strategic Health Authority.

Members noted that an update meeting concerning the Joint Scrutiny of Clinical Strategy would be convened in the new municipal year.  It was noted that the issue of transport to the North Middlesex Hospital would be discussed as part of Joint Scrutiny.

RESOLVED:

1. That Access to GP Services be considered as part of the 2007-8 Scrutiny work plan.

2. That Officers be thanked for their work on the Annual Health Check

3. That an update meeting be convened after the Council’s AGM regarding the Joint Scrutiny of Clinical Services.

4. That the Chair of Overview & Scrutiny write to the PCT expressing concern over the date of the consultation on Chase Farm.

5. That the Scrutiny Manager provide information on the provision of dental services in Schools, and enquire as to the implementation of recommendations of the Scrutiny Review of Access to Mental Health Services.

6. That the report be agreed.

Briefing from Councillor George Meehan, Leader of the Council.

The committee received a briefing from Councillor George Meehan, Leader of the Council, who outlined his key priorities to the committee in terms of his portfolio areas.  These were focussed on corporate communications, the CPA and equalities projects and community cohesion.

Members raised concern over the financial burden of Haringey’s asylum service, arguing that Haringey was underfinanced in light of flawed census figures being used to calculate its allocation.  The Leader responded that he had met with the Asylum Minister three weeks previously, and made strong representations for Haringey’s case.  Members stated that this issue would have cross-party support.

In terms of the Corporate Logo, the Leader admitted that the consultation for this project had been too narrow and promised that lessons would be learned for future consultations of this nature.  The Leader stated his focus on performance, informing Members of his frequent meetings between him, the Chief Executive and all Directors where targets were presented.

Members were informed that they were not able to link to personal website containing political material from the Council’s website.  It was stated that this was a legal requirement, rather than a Haringey-specific policy.

In terms of Community Cohesion, the Leader stated that a new Community Cohesion Forum, replacing the defunct Racial Equality Joint Consultation Committee, was planned to be set up over the coming municipal year.  This would be an arena where the views of community groups would be heard, and where tolerance could be promoted.

RESOLVED:

1.        That it be noted that representations to government over the issue of asylum in the borough would received cross-party support.

2.        That a session on asylum in the borough be arranged with the Members’ Learning & Support Officer.

3.        That future Leader’s briefings to the committee contain data on percentage of Haringey staff in relation to the figures borough-wide.

4.        That Members be provided with information on disabled training schemes provided by the Council.

5.        That the committee thank the Leader for his briefing.

(Report of the Chair of the Review Panel)  To report the Scrutiny Review Panel’s recommendations regarding the provision of extended services in and around schools.

Councillor Jones declared a prejudicial interest in this item, by nature of her being the Deputy Executive Member for Children & Young People.

The committee received the Scrutiny Review Panels recommendations regarding the provision of extended services in and around schools.

Members thanked Officers for their contribution to the review.  Members were informed that the relevant Executive Member had been involved through the Director of the Children & Young People’s Service.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the recommendations of the review be approved.

(Report of the Chair of the Review Panel)  To report the Fly Tipping Scrutiny Review Panel’s recommendations.

The committee considered the report and recommendations from the Scrutiny Review Panel on Fly-tipping.

Members noted the contents of the report, and its recommendations, which included the provision of a highly-publicised phone number to report instances of fly-tipping, and the extended introduction of timed rubbish collections.  It was stated that there needed to be a ‘corporate will’ to tackle fly-tipping.  Members were informed that the recommendations were succint in order to be clearly implementable. 

RESOLVED:

1.  That the recommendations of the report be agreed.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the following meetings:

-          27 March 2007

-          10 April 2007 (call-in meeting)

RESOLVED:

1. That recommendation 2 of the minute OSCO168, Support to Small Business, be amended to state:

That an action plan on the provision of this service be reported back to the committee at the September meeting of the Committee, with the Executive Member for Enterprise and Regeneration in attendance.

2. That the fourth paragraph of minute OSCO169, Executive Member Questions: Executive Member for Environment & Conservation be amended to read:

Members learned that there were currently no new CPZ proposals, although where there was demand for one in an area, it was likely that the Council would consider that demand.

3. That, subject to the above amendments, the minutes of the meeting of Tuesday 27 March 2007 be confirmed and signed.

4. That the minutes of the meeting of 10 April 2007 be confirmed and signed.

There were no such items.