Agenda and minutes

Please note: This meeting may be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council's internet site - at the start of the meeting the Chair will confirm if all or part of the meeting is being filmed. The images and sound recording may be used for training purposes within the Council.

Generally the public seating areas are not filmed. However, by entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes.

If you have any queries regarding this, please contact the Committee Clerk at the meeting.

The meeting was recorded for later webcast on the Council’s website.

There were no apologies for absence.

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 15 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 judgment of the public interest and if this interest affects their financial position or the financial position of a person or body as described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct and/or if it relates to the determining of any approval, consent, licence, permission or registration in relation to them or any person or body described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct.

Councillors Bull, Winskill, Egan and Adje declared personal interests in item 6 by nature of being leaseholders.

Councillor Davies declared a personal interest in items 7 and 8 by nature of being an employee of the Healthcare Commission.

Councillor Mallett declared a personal interest in item 13 by nature of a family Member employing a carer.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Standing Orders.

There were no such items.

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Charles Adje, Cabinet Member for Resources.

The committee received a briefing and answers to questions submitted from Councillor Charles Adje, Cabinet Member for Resources.

The Cabinet Member set out key achievements and priorities, including the Council’s forthcoming joining of the London-wide Local Authority Mutual Company in April, and progressing work on the Council’s Risk Management Strategy.

Members were informed of progress on the Council’s single status pay negotiations.  A deal had been agreed which was currently before the national unions for comment, with hopes that this would be signed off in due course.  Staff attending Council-organised events on this topic had been responsive and understanding.  Officers assured Members that the proposed deal was a favourable one for Haringey, with the borough’s local context taken into account.

On the subject of Council Records and data security, the Cabinet Member reiterated the points that the Leader had made in a statement at Full Council.  The Council continued to be in contact with the Information Commissioner.

The committee was informed that consultation had taken place regarding moves to increase benefits take-up in light of the recent changes to Housing Rents.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the Chair receive a briefing note on ongoing activity relating to ensuring data security in light of Council building moves.

2. That the Committee receive a briefing note on actions taken to reduce the use of consultants.

2. That the Committee receive a briefing note on Officer leave to carry out Union responsibilities

3. That the briefing and answers to questions be noted.

Presentation by the Mental Health Trust

The committee received a report from the Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health Trust regarding the consultation for its application for foundation status.

It was noted that there had been a reasonable response rate for the consultation, with a significant majority of respondants in favour of the Trust’s bid.  It was further noted that the application was expected to be submitted in September 2008, with authorisation anticipated in April 2010.   Despite Member concerns over the time between the consultation and the submission of the application, the Mental Health Trust stated that they were not intending to ‘rerun’ the consultation, although they were happy to continue to engage and communicate with Members and service users.

A representative from the Public & Patient Involvement Forum agreed that there would be no benefit in additional consultation.  It was stated that although Service User Groupings were in favour of the application for Foundation Trust status, views were more disparate in terms of individuals.

Concerns were raised regarding the role of Small Stakeholders.  The Trust assured the Committee that one of the benefits of Foundation Status would be that it would allow for working with a broader range of partners.  It was noted that the Trust believed that small stakeholders were key to the successful provision of Mental Health services.

RESOLVED:

1. That the committee receive an update in the new municipal year on performance, including concerns raised over small stakeholders.

2. That the committee approve the conclusions and recommendations of the Scrutiny Review, as outlined in the Scrutiny Review report.

(Report of the Chair of Overview & Scrutiny)  To seek approval for the proposed method by which the Committee will feed back comments on the Annual Health Check in 2008.

The committee received this report to give approval to the proposed method to feed back comments on the Annual Health Check 2008.

It was noted that this year would see Scrutiny changing its approach to the Annual Health Check, with Members going out and visiting each of the relevant Health Trusts.  The committee was also planning to involve input from the voluntary sector through HAVCO.

RESOLVED:

That the recommendations of the report setting out the Annual Health Check process be agreed.

Briefing from Councillor Liz Santry, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People.

The committee received a briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Liz Santry, Cabinet Member for Children & Young People.

The Cabinet Member highlighted to the committee key areas she was working on in her portfolio.  She indicated to the committee that School standards in Haringey were improving at twice the national rate, with added focus being added to raising standards through Joint Area Agreements.  She stated that a realistic target for the Council was to hit the national average by 2010.  She also informed the committee of her focus on safety whilst travelling, with use being made of Youth Offending funding in pursuit of this aim.

In response to Member queries over the use of sprinklers in Schools, the Cabinet Member confirmed that all refurbishments and new builds had a risk analysis carried out prior to any decision being taken.

In response to concerns over the level of attainment at John Loughborough School, the Cabinet Member assured the committee that she shared their frustrations concerning the speed of progress in a complex situation, and stated the Council’s determination to provide a good education to all children.

On the subject of school tests, Officers assured the committee that all results in schools were monitored, including the use of spotchecks.  The ongoing investigation into tests at St Francis de Sales School was a result of the operation of the monitoring process this year.

The Cabinet Member answered further questions on the BSF programme, being pleased to announce that the programme was being moving forward swiftly, with a monthly bulletin to be produced to inform Members of key developments.  Construction work for the first two schools was due to commence in September 2008.

RESOLVED:

1.      That Cllr Santry report back to Cllr Bull on investigations into a direct bus route to Woodside High School

2.      That Cllr Newton and the committee be supplied with a copy of the letter written to schools with regards to Wi-Fi.

3.      That Members of the committee be supplied with a briefing note on the St Francis de Sales tests issue.

4.      That Councillor Engert be provided with information as to whether the PSOs on the buses at school time were in dialogue with the young people using the buses to ensure that emerging safety concerns were being addressed, and whether they were being monitored.

5.      That the briefing and answers to questions be noted.

(Report of the Director of the Children & Young People’s Service)  To inform members of the results at Foundation Stage, Key Stages 1, 2, 3,4 and Post 16 for 2007.

The committee received a report informing members of the results at Foundation Stage, Key Stages 1, 2, 3, 4 and Post-16 for 2007.  Officers stated they were pleased with the overall results for 2007, but were not complacent in their desire to continue driving up improvement to close the gap with the national average.   Officers were particularly pleased with increased levels of Looked After Children attainment, attributed to the application of a coherent and consistent strategy across the Children & Young People’s Service.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

(Report of the Director of the Children & Young People’s Service)  To report to the committee on the implementation of the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review of Teenage Pregnancy.

The committee received a second progress report on the recommendations arising from the scrutiny review of teenage pregnancy.

Members were informed that the rates of teenage pregnancy in the borough continued to fall, but the rate was still above the baseline target.  The committee was informed that it was currently too early to draw any conclusions as to whether the recent contraction of family planning services had had an effect on the teenage pregnancy rate, but would be provided with data as and when it was available.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the committee receive updated information from the PCT and other interested parties on the impact that recent reductions in the opening hours of family planning clinics might have had on teenage pregnancy rates.

2.      That the committee receive information on the London Borough of Enfield’s desire to withdraw from the 4YP project.

3.      That the report be noted.

To report on the feasibility of a Scrutiny Review of Child Protection.

The committee received this report to determine whether a full scrutiny review on this topic could be beneficial, and to add value to the services provided by the Children and Young People’s Service.

Members were informed that Child Protection and Looked After Children were the area within the Children and Young People’s Service which were scrutinised the most, with regular meetings as part of the Council’s corporate parenting role.  Councillors were encouraged to attend future Corporate Parenting sessions organised by the service.

Members agreed that a review would be useful to take place in the new municipal year.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the Children & Young People’s Service be commended for improving performance in this area.

2.      That  the work of the Local Safeguarding Children Board in monitoring and coordinating the work of all agencies in safeguarding children be noted.

3.      That recommendation 2.3 be deleted and replaced with:

Despite the good performance in this area as recognised by the recent Annual Performance Assessment, and the existing reporting and monitoring arrangements both locally and nationally, the Committee feel that a full Scrutiny review would be beneficial and add value to the service.  The timing of the review should be relevant to  the passing of the Children & Young People’s Bill in parliament. 

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (PPP&C)  To agree the report outlining the work carried out with regard to the conclusions and recommendations of the Review.

The committee received a report outlining the work carried out with regard to the conclusions and recommendations of the Scrutiny review into reducing re-offending by young people.

The committee was informed that nine of the actions outlined in the review had been completed, with others ongoing in accordance with Youth Offending Service priorities.  Officers were informed of the complexities of the funding streams for Youth Offending, but were informed that money currently provided by the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund would continue in future in a different form.

RESOLVED:

1.      That Members receive information on the School which did not participate in the recent anti-bullying march.

2.      That Members receive information on the implications of changes to funding arrangements for the Youth Offending Service.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the following meetings of the Overview & Scrutiny committee:

-          Capital Budget Meetings

-          10 January 2008

Members requested that the timetable for the budget process be set out further in advance in coming years.

RESOLVED:

1.       That the minutes of the budget scrutiny meetings held on December 10 & 13^th 2007 and January 7^th 2008 be confirmed and signed.

2.       That the minutes of the meeting held on January 10^th 2008 be confirmed and signed.

There were no such items.