Agenda and minutes

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at the meeting.

The meeting was 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 below. New items of exempt business will be dealt with at item below).

The Chair agreed to take the following item as Urgent Business: Scrutiny Review of Post Office Closures in Haringey (the national Network Change Programme).  This report would be considered under the Urgent Business item.

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 a personal interest in items 8 to 12 and 17, by nature of being an employee of the Healthcare Commission.

Presentation from the Corporate  Head of Performance and Policy

The committee received a presentation outlining the CPA Self-Assessment and the Comprehensive Area Assessment.  Members were provided with information on the key new elements: Local Area Agreements, the area risk assessment, the direction of travel indicator and the use of resources element.

The committee was informed that although the CPA’s successor did not include the word performance, this did not suggest that performance was not still a key component; the idea of the new structure was to broaden the Council’s assessment, with performance still at its heart.  Officers stated that the Haringey Strategic Partnership identified key priorities together with the Council’s partner’s last year which were being reflected in the new Assessment arrangements.  Officers were pleased to inform Members that they were working closely with the partners, with collocation to facilitate partnership working being investigated in some cases.

RESOLVED:

1. That copies of the presentation be circulated to the committee.

2. That the presentation be noted.

(Report of the Chair of Overview & Scrutiny)  To approve draft comments by the Committee on the Core Standards  self- declarations by local NHS Trusts

The committee received for approval draft comments on the Core Standards self-declarations by local NHS Trusts.

It was noted that committee Members had paid visits to the North Middlesex and Whittington hospitals, as well as the Primary Care Trust.  It was noted that this year, Members would comment on a select few standards, rather than on all 24.  It was noted that draft health comments would be agreed between the Chair of Overview & Scrutiny and the chief opposition spokesman.

Members expressed their disappointment at the impact of the purdah period preventing the committee holding a Health Conference this year; Officers and Members vowed in future election years endeavour to hold the conference prior to the period commencing, whilst still incorporating useful elements from the manner in which the process was conducted this year.

RESOLVED:

1.  That representatives of LINKS be invited to attend an Overview & Scrutiny meeting.

2.  That the comments in the report and recommendations be approved.

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Bob Harris, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Wellbeing

The committee received a briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Bob Harris, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Wellbeing.

The Cabinet Member identified key issues in his portfolio, pointing to a positive comments and recognised improvements in the 2006/07 Performance Assessment.  The Cabinet Member was confident that the Service would continue in an improving direction of travel.  He stated he was also greatly pleased by the large improvement in the Performance Indicator statistics on the 2006/07 period.

Following queries raised over the Laurels Centre by Councillor Bevan, the Cabinet Member agreed that he would welcome the opportunity for Overview & Scrutiny Committee Members to look round the Laurels Centre.

In terms of the Personalisation Agenda, Officers promised to ensure that the requested Member’s Briefing was taken forward.  Members were informed that although there was no direct experience of residents in receipt of direct payments squandering money intended for their care, the Council still possessed a duty of care to the resident concerned, and had the power if required to withdraw direct payments and to return to the previous method of care.  Members learned that the frequency of reviews by the Council depended on the details of the case itself.  A review six weeks into the programme was standard, with a six monthly review following by annual checks.  However, changes in circumstance could result in more frequent reviews.

Officers agreed to report back to Members on increasing benefit take-up and Council Performance Indicators; it was noted that increasing take-up was a corporate priority, stretching over a number of services.  Members re-iterated their desire for an area of the Council to have clear responsibility for increasing take-up.

RESOLVED:

1.  That Members of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee be invited to view the Laurels Centre

2. That the committee be provided with terms of reference for the Well-Being Partnership Board

3. That the Officers report back to Members on Performance Indicators relating to Increasing Benefit Take-Up.

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

To consider any requests received in accordance with Standing Orders.

The committee received a deputation from Mr Mario Petrou, on the topic of the Primary Care Strategy, arguing that a wider-ranging consultation was required.  Members responded to the deputation, with the PCT making their response as part of the following item.

Update from the PCT

The Committee was addressed by James Slater and Helen De Souza of the Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust on proposals relating to their Primary Care Strategy.

It was noted that the revised Strategy was due to be considered by the TPCT Board in May, with ongoing public engagement culminating in a public update meeting of 14^th May 2008.  A provisional implementation plan was also being worked on.

Members re-iterated the importance of engaging with Transport for London over the transportation implications of their proposed changes to the provision of services.  The Trust stated that transportation was the subject of high-level engagement as part of the on-going development of their plans.

Members requested more clarity on the nature of the plans being proposed by the Primary Care Trust in terms of aspirations and method of delivery.  The PCT informed Members that there was no particular on-size-fits-all model proposed.  Members stated that they believed that further engagement from the PCT was required as the strategy became more finalised.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the PCT provide a response to Mario Petrou on points raised in his deputation

2.  That the Chair respond to the Chief Executive of the PCT articulating concerns raised at the meeting.

3.  That the committee seek to liaise with the PCT to undertake a further review of the proposals

Update from the PCT

The committee received a report on the PCT’s three-year commissioning investment strategy, also giving details of what services would be commissioned in 2008/09.

Officers of the PCT suggested further required expenditure including the implementation the Primary Care Strategy, and meeting targets agreed through the Local Area Agreement.  Further updates on the proposals would be brought back to the committee as they took shape.

It was noted that the preferred option for procuring care was to continue to use existing local providers where possible.  The PCT confirmed that they were prepared to continue to support local practices.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Nilgun Canver, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Safer Communities

The committee received a briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Nilgun Canver, Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Safer Communities.

Members noted that a new borough Commander was due to be in place in the near future, with Richard Wood currently acting up to the position.  The committee requested that he accompany the Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Safer Communities to his or her next Cabinet Member questions session.

The Cabinet Member articulated the issue of the gap between fact and perception with regards to crime in Wood Green.  Robbery was down 23% on previous years, with the area increasing in safety.  In terms of concerns raised over gambling in the borough, legal advice was being garnered over the possibility of Green Lane being designated a ‘risk area’.

The committee welcomed the fact that a report on Planning Enforcement would come before the committee in due course.

RESOLVED:

1.       That the Borough Commander in future accompany the Cabinet Member for Crime & Community Safety during their Cabinet Member Questions item.

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

To follow

This item was deferred to the meeting of April 28^th 2008.

(Report of the Chair of the Review Panel) To approve the final report of the Review Panel. To follow

This item was deferred to the meeting of April 28^th 2008.

(Report of the Chair of the Review Panel) To approve the final report of the Review Panel. To follow

This item was deferred to the meeting of April 28^th 2008.

(Report of the Assistant Director of  Street Scene)  To provide a progress update to the Committee.

The committee received an update on developments within the Street Wardens service since the Scrutiny Review of December 2005.

Officers stated they were working to join up frontline enforcement activity with neighbourhood wardens, with wardens now authorised to carry out some enforcement duties.  It was noted that the restructure of the service was part of the wider Urban Environment restructure.

Officers confirmed that Wardens were still based in Ashley Road, but were using hot-desking to allow them to be close to the communities they were serving as much as possible.  Members noted that wardens would again be able to use their bicycles following the completion of a forthcoming risk assessment.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

(Report of the Chair of Overview & Scrutiny)  To update the committee on the replacement of Patient Public Involvement Forums with Local Involvement Networks

The committee received an update report on the replacement of Patient Public Involvement Forums with local Involvement Networks.  The report informed the committee of the current positional, with transition arrangements now in place.   Members noted that LINKs were due to begin operations on July 1^st 2008.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

The Chair has agreed to take the following report as Urgent Business:

Scrutiny Review of Post Office Closures in Haringey (the national Network Change Programme)  (Report of the Chair of Overview & Scrutiny)

The Chair agreed to take the following item as Urgent Business: Scrutiny Review of Post Office Closures in Haringey (the national Network Change Programme).

Members conveyed their thanks to Officers for their support in the review.  Members were assured that a response regarding the Highgate post office, although missing from the final draft of the Council’s response, would be placed on-line.

RESOLVED:

That the final report of the review be noted.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meetings of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on:

-          31 January 2008

-          25 February 2008 (to follow)

RESOLVED:

1. That the minutes of the following meetings be confirmed and signed:

-          31 January 2008

-          25 February 2008

2. That a report on Benefit Take-Up come before the committee in due course.

(Report of the Chair of the Review Panel) To approve the final report of the Review Panel.

The committee considered the final report of the review panel on this topic.  Members conveyed their thanks to Officers for their work on this report, and requested that the fact that the experiences of individual users had influenced the recommendations of the report be reflected in its introduction.

RESOLVED:

That, subject to comments on the experience of individual users being incorporated into the introduction, the final report of the review panel be approved.