Agenda and minutes

Apologies for lateness received from Cllrs Harris and Dawson, and for absence from Cllr Canver.

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).

None received.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 8 November 2005

The minutes of 8 November 2005 meeting of Overview & Scrutiny Committee were agreed and signed by the Chair, subject to the following amendments:

i)                    That it be noted that the report being prepared by Housing Service for 12 December would cover the number of posts saved in Housing Service for the equivalent posts created for the ALMO.

ii)                  That a report covering the Next Day Fix scheme be prepared for the Committee before 12 December.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Standing Orders.

There were no deputations or petitions.

i)          (Report of the Assistant Chief Executives (Access, Strategy & OD) & Director of Finance) To update Members on the financial planning process and to consider the pre business plan reviews for the following business units: Safer Communities (note areas highlighted)

ii)         (Report of the Director of Environmental Services & Director of Finance) To update Members on the financial planning process and to consider the pre business plan reviews for the following business units: Enforcement (note areas highlighted)

The Head of Safer Communities gave a brief introduction on the budget proposals for the Safer Communities business unit. The Committee raised the issue of NRF funding in new Revenue Investment Proposals 1 and 2, and it was commented that these issues were listed to highlight the risk. The Committee wished to note that a strategy for mainstreaming posts currently funded from NRF monies would be desirable. The proposed cut of 0.5 staff posts in the Youth Offending Service was raised, and the Committee rejected this proposal.

The Assistant Director, Enforcement, gave a brief introduction on the budget proposals for the Enforcement business unit. The Committee raised the issue of the proposed new mortuary and it was commented that a section 106 agreement could not be used on this and that it was subject to the normal planning process. The issue of MVM licence costs was raised, and it was commented that a new figure for the cost would be provided by December 12. The Committee agreed not to approve the MVM licence costs proposal until the new figure was circulated.

RESOLVED:

i)                    That the Committee approved the financial planning position set out in the report and the pre-business plan reviews covering Safer Communities business unit with the exception of New Cashable Efficiency Saving number 2, Cut 0.5 staff post in YOS.

ii)                  That the Committee approved the financial planning position set out in the report and the pre-business plan reviews covering Enforcement business unit with the exception of New Revenue Investment Proposal 49, MVM licence costs, for which a report will be prepared before December 12 2005 detailing new figures for investment proposals.

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executives, Access, Strategy & OD) To update Members on the financial planning process and to consider the pre business plan reviews for the following business units: Equalities, Libraries, Archives & Museums, Neighbourhood Management and Customer Services (note areas highlighted)

The Leader of the Council, Cllr Adje, gave a brief introduction on the Equalities business unit. The Committee raised the issue of increased spending on Black History Month events and it was commented that this figure was increasing due to the programme gathering momentum and more people getting involved. The Committee approved of this increase, and agreed with the leader that it was a matter of pride that the Borough invested in this area. The proposed loss of post in Equalities was raised, and the Leader commented that he hoped that the Committee would not approve this measure. The Committee commented that it was unhappy with being advised to reject proposals put before them by Executive Members. The Leader commented that the Executive wished to have the proposals prepared by officers looked at by the Committee before they were considered by the Executive. It was agreed to reject the proposed review of the role of Equalities.

The Executive Member for Community Involvement gave a brief introduction on the business units in the portfolio. The Committee raised a number of issues with figures in the report being inaccurate, and it was noted that these need to be checked more thoroughly before being presented before the Committee. The Committee also requested that in future an extra column be added to the sheets noting the Executive Member’s responsible for each proposal.

The issue of funding for the schools libraries service was raised, and it was commented that the schools would withdraw from the service if their costs were increased, so investment would have to be made. The issue of Member Learning and Development was discussed and it was commented that member attendance at training sessions was higher than perceived, and that an induction programme would be developed for new Members following the forthcoming Council Elections. The role of the proposed new Member Learning and Development Manager and the contingency budget for Member Services Review were discussed, and it was agreed that more information would be distributed to the Committee before 9^th December before these proposals could be agreed.

The Committee raised the issue of the proposal to roll out the new areas for Neighbourhood Management. It was commented that these areas would be based on the seven area assembly boundaries, and that the proposed figure would be divided equally between each of the seven areas for the Neighbourhood Managers to use for driving forward area based working. Cllr Davies requested that it be noted that he believed this to be an unfair distribution of funds as the area assembly for his area covered four wards. Cllr Dawson requested that it be noted that these proposals were in line with the discussions of the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel on this issue. It was agreed that the proposal would not be agreed without more information being provided to the Committee before 9 December.

The proposed restructure of Member Services was discussed and it was agreed to reject this proposal. the issue of town twinning budget  ...  view the full minutes text for item 104.

i)          (Report of the Assistant Chief Executives (Access, Strategy & OD) & Director of Finance) To update Members on the financial planning process and to consider the pre business plan reviews for the following business units: Strategy (note areas highlighted)

ii)         (Report of the Director of Environmental Services & Director of Finance) To update Members on the financial planning process and to consider the pre business plan reviews for the following business units: Planning & Environment (note areas highlighted)

The Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration gave a brief introduction on the budget proposals for the Planning business unit. The issue of appeals costs contingency was discussed, and it was commented that this additional funding was needed to fund appeals against planning decisions and defend the Council’s decisions. The issue of Section 106 cost recovery was discussed, and it was commented that the Council was able to force developers to pay for Council staff costs which produced savings.

The Executive Member for Economic Development and Regeneration gave a brief introduction on the budget proposals for the Strategy business unit. The issue of the budget cut for Upper Lee Valley was discussed and it was commented that this funding was being used for Wood Green Town Centre activity, but that other monies were being sourced to replace this proposed cut. Upon a vote, the Committee agreed to reject the proposal.

RESOLVED:

i)                    That the Committee approved the financial planning position set out in the report and the pre-business plan reviews covering Planning, Environmental Policy & Performance business unit

ii)                  That the Committee approved the financial planning position set out in the report and the pre-business plan reviews covering Strategy business unit with the exception of New Cashable Efficiency Saving number 4, cut budget for Upper Lea Valley.

(Report of the Director of Children’s Services & Director of Finance) To update Members on the financial planning process and to consider the pre business plan reviews for the following business units: Children and Families, School Standards and Inclusion, Community and Resources, Delivery and Performance and Business Support and Development.

The Executive Member for Children and Young People gave a brief introduction on the budget proposals for the Children’s Service. The issue of the missing figures for the Building Schools for the Future investment proposals was discussed, and it was commented that the Council had not received confirmation of the final figure but was working on a provisional figure of £130m. The issue of amalgamations was discussed, and it was commented that the this funding would be used to ensure single points of entry and a single larger staff room for amalgamated schools. It was commented that the investment proposal for catering would cover the kitchens used by the external catering companies. The issue of the Inclusive Learning Campus for Broadwater Farm was discussed, and it was commented that this would provide a path through education for local children up to 18 years of age.

The Committee raised the issue of New Revenue Investment Proposals 8, 9 and 14, and it was agreed that these should be under the New Capital Investment Proposals heading. The issue of Special Educational Needs transport costs was discussed, and it was commented the Council would work with special schools to deal with the issue together.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee approved the financial planning position set out in the report and the pre-business plan reviews covering Children and Families, School Standards and Inclusion, Community and Resources, Delivery & Performance and Business Support and Development business units. It was agreed that New Revenue Investment Proposals 8, 9 and 14 would be moved into the New Capital Investment Proposals section.

This item was deferred until a future meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

There were no new items of urgent business.