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).

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 Winskill and Bull declared a personal interest in item 7 (Homes for Haringey Performance) by nature of being leaseholders.

Councillor Davies declared a personal interest in items 8 (Director of Heath), 9 (LINKS), 15 (Support to Pupils with Drug/Alcohol problems) and 16 (LAA Stretch Targets) by nature of being an employee of the Healthcare Commission.

Councillor Egan declared an interest in item 7 (Homes for Haringey Performance) by of being on the board of Homes for Haringey.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Part 4, Section B, paragraph 29 of the Council’s constitution.

There were no such items.

(Report of the Director of Urban Environment)  To provide a further update on the progress on achieving the recommendations of the review, and to inform Members of the progress on the Highways Asset Management Plan.

The committee received a further update on progress in achieving the recommendations of the March 2006 Scrutiny Report on repairs to highways and footpaths.  The report contained information on the progress of the Highways Asset Management Plan and its implementation plan which was shortly to be considered by the Cabinet.

Members expressed their desire to see the Plan in full, and agreed that the report should come before the committee in the new municipal year.  Members noted that Officers wear preparing a pothole blitz, with additional inspections taking place.  Monitoring was also being improved to help achieve higher levels of performance.

RESOLVED:

1.  That a report on the Asset Management Plan come before the committee in the new municipal year, including an update on the progress on potholes.

2.  That the committee be provided with a report on the Pavement Management System.

3. That future reports contain relevant information on ‘Climate Change’.

4. That the report and further actions to be taken be noted.

Briefing from Councillor Dhiren Basu, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Lifelong Learning

The committee received a briefing from Councillor Dhiren Basu, Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Lifelong Learning, setting out his key achievements and priorities in his portfolio area.

Officers informed Members that there had been no analysis on whether the successful London 2012 Olympic bid had diverted funding from other ‘Leisure’ areas where it was utilised by the Council.  It was noted that changes of funding arrangements to the Area-Based Grant demonstrated no evidence of this.  The Council’s own contribution to the Olympics was being co-ordinated through the North London Strategic Alliance, and a cross-service working group, although the borough currently had no dedicated Olympics Officer.

The Cabinet Member was questioned over the changes in arrangements for Leisure Passes for the elderly.  It was noted that passes were based on an ability to pay, and that presentations at the consultation meeting had been by Officers of the Council and not external consultants.  It was further noted that variations on the 9 to 5 fees would be brought before the Cabinet at its meeting of March 18^th 2008.

The Cabinet Member confirmed that there was potential for development in expanding the Muswell Hill library.

RESOLVED:

1. That Cllr Basu report back to the committee on the issue of Muswell Hill Playing Fields and play provision in Fortis Green ward.

2. That Officers look at the issue of advertising outside the Council’s leisure facilities

3. That Councillor Winskill and the committee receive a note on the costs of the branding marketing programme.

4. That the committee receive information on cultural promotion in the borough

5. That the briefing be noted.

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Brian Haley, Cabinet Member for Environment and Conservation.

The committee received a briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Brian Haley, Cabinet Member for Environment and Conservation.

Members raised concerns over possible fraud relating to the use of disabled parking badges, particularly on Spurs match days.  The Cabinet Member assured the committee that initiatives with the police in relation to blue badge fraud had been undertaken.  Officers agreed to provide to Members a briefing on the issue and the monitoring of badge use.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the committee receive a briefing on the use of disabled badges in the borough and the monitoring of them.

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

(Report of the Chair of Overview & Scrutiny)  To consider whether  to commission a review into the support given to pupils with drug and/or alcohol problems.

The committee considered whether to commission a review into the support given to pupils with drug and/or alcohol problems.

It was agreed that a review should be agreed and, as recommended, a specific area of prevention or treatment be singled out to allow the review to have greater depth.  After discussions between Members of the committee and Officers, it was agreed that the review’s focus should be on the treatment of pupils with drug and/or alcohol problems.

RESOLVED:

1. That a review on the topic be agreed, with the focus on treatment.

2. That the report be noted.

(Report of the Interim Chief Executive – Homes for Haringey)  To receive the Quarterly Performance Report from Homes for Haringey.

The committee received the Homes for Haringey Performance Monitoring Report for Quarter Three (April to December 2007).

Members were informed by Officers that a number of the Performance Indicators set out in the report had improved since the monitoring period ended in December.

It was noted that the percentage of tenants who were more than seven weeks in arrears in terms of their rent had fallen from 15.71% to 13.76%.  Members learned that at the point of sign-up, tenants were notified of their obligations in terms of keeping up with rate, and were given a housing benefit form to fill in.  A follow-up visit was also arranged for six weeks following the commencement of the tenancy.

RESOLVED:

1. That the committee receive a note on the scheme of incentives and deductions from contract payments.

2. That Cllr Newton receive statistics on repairs logged and timeframes broken down by ward.

3. That the committee receive an update on Tenancy Management Officers and their roles in working with needy residents in the borough.

4. That the report be noted.

Briefing from the PCT.

Eugenia Cronin, the new Director of Public Health for the borough who had been in post since, addressed the committee.  She stated her desire to ensure that the Local Area Agreements were used to facilitate greater working together between the borough and PCT on the issue of public health, working towards the joining up of commissioning.

RESOVLED:

That the presentation be noted.

(Report of the Interim Director – Special Projects)  To provide an update on the Achieving Excellence Programme.

The Committee received an update on the Achieving Excellence programme.

Officers informed the committee that lessons would be learned from the implementation of other major projects in the borough such as Building Schools for the Future and the implementation of the Decent Homes Standard over the course of the project.

Members noted that they would be happy to involve the team in relevant Scrutiny reviews, with Officers happy to identify areas where they could contribute constructively.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

(Report of the Head of Policy and Performance)  To provide an update on progress against the Local Area Agreement stretch targets including an analysis of direction of travel and likely end of year one outcome.

The committee received an update on progress against the Local Area Agreement stretch targets, including an analysis of direction of travel and the likely end of year one outcome.  Positive progress was reported against the majority of targets, although there was concern over figures relating to Domestic Violence and Incapacity Benefits.  The committee learned that action was being taken to improve in these areas.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the committee be provided with information on the use of resources with regards to parks achieving Green Flag/Pennant status.

2.      That information on the number of people from the 12 worst wards helped into sustained worked by provided to the committee.

3.      That the update be noted.

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

The committee received the final report of the Scrutiny Review on School Exclusions for its approval.

Members noted that this was the first of two complementary reports, dealing with prevention of exclusions.  A second report on the topic of dealing with excluded children would be forthcoming.

It was agreed that ethnic information not stated in the report would be provided to Members of the committee.

RESOLVED:

1. That ethnic information on school exclusions be provided to the committee

2.  That the recommendations of the report be agreed, with Members to come back with suggestions regarding issues raised at the meeting.

(Report of the Chair of Overview & Scrutiny)  To approve the scope and terms of reference for the Scrutiny Review of the proposed Post Office closures in Haringey.

The committee received this report setting out the scope and terms of reference for the Scrutiny Review of the proposed Post Office closures in Haringey.

RESOLVED:

1. That the proposed terms of reference and work-plan for the review as set out in the report be approved.

2. That the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Performance, Partnerships and Communication Service) be delegated authority to approve the final report of the review panel as set out in the report.

(Report of the Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee)  To report to the committee the progress with regards to the establishment of Local Involvement Networks.

This item was deferred to the meeting of 7^th April 2008.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the special meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on January 31^st 2008.

This item was deferred until the meeting of 7^th April 2008.

There were no such items.