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 11 below).

The Chair agreed to the admission of one item of urgent business, ‘Proposal by Haringey Learning Disabilities Partnership – Changing Services and Improving Outcomes for Adults with Learning Disabilities who also have Mental Health Issues or Behaviour that Challenges Services’

The report was urgent as failure to consider it was likely to cause delay to the LD Partnership in implementing changes to their service which carers were wishing to see implemented quickly.  It could also have had cost implications for the Council as a key partner in the service.  It was late as Member approval was needed to the proposal to vary the consultation period.

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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

There were no such items.

Rob Mack

The committee received the response to the Scrutiny Review of High Impact users from the Haringey Teaching Primary Care Trust.

The committee were informed that significant work had been progressed on Recommendation One, the development of a specific strategy and action plan to provide integrated health and social care services for people with long-term conditions.  Work had been carried out in relation to capacity and resources, with the final draft planned to be signed off by November 2008.  The PCT promised to keep the Committee appraised of progress.

It was noted that up to 200 people were benefiting from the pilot Community Matron scheme which was currently taking place in central Haringey, a project designed to streamline the provision of care to high-intensity users through a single point of contact.

An update on the recommendations was agreed to come before the Committee in the new year.

RESOLVED:

1. That the response from the PCT be noted.

2. That an update on the implementation of the recommendations be brought before the Committee in the new year.

The report was urgent as if it did not go up it was likely to cause delay to the LD Partnership in implementing changes to their service which carers were wishing to see implemented quickly.  It could also have had cost implications for the Council as a key partner in the service.  It was late as Member approval was needed to the proposal to vary the consultation period.

The Committee received the report to approve the draft response by the Committee to the proposals by Haringey Learning Disabilities Partnership that were considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 28^th July.

The Committee were informed that in the opinion of Officers, there was no additional benefit in extending the consultation period any further, and thus agreed to approve the draft response with the period of consultation varied.

RESOLVED:

1.       That the Committee place on records its thanks to Helen Brown of the PCT in her final appearance at Scrutiny.

2.       That the draft response as set out in the report be agreed.

(Report of the Chief Financial Officer)  To approve the framework for financial scrutiny, the timetable for budget planning and scrutiny within the Council’s financial and business planning framework and to consider the financial strategy issues for the three-year planning period.

The committee received this report to approve the framework for financial scrutiny, the timetable for budget planning and scrutiny within the Council’s financial and business planning framework and to consider the financial strategy for the the three-year planning period.

The Head of Corporate Finance outlined to the committee the rôle of Scrutiny in the Budget process, which would include three detailed meetings for the sole purpose of considering the budget.

Members noted that the Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion & Involvelent was due to speak at the National Conference on Participatory Budgeting in the near future.

Members again re-iterated their desire to see further Council action carried out in the area of benefit take-up.  The Committee was assured that the ‘Achieving Excellence’ programme remained on track, although it was subject to pressures.  Oversight of the programme was provided through updates to the Chief Executive’s Management Board, with a report also due to come before Cabinet in due course.

RESOLVED:

1.       That the Committee be provided with a two-page commentary on how variables in the current economic climate will impact on the Council’s budget process.

2.       That the Budget Scrutiny framework and timetable be agreed.

Briefing from Councillor Kaushika Amin, Cabinet Member for Regeneration.

Please submit questions to Clifford Hart, Non-Cabinet Committees Manager (x2920)

The Committee received a briefing and answers to questions from the Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Enterprise.

Members enquired as to the future of the Business Improvement District.  They were informed that although the scheme was facing difficulties, particularly the Crossrail financial burden likely to fall on business, the Council remained committed to it as an idea and continued to be in discussion with local enterprises.  Promotional activity was being funded through monies available following the deletion of the ‘Town Centre Manager’ post.

In response to concerns raised by the Committee, the Cabinet Member requested that Members provide her with any evidence of planning guidelines not being adhered to in non-coversion areas.

With regards the Olympics, the committee was informed that the Cabinet Member and her Officer team were fully engaged with the LDA on employment opportunities arising out of the games, and that Haringey-specific work was also being carried out by Council officers.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the Committee be provided with information regarding outstanding Section 106 monies.

2.      That the Committee be provided with information on the unit cost per head to the Council for the Haringey Guarantee.

3.      That the briefing be noted.

Briefing from Councillor Lorna Reith, Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion and Involvement.

Please submit questions to Clifford Hart, Non-Cabinet Committees Manager (x2920)

The Committee received a briefing and answers to questions from the Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion and Involvement.

The Committee noted that from November onwards, Area Assembly newsletters would be replaced with localised versions of Haringey People.  It was noted that attendance at Area Assemblies continued to vary greatly depending on area and the issues discussed; the average attendance remained around thirty.

With regards to the ‘Child A’ situation, the committee was informed that one additional temporary press officer had been hired in order to deal with enquiries from the media, with some external advice also having been taken by the Council’s communications team.  All enquiries relating to the case were being dealt with by the Council’s press office, in house.

RESOLVED:

1.        That the answers to the questions submitted late be e-mailed to the Committee.

2.        That the briefing be noted.

(Report of the Chair of the Review Panel)  That Members approve the conclusions and recommendations of the Review, as outlined in the Scrutiny Review report. 

The committee received this report to approve the conclusions and recommendations of the Scrutiny Review of Neighbourhood Management Services.  Members’ attentions were drawn to key recommendations in the review, and Officers complemented Scrutiny on its usefulness and informed them of future developments.

Members learned that a detailed and updated Neighbourhood Management strategy would be considered by the Cabinet in October.  It was noted that the Assistant Chief Executive and the Cabinet Member had met with the new Chief Executive of Homes for Haringey to encourage closer working between themselves and the Neighbourhood Management team.

It was noted that Deputy Directors were providing a link between Council senior management and the Area Assembly Chairs, through supporting them and the Neighbourhood Manager.

Members raised concerns over the control of Area Notice Boards, with the Cabinet Member offering to look into any specific issues they wished to raise.

RESOLVED:

1.       That Members inform the Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion & Involvement of any notice boards which require the Council’s attention.

2.       That the Review be approved.

There were no such items.