Agenda and minutes

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at the meeting.

The meeting was recorded for live or future broadcast on the Council’s website.

Apologies for absence were received from Sarah Marsh, Parent Governor Co-optee.

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

There were no items of urgent 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 and Winskill declared personal, non-prejudicial interests in item 14 – Budget Scrutiny – Housing Revenue Account, as they were Council property leaseholders.

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

There were no such items.

RESOLVED that the order of agenda be varied to accommodate people attending the meeting. The minutes will appear in the order in which they are shown on the agenda.

To confirm the minutes of the Budget Scrutiny meetings held on:

i.          23^rd November 2009

ii.         7^th December 2009

iii.        16^th December 2009

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Budget Scrutiny meetings held on 23^rd November 2009, 7^th December 2009 and 16^th December 2009 be confirmed as correct records of the meetings.

The Committee asked that the actions arising from the previous budget meetings be followed up.

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

The Committee received the portfolio briefing for the Enforcement and Safer Communities and Planning Policy, presented by Councillor Canver (Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Safer Communities), Wayne Longshaw (Assistant Chief Executive -Policy, Performance, Partnership & Communication (PPP&C)) and Robin Payne (Head of Enforcement).

In response to questions the Committee noted that there were links between agencies such as the Anti-Social Behaviour Action Team (ASBAT) and the Children and Young People Service, the Youth Offending Service (YOS) and the Prevention Team, who referred clients to the ASBAT Parenting Service and the Head of Safer Communities for Haringey sat on Local Authority partnership and other multi-agency boards.

The Committee requested copies of the evaluation of the Preventing Violent Extremism programme.

The Committee requested a briefing note on the role of Community Volunteers (CVs), and which CVs covered which wards, to be sent to all Members of the Council and that briefings also be provided to the Council’s Neighbourhood Area Assembly meetings.

Councillor Canver recognised the Committee’s concerns about the Council’s enforcement costs and explained that the Head of Enforcement had been recently liaising with courts to resolve reimbursement issues and Councillor Canver would be writing to the relevant person responsible for courts in London to highlight the poor return of costs awarded at court.

The Committee welcomed the Council’s plans for a campaign against dog-fouling in public places and requested a timeframe for the campaign.

Councillor Canver highlighted the joint working between the different agencies and assured the Committee that there was a representative from each agency (i.e. Children’s Services, Youth Offending Team, Community Safety, Police) on the relevant Haringey Partnership boards and sub-committees.

Councillor Canver informed the Committee that she would speak with Ward Councillors for feedback on the Safer Neighbourhoods Teams. 

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

To receive a presentation on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) by Thara Raj, Implementation Consultant – London.

The Committee received a presentation from Thara Raj, Implementation Consultant (London) for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) a Special Health Authority.  The Committee noted that the guidance made specific recommendations for the community and voluntary sector regarding engaging with the public.

The Committee asked that support from NICE be provided during consultations about the future of the Whittington Hospital.  Ms Raj explained that whilst NICE could not comment on local issues the organisation could assist in over-coming barriers to the implementation of NICE guidance and offer a development session for Committee members on how to use NICE guidance to ask scrutiny questions.

The Committee noted that all guidance issued by NICE was updated during 3 to 5 year cycles (in addition to constant monitoring) and cost benefit analyses were undertaken for each recommendation within the guidance.

The Committee invited the NICE Implementation Consultant to return to the Overview & Scrutiny for assistance with future scrutiny.

RESOLVED that the presentation be noted.

To receive an update on the recommendations made further to the Scrutiny Review of Access to Services for Older People in April 2008.

The Committee received the report updating on the progress of the recommendations made in the Overview and Scrutiny Review of Access to Services for Older People, April 2008, introduced by Lisa Redfern, Assistant Director – Adult Services.

The Committee asked how the service monitored the Direct Payments system to ensure that users did not spend funds inappropriately and noted that each direct payment bank account was audited by the care manager and a direct payment could be reprieved if required.  With regard to Personalisation, the Committee noted that all staff were being trained to ensure the programme ran well and was monitored properly.

The Committee asked for confirmation that that the Cabinet had written to the Department of Health to encourage more funding to allow the Council to support the low and moderate bandings of Fair Access to Care Services in line with the well-being agenda.

The Committee emphasised the importance of sustainable transport services for older people (recommendation 15) and that current systems were inflexible and often did not turn up when ordered.  The Assistant Director – Adult Services advised members that organisations such as Dial-A-Ride, Taxi-Cars and Computer Cabs were accountable to Transport for London and the Mayor of London.

RESOLVED that the report be noted and the update to the initial recommendations set during the Overview & Scrutiny review of Access to Services for Older People at Appendix 1 of the report be agreed.

To receive Haringey’s Community Engagement Framework and Delivery Plan.

Clerk’s note: Councillor Bull left the meeting room and Councillor Adamou (Vice-Chair) took over as Chair of the meeting at 20:25 hrs.  

The Committee received the report on Haringey’s Community Engagement Framework and Delivery Plan presented by Helena Pugh, Head of Policy, and Kirsty Fox, Strategy and Policy Officer.  

The Committee noted that 700 voluntary and community sector groups had been consulted as well as notifications in Haringey People (inviting individuals to comment).  157 written responses had been received during the two phases of consultation.

The Committee asked that small local businesses were included in future community engagement exercises.  

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Clerk’s note: Councillor Bull resumed chairmanship at 20:35 hrs.

To receive the report updating on the progress of the Strategic and Community Housing Services’ development of a Move-on Strategy and Overcrowding & Under-occupation Strategy.

The Committee received the progress report on the development of Haringey’s Move-on Strategy and Overcrowding and Under-occupation Strategy, introduced by Rosie Green, Housing Strategy and Partnerships Manager and Phil Harris, Assistant Director of Strategic & Community Housing. 

In response to its questions the Committee noted that relevant literature and details of consultations on the Move-On Strategy and responses were available on the Council’s website (www.haringey.gov.uk ), a consultation event would be held as well as advertising on a wider basis through the Council’s Communications Department. Officers expressed disappointment that service providers had not commented on the strategies.

The Committee enquired about the support provided to service users when they moved-on and were advised that key workers employed by the housing support providers supported service users in moving.

The Committee noted that consultation on the Under-occupancy Strategy would begin after May 2010 and funding for the post of “Overcrowding and Under-occupancy officer” through Haringey’s Pathfinder scheme.

The Committee asked for a ward-by-ward breakdown of where under-occupancy of properties occurred.

RESOLVED that the progress being made in the development of these two strategies be noted.

To receive the feasibility report on the practicality of undertaking an in-depth review on the issues surrounding paving over front gardens in Haringey.

The Committee received the service report on paving over front gardens/ crossovers presented by Joan Hancox, Head of Sustainable Transport.  The Committee noted the reduction in the number of applications to pave over front gardens and create crossovers over public footways in order to provide access to front garden parking.

The Committee expressed concerns that the Council’s Enforcement Team erected bollards where unauthorised crossovers had been created, which were dangerous to pedestrians. The Head of Sustainable Transport explained that households were provided with three notices warning that bollards would be erected to prevent use of an unauthorised crossover.  If the crossover was later authorised the bollards would be removed.  If the crossover was refused the applicant would be re-charged for the installation of the bollards.

In response to Committee Members’ questions the Head of Sustainable Transport advised that a crossover would be considered based on the amount of area available (minimum of 4.8 metres) and cars must not hang over the highway.  

Members supported the suggestion that restrictions can be put in place to prevent the approval of any crossovers in areas being considered for Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs).

RESOLVED

i.          That the report be noted.

ii.         That a referral be made to Cabinet suggesting that restrictions be put in place to prevent the approval of any crossovers in areas being considered for Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs).

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Amin, Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion and Involvement.

The Committee received the portfolio briefing from Councillor Amin, Cabinet Member for Community Cohesion and Involvement.  Councillor Amin was joined by Sue Wilby, Interim Head of Customer Services, and Patrick Lee, Neighbourhood Manager.

The Committee requested details of sites where My Haringey posters were displayed, feedback about the posters the Council had received and how the campaign would be evaluated and costings for continuing the campaign, which would be circulated.

The Committee expressed concerns about self service telephony and whether it would be suitable for everyone and requested more detail about the rationale behind the proposals and details of the Equalities Impact Assessment.

The Committee asked for clarification on whether there had been a restructure within the Customer Services teams and what the reporting lines currently were.

The Committee asked whether there had been discussions about the future of Neighbourhood Management and was informed that new ways of working would be brought into the service including a review of neighbourhood assemblies. 

RESOLVED that the briefing be noted.

To consider the Housing Revenue Accounts budget in relation to the rent increase guideline provided by the Government.

The Committee received the report updating on the draft Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Financial Planning Position for 2010/11 presented by Gerald Almeroth, Chief Finance Officer, and Rowan Limond, Executive Director of Resources.

The Committee noted that 86% of all Homes for Haringey properties would see a £1 or £2 increase or decrease in rent charges. Others would see a substantial decrease in rent charges due to new formulas.  The Council would need to fund the £1.2 million shortfall in the budget as a result and this would be reimbursed in future years by Communities & Local Government (CLG) funding.

Committee members expressed that they felt the Government’s rules were contradictory; recommending an average rent increase and then placing “caps and limits” on individual rents.                                                                                                       The Committee were informed that letters from the Council had been sent to the Housing Minister raising these and other concerns.

Approximately 16,000 letters consulting on rent proposals were sent to tenants in Haringey.  The Executive Director of Finance agreed to circulate the responses to the consultation to Committee Members.

Executive Director of Finance agreed to circulate the responses to the rent proposals consultation with tenants.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

There were no new items of urgent business.

Monday 15^th February 2010

Monday 8^th March 2010

Monday 15^th March 2010

8^th March 2010

15^th March 2010