Agenda and minutes

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at the meeting.

The meeting was recorded for live or future broadcast 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 14 below. New items of exempt business will be dealt with at item below).

The Chair agreed that the minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 20^th January 2010 be tabled for approval under item 6 – Minutes.

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.

Councillor Bull declared a personal interest in agenda item 7 – Cabinet Member Questions: Leader’s Portfolio – during discussions about the W3 bus route as he lived in Compton Crescent where the W3 often terminated.

Councillor Adje declared a personal interest in agenda item 8 – Cabinet Member Questions: Cabinet Member for Resources – during discussions about trade unions – as he was a GMB branch secretary for the London Fire Brigade.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 1^st February 2010 (attached) and 15^th February 2010 (tabled).

Minutes of the meeting held on 20^th January 2010 (TABLED)

The minutes of the meeting held on 20^th January 2010 were confirmed as a correct record of the meeting.

Minutes of the meeting held on 1^st February 2010

The minutes of the meeting held on 1^st February 2010 were confirmed as a correct record of the meeting.

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Kober, Leader of the Council.

The Committee received the portfolio briefing from the Leader, Councillor Claire Kober, and answers to advance questions.

In response to the Committee’s questions and concerns that a final design scheme for the Tottenham Hotspur Football Stadium development was still being reviewed it was noted that discussions had been taking place with the football club and partner agencies for a number of years including Transport for London (TfL) regarding a Section 106 Agreement relating to stations and pedestrian access.

In response to concerns raised about the re-routing of the W3 bus on Tottenham Hotspur match days the Leader advised that the responsibility would lie with the football club as part of a Section 278 Agreement which will encompass improvements to the W3 bus routes, rail and underground hubs and key junction and walking routes to ensure the safe dispersal of people from the football club grounds.  The Council would continue to campaign for an extension of the rail service but this was not part of TfL’s work plan.

The Committee asked whether previous plans for a Network Rail train shed in Coronation Sidings was going ahead.  The Leader informed the Committee that in February the Council’s decision not to grant planning permission was overturned during an appeal.

RESOLVED that the briefing be noted.

Briefing and answers to questions from Councillor Harris, Cabinet Member for Resources.

The Committee received the portfolio briefing from the Cabinet Member for Resources, Councillor Bob Harris, and advance questions.

The Committee asked for a future update about a new software package that could offer feedback to Members on repairs once a defect had been reported, e.g. a pothole fixed.

In response to Committee Members’ concerns that Ward Councillors were not offered the opportunity to be involved in discussions to improve town centres, the Cabinet Member for Resources agreed to address this issue outside of the meeting.

The Committee emphasised the importance of encouraging the use of local labour and services and suggested that consideration be given to raising the target of 10% local labour for major projects.

The Committee asked for a briefing note to explain the rationale behind the decision to remove a post from Bruce Castle Museum, highlighting that the service had recently won a national award.

Regarding the role of trade unions the Committee wanted to ensure that funding for time off was being resourced from appropriate budgets and it was agreed that the Committee would receive a supplementary report including: clarity on the difference between trade union duties and activities, a breakdown of the days per year that union officers attended regional/national union and/or General Teaching Council meetings (Unison Official – 8 days and NUT official – 60 days per year), whether the Council was reimbursed for the costs of union officers attending such meetings, and giving details of a previous report to the General Purposes Committee reviewing trade union facilities.

RESOLVED that the briefing be noted.

To receive the following reports from NHS Haringey:

i.          Primary Care Update Report

ii.         NHS Haringey Financial Update Report

iii.        Commissioning Out of Hours Services in North London

The Committee received the health update reports from NHS Haringey, introduced by Duncan Stroud, Associate Director - Communications, Engagement and Partnerships, and Julie Quinn, Deputy Chief Executive NHS Haringey.

Primary Care Update

The Committee asked that the NHS Haringey Associate Director – Communications, Stakeholder Engagement and Partnerships, take back the Committee’s concerns about the Lordship Lane Clinic appointment system not working effectively and the fact that users wishing to make appointments were required to call a premium telephone number.

The Committee highlighted that there should be discussions with the Probation Service regarding offenders with Mental Health issues and the fact that courts did not order treatment or suspended sentences for these people.

The Committee highlighted that other services such as physiotherapy and foot-care services were not easily accessible and was advised that such other services could be provided in future Neighbourhood Centres/ Poly Clinics.

The Committee expressed that further clarity behind the decisions to reconfigure services and better consultation were required in future.

The Committee requested that copies of the Going Local – Care Close to Home document (used at a recent consultation event) be sent to all Council Members.

It was noted that NHS Haringey had started the process of consultation in order to put services in place to meet patients’ needs.

RESOLVED  that the report be noted.

NHS Financial Update

The Committee asked for a list of low priority treatments mentioned on Page 24 (item c) of the agenda pack.

RESOLVED  that the report be noted.

Commissioning Out of Hours Services in North London

Committee Members expressed concerns about how out-of-hours doctors from overseas were monitored and pressures on North Middlesex Hospital if the Whittington Hospital accident and emergency (A&E) was closed.  In response, the Deputy Chief Executive - NHS Haringey advised that all doctors were screened and there was legislation to support and ensure doctors wellbeing.  The new A&E unit in North Middlesex Hospital was undergoing a 13 month pilot scheme of improved services and any pressures would be supported by other services such as an urgent care centre.

In response to the Committee’s question on how NHS Haringey dealt with safeguarding it was noted that doctors were expected to communicate with health visitors.  There was no statutory responsibility for doctors to attend case conferences and the Deputy Chief Executive – NHS Haringey questions how appropriate GPs input would be if they were required to attend. Health visitors, school nurses and therapists however, did attend case conferences

RESOLVED  that the report be noted.

To receive the following Scrutiny Review reports:

i.          Sexual Health in Teenagers

            (Chaired by Councillor Bull)

ii.         Support to Victims of Crime

            (Chaired by Councillor Aitken)

iii.        Support to Small Businesses

            (Chaired by Councillor Adje)

iv.        Support to Carers

            (Chaired by Councillor Adamou)

v.         Engagement with Hard to Reach Groups

(Chaired by Councillor Bull)

vi.        Sustainable Transport in Haringey

            (Chaired by Councillor Mallett)

vii.       Transition of Young People Between Services

            (Chaired by Councillor Newton)

i.          Sexual Health in Teenagers                                                

The Committee received the report on the Scrutiny Review of Sexual Health in Teenagers, chaired by Councillor Bull.

RESOLVED that the recommendations in the report be approved and referred to the Cabinet.

ii.         Support to Victims of Crime                                                           

The Committee received the report on the Scrutiny Review of Support to Victims of Crime , chaired by Councillor Aitken.

RESOLVED that the recommendations in the report be approved and referred to the Cabinet.

iii.        Support to Small Businesses                                                         

The Committee received the report on the Scrutiny Review of Support to Small Businesses, chaired by Councillor Adje and noted that Section 106 Agreements to support small businesses would be negotiated as part of future planning applications and developers are required to attempt to employ local people.

RESOLVED that the recommendations in the report be approved and referred to the Cabinet.

iv.        Support to Carers                                                                

The Committee received the report on the Scrutiny Review of Support to Carers, chaired by Councillor Adamou and noted that the recommendations included suggestions for a review of young carers.

RESOLVED that the recommendations in the report be approved and referred to the Cabinet.

v.         Engagement with Hard to Reach Communities               

The Committee received the report on the Scrutiny Review of Engaging with Hard to Reach Communities, chaired by Councillor Bull.

RESOLVED that the recommendations in the report be approved and referred to the Cabinet.

vi.        Sustainable Transport in Haringey

The Committee received the report on the Scrutiny Review of Sustainable and commented that more should be done to encourage walking and cycling in the borough and improved accessibility at bus stops and interchanges between routes.

RESOLVED that the recommendations in the report be approved and referred to the Cabinet.

vii.       Transition of Young People Between Services                

The Committee received the report on the Scrutiny Review on the transition from Children’s Services to Adult Services, chaired by Councillor Newton.  In response to the Committee’s concerns it was noted that partners were involved in identifying mental health needs early on and young people with such needs were included in monthly panel meetings.

RESOLVED that the recommendations in the report be approved and referred to the Cabinet.

To receive the report recommending the setting up of Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to Consider North Central London Service and Organisation Review.

The Committee received the report on the setting up of a Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider North Central London Services and Organisation Review. 

The Committee expressed concerns about committing to a Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee review during a period of uncertainty due to the forthcoming local elections but agreed that the arrangements for the Joint Committee should be put in place but with the option of changing the Terms of Reference at a later stage.

RESOLVED

i.                    That the setting up of a joint health scrutiny overview and scrutiny committee with the London Boroughs of Barnet, Camden, Islington and Enfield under the powers conferred by chapter 3 of the National Health Service Act 2006 and associated regulations be agreed to engage with the NHS on the North Central London Service and Organisation Review and respond, in due course, to the forthcoming formal consultation exercise thereon.  

ii.         That the Council be recommend to approve the terms of reference for the joint health overview and scrutiny committee.

iii.        That a further report inviting nominations to the JHOSC be submitted to the first meeting of the Committee of the new Municipal Year.

iv.        That officers be authorised to continue negotiations with other participating local authorities on the constitutional arrangements for the joint committee and associated matters and report back.

To consider the proposed Councillor Call for Action (CccfA) protocol for Haringey.

The Committee received the report on Councillor Call for Action (CCfA).

RESOLVED

i.        That the report be noted and the proposed Haringey CCfA protocol at Appendix A be agreed.

ii.       That subject to approval of the Constitution Review Working Group, reference to  CCfA be added to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Terms of Reference and a reference to the CCfA protocol be added to the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules in the Council’s Constitution, as appropriate.

Committee Discussion

The Committee requested that all post-meeting briefings be included as part of the following  meeting’s agenda pack under matters arising.

There were no new items of urgent business.