Agenda and minutes

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at the meeting.

NOTED that the meeting was recorded for future or live broadcasting on the Council’s website.

Apologies for absence were received from Yvonne Denny (Church Representative) and Helena Kania (LINk Representative).

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Browne and Ejiofor.

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 13 below).

NONE.

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.

The Chair and Councillor Winskill declared personal interests in agenda items 6 (Cabinet Member for Housing Questions) and 7 (Homes for Haringey Inspection Report) as both were Haringey Council 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.

Briefing and answers to questions – Councillor John Bevan, Cabinet Member for Housing.

The Committee received the portfolio briefing from Councillor John Bevan, Cabinet Member for Housing and written responses to advance questions and noted the responses to supplementary questions below.

Councillor Bevan reported that Haringey had received the outcome of its bid for Decent Homes funding which included guaranteed funding for the next two years (although less than previously allocated) and indicated funding for 2013/14. The reduced funding meant that some of the planned decent homes work would not be conducted.  The Council would consult with tenants on the options when deciding what works should take place.  The Council could also bid for funding to contribute towards making estates more energy efficient to tie into the Decent Homes projects.

Re: Q1 – Void Properties – The Committee noted that void turnaround times of Council properties was down to an average of 19.8 days; this was slightly longer for sheltered housing properties.  In response to questions it was noted that this was down to better co-operation between the Council and Homes for Haringey.  The Cabinet Member would be consulting with Homes for Haringey and Haringey Housing staff to gain their views on what has worked and what else could be done to improve services.

Re: Q2 – Under Occupation -  The allocations service had also made substantial improvements and the Council was moving quickly to free up under occupied properties.  The Cabinet Member stressed that the allocation of Haringey housing, along with housing association and private sector housing allocations, would remain within the Council’s control and would not be transferred to Homes for Haringey.

Re: Q3 – Homelessness - The Committee noted that the Council was implementing the changes to the Local Housing Allowance. Council officers were liaising with government officers with the involvement of London Councils to try to ensure, as far as possible, that other boroughs did not move housing tenants to Haringey as a cheaper option.  In response to a question, the Cabinet Member confirmed that where a person on benefits was under occupying a property their housing benefit would be reduced, which should encourage them to move into smaller properties so that the benefit would cover the entire rent.

Re: Q10 – Temporary Accommodation – The Committee were concerned that less than 200 of the 700 temporary accommodation homes promised by the three housing associations and six private housing suppliers had been built.  It was noted that the Government had reduced funding since the target of 700 new homes was set and so these providers were no longer able to conduct work that was initially intended.  The Committee noted that the Council would currently not pursue the possibility of placing homeless households in less expensive areas outside London.

The Cabinet Member suggested that the Homes and Communities Agency Report on affordable housing estimates be circulated to the Committee (Action No. 173.1).

Re: Q11  - The Committee noted that if the licensing scheme for Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) was agreed by the Cabinet in June it would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 173.

To receive the report from Homes for Haringey on the outcome of the external inspection in June 2010.

The Committee received the Homes for Haringey report on the inspection by the Audit Commission in June –July 2010, introduced by Sue Hunter (Homes for Haringey (HfH) – Business Improvement Manager) and Doris Acquaah (ALMO Clients Manager). 

The Committee discussed concerns about squatters taking over void properties and noted that some deterrents were in place for example HfH staff tried to ensure that empty properties looked as though they were inhabited e.g. curtains hanging, and also that boilers and other utilities were disconnected. Properties that staff perceived as vulnerable to squatting had security doors, window screens and sometimes alarms fitted, although some squatters had the equipment to get through such security measures.  Investigation into the possibility of using house-sitters was being conducted but this solution would mean associated costs. 

In response to a question on what happened if a tenant refused decent homes work to the property they lived in, officers explained that the works would be added to a “mop-up” programme to be conducted in the last year of the Decent Homes Programme or when the property became vacant. The Committee asked for more information on this (Action No. 174.1).  The Committee noted, in response to a question, that there was a compliance team who inspected Decent Homes work once completed.

The Committee observed that the inspection concluded that improvements were required in customer services and understanding customer needs.  The Business Improvement Manager explained that this was based largely on Mystery Shopping results and Homes for Haringey’s 2007 STATUS survey results. Mystery shopping results had improved steadily over time. The 2007 STATUS survey was done during year 1 of the Decent Homes Programme. Homes for Haringey will undertake a further tenant survey this year to check progress. The Audit Commission also commented that not all staff had had recent customer care training. The Business Improvement Manager explained that this referred to a group of Customer Service Centre staff whose training was not controlled by Homes for Haringey –inspectors took the view that HfH should be able to insist on this through the service level agreement.  Whilst HfH had over 90% of demographic information against most strands (information was collected by surveys and by going out and talking to people (door knocking)) the inspection concluded that understanding customer needs was low. HfH is continuing to increase collection and has plans in place to do so. HfH staff also respond to customer needs in less formal ways – examples given were that estate-based staff will call on a resident if they have not seen them for a couple of days or after a hospital stay, staff knowledge of residents is fed into plans for Estate Action Days.

The Committee was informed that the role of an income collection officer included working with tenants who were not keeping up with rent payments. More information about Homes for Haringey’s approach to income collection was requested, including figures for outstanding rental payments, and what specific actions would be taken to improve the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 174.

Briefing and answers to questions – Councillor Joe Goldberg, Cabinet Member for Finance and Sustainability.

The Committee received the briefing on the Cabinet Member for Finance and Sustainability portfolio and responses to the advance questions submitted. Committee members asked supplementary questions, the responses of which are recorded below.

Re. Q1 & Q2 – Corporate Property and Disposals – The Cabinet Member reported that property disposals were considered on a case by case basis including issues such as value, running costs, carbon emissions and regeneration. 

Re. Q3 – Public Liability Claims – It was reported that the number of public liability claims had fallen largely due to work with service departments to target high risk areas.  The Council was part of an insurance consortium which shared best practice among the local authorities.

The Committee enquired about whether the number of claims due to damaged paving and potholes, caused by the recent bad weather, had increased.  Officers reported that this was possible, however, there had been a gradual reduction in such claims over a period of 4 or 5 years and highways maintenance projects targeted areas which involved large numbers of claims.

Re. Q4 – Audit and Risk Management – The Cabinet Member stated that he was confident about the level of shared services being considered, particularly with Waltham Forest which was socially and politically similar to Haringey, and that some services were already being shared.  He recognised that there were risks and outcomes other than efficiency to consider such as delivering better services and economic development.

Re. Q5 – Benefits and Local Taxation – The Director of Corporate Resources reported that the Housing Department held discussions with central London Boroughs about a “handover” of clients receiving housing benefits. The Committee noted that the Council was looking at practical ways of improving processes including: investigating the possibility of using the Direct Payments scheme for housing benefits and being involved with an implementation group set up by the Department for Work and Pensions to consider making benefit payments fair.

Re. Q6 – Corporate Property Services - Committee Members noted that some NHS services would be moving into the 4^th Floor of River Park House and discussions were being held with other health partners about future sharing of office space. The Committee asked for a briefing note giving more detail about what NHS services would be moving into River Park House.  (Action No. 175.1)

The Committee requested a 1-page briefing note on the history of the Hornsey Depot for which a development partner was being chosen. (Action No. 175.2)

The Committee observed that the briefing on Page 23 of the agenda pack stated 93% of customer service calls were answered within 30 seconds but CS2 on Page 13 of the Period 9 Performance Monitoring report gave a 69% value for 2010/11.  The Cabinet Member explained that the 93% figure in the briefing was for November 2010 and the 69% was a year to date figure which took into account a very low performance in April 2010 of just 15% of calls being answered within 30 seconds.

The Committee expressed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 175.

To receive the exceptions report on financial and performance information for period 8 of 2010/11.

The Committee received the report on Period 8 of the Council’s Performance Exceptions and Budget Monitoring Exceptions and the Period 9 Performance Exceptions and Budget Monitoring Exceptions report, circulated as a second dispatch.  The following was noted in response to questions posted by the Committee:

(Clerk’s note: 19:50 hrs – Cllr Bull left the meeting and the Vice Chair, Cllr Browne took over chairing the meeting)

The Committee noted that it would be expensive for the Council to exit the lease of the Techonopark and that renting out the free space would be more effective but the local area had been particularly affected by the recession and so this was proving difficult.

The Committee asked for a briefing note on the low occupancy of the Technopark (paragraph 15.5 – Period 9) including:

1.      How many units there were?

2.      How many units were let (what %) and to what sort of businesses, how many people were employed in them and what income they yielded?

3.      How many units (%) were used by council services?

4.      How many units (%) were occupied by the community and voluntary sector and were these provided for free or at a reduced rent (detail to be provided)? (Action No. 176.1)

Clerk’s note: 19:55 hrs - Clerk’s note: 19:50 hrs – Cllr Bull returned to the meeting and took over as chair.

Paragraph 15.5 and 15.6 (Period 8) - NI 73 and NI 74 – The Committee expressed concern about the low target for achievement of 5 or more A*-C grades in core subjects at GCSE and requested more information on achievements in relation to the new standard (Action No. 176.2).

The Committee noted the responses to the advance questions submitted in relation to Children’s Services and the following was noted in response to discussions.

Paragraph 15.18 (Period 8) – Looked After Children (LAC) –The Committee stated its concern about the large overspend in this area and the unsettling nature of moving looked after children from one placement to another. Officers were reviewing how and why placement moves for these children had come about and any special action taken – a briefing would be provided to the Committee when this piece of work was complete (Action No. 176.3).

In response to questions about whether the Council had entered into discussions with magistrates about how the legal side of children’s placements could be improved, officers reported that the Director of Children’s Services had recently met with the Head of the Court Service about the legal process and costs.  The Committee requested feedback from this meeting (Action No. 176.4).

In response to the Committee’s concerns about the closure of Children Centres, the Deputy Director – Children and Families, stated that she did not expect there to be a direct link to the number of referrals as a result of the closure of Children’s Centres as partners were aware of the Council’s thresholds.  The Committee asked for a future report back to the Committee if there was a drop  ...  view the full minutes text for item 176.

To receive the report on the licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and the proposed discretionary additional scheme.

The Committee received the report on Housing in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing and the proposed discretionary additional scheme for Harringey Ward and parts of St Ann’s and Noel Park Wards (pages 57-63 of the agenda pack). It was noted that the licence would only be relevant to 3 storey buildings.

In response to the Committee’s comments and concerns, Steve Russell (Housing Improvement Team Manager) explained the difficulty in controlling the number of HMOs.  It was estimated that there could be between 5,000 and 10,000 HMOs and that many properties had been converted without the relevant planning permission and could not be converted back to the property’s previous state due to 4 years elapsing since the conversions.  With newer conversions the Council’s enforcement team could only take action once a property was being inhabited as an HMO and landlords would be held to account and forced to obtain a licence and meet standards.  The Committee noted that landlords were going to great lengths to legitimise their work through “certificates of lawfulness”.

The Committee questioned whether local lettings agencies were assisting the Council in identifying unlicensed HMOs and encouraging landlords to have licences before letting out a HMO.   It was noted that the Council officers had visited all 30 agencies in Green Lanes and provided a booklet about services for all Houses in Multiple Occupation. 

RESOLVED to note the report.

To receive the progress update on the recommendations made in the Overview and Scrutiny Review of Service Based Transport in Adult Social Care.

The Committee received and noted the progress update on the recommendations made in the Overview and Scrutiny Review of Service Based Transport in Adult Social Care.

The Committee questioned whether the planned closures of day centre provision would impact the transport service in terms of staff redundancies.  The Head of Provider Service (Older People/ Mental Health), Len Weir, stated that whilst it was very early, there were unlikely to be staff redundancies but drivers would have less time driving and more down time.  There had recently been a reduction in use of the transport service which could be due to personalised budgets, where people were choosing alternative services.  

RESOLVED to note the report.

An opportunity for members to suggest future items that appear on the Council’s Forward Plan for pre-scrutiny.

Councillor Winskill suggested that the reorganisation of Haringey’s Overview & Scrutiny Committee (as part of new governance arrangements) be considered at a future meeting.

There were no new items.

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 6^th December, 8^th December (Call-in) and 20^th December 2010.

The minutes of the meetings held on 6^th December, 8^th December (Call-in) and 20^th December 2010 were confirmed as a correct record and were signed by the Chair.

Monday 28^th February 2011

Monday 28^th March 2011

Wednesday 30^th March 2011 (Child Protection)

Monday 9^th May 2011

The Committee noted the dates for future meetings as follow:

Monday 14^th March 2011

Monday 28^th March 2011

Wednesday 30^th March 2011

Monday 9^th May 2011

To note the items of information circulated to Committee Members since the last meeting. The list of outstanding actions will be tabled.

The Committee noted the actions which had been completed since the last meeting.