Agenda and minutes

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at the meeting.

The meeting was web-cast for live or future broadcasting on the Council’s website.

There were no apologies for absence.

(Please note that under the Council’s Constitution – Part 4 Section B paragraph 17 – no other business shall be considered).

There were no items of urgent business tabled however the Chair asked the Committee to agree to consider a date for the next Budget Scrutiny session.  The discussion is recorded under minute number 160 below.

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 declared a personal interest in item 7 where the Haven Centre was discussed, as the Centre was the ward he represented.

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

There were no such items.

To approve the minutes of the Budget Scrutiny meeting held on 5^th January 2011.

Approval of the minutes was deferred until the next meeting.

To consider the questions raised by members at the Budget Scrutiny meeting held on 5^th January 2011.

The Committee received the budget proposals for 2011/12 to 2013/14 introduced by the Council Leader, Councillor Claire Kober who emphasised the Council’s intention to transform services as a result of the unprecedented reduction in local government funding.

In response to a question about sharing services the Leader explained that the announcement of the reductions had halted the plans of some boroughs to join functions; when public services funding was cut councils needed to focus on their budgets and changes in structures and ways of working rather than other agendas.

The Committee asked supplementary questions to those raised at the Budget Scrutiny meeting held on 5^th January 2011.  The responses are recorded below.

Re. Q1 – Adult Social Care – Reduced Contributions from NHS

The Committee noted that the deficit position of the Primary Care Trust (PCT) would continue into next year as the PCTs merged. Council Leaders met regularly to discuss the situation and the Council had an honest dialogue with NHS Haringey although there were challenges on the part of both agencies regarding funding.

Re. Q4 & Q5 – Adult Social Care Transition and Children & Young People Service (CYPS) Demographic Pressures

The Leader confirmed that the £4 million investment in Children’s Services next year was due to the 172 additional children in care; there were also 16 additional children on child protection plans.  More children requiring services were expected to move into Haringey when the housing benefits system changed in April 2011 and there would be associated legal costs. 

The Committee noted that Ofsted had approved the Council’s child protection thresholds and that the Leader had written to the Minister for Children & Families about Haringey’s unique situation and the impact of the reduced local government funding settlement.

The Committee was informed that the Council had put in place the Local Preventative Strategy with the PCT and the Police including a series of measures to help prevent children and families coming into the system in the future.  It was reported that research showed that two years of such measures would result in significant service cost reductions.  The Council was also recruiting more foster carers to reduce the cost of agency carers.

Re: Q5 – CYPS – increased legal cost budgets

The Committee requested benchmarking information on legal costs per child safeguarding case. (Action No. 159)

Re. Q9 – Inflation

A copy of the working paper analysing the inflation provision would be circulated to the Committee and Councillor Gorrie (Action No. 159.1). 

Re: Q10 – NLWA – Increase in Landfill Tax

The Committee noted that the cost of recycling increased each year and that from April 2011 the Council’s recycling contractors would be responsible for raising awareness of recycling.  The Council would judge the contractors on resident perception and recycling performance.

Re. Q11 – Concessionary Fares

The Committee noted that, due to a change in the method of apportioning costs across London, the total cost to Haringey was now based on usage by Borough residents and this had led to an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 159.

Wednesday 19^th January 2011, 4.30pm  (provisional)

The Chair proposed Monday 31^st January for further Budget Scrutiny and made reference to section 19c of Section H, Part 4, of the Council’s constitution (Call-in Procedure Rules).  Committee noted that by considering the Budget on 31^st January in advance of the actual decision being taken the decision could not be called-in again after the final decision had been taken.

RESOLVED that the next Budget Scrutiny meeting will be held on Monday 30^th January 2011 starting at 10am.