Agenda and minutes

Apologies for lateness were received from the Chair, Cllr Bull; the Vice Chair, Cllr Winskill chaired the meeting in his absence.

An apology for absence was received from Helena Kania (LINk Co-optee).

Cllr Ejiofor gave apologies for leaving the meeting early due to a clash of meetings.

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 16 below).

AGREED to consider the following items as urgent business (recorded under minute number 54 below) :

a.         Scrutiny Review on Benefits

b.         Budget Scrutiny Themes

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 Engert declared a personal interest in agenda item 9 (minute number 50) – Sustainable Transport Scrutiny Review Update – as she was a member of  London Travel Watch.

Councillor Engert declared a personal interest in agenda item 11b (minute number 52b) – Worklessness Scrutiny Review – as she had a close acquaintance with someone who worked in a worklessness department (not in Haringey).

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

None.

An opportunity for the Committee to question the Cabinet Member, Councillor Lorna Reith, on the Children’s Services portfolio.

In response to questions put to the Cabinet Member, Cllr Reith, on the Children’s Services portfolio, the following was noted:

• Alexandra Park School had become an academy on 1^st October 2011 and Woodside High School was in the process of also becoming an academy.
• Despite concerns that 19 of Haringey’s underperforming schools were being considered; only two of these schools met the criteria for becoming academies at the government’s intervention. 
• The Cabinet Member agreed to provide a written response to enquiries about Heartlands School increasing its admissions intake for 2012 or 2013 (Action No. 46.1).  She highlighted the importance that any increase in intake did not destabilise the admission figures for other schools in the area.
• A meeting on 12^th October would establish how many allocated school places had not been taken up.  The Council could allocate some of these places to the 144 families who had made late applications for school places.
• There was enormous pressure for school places, particularly in Reception Classes. The Council had established some “bulge” classes and was consulting on the permanent expansion of three schools in Haringey.
• In the next week the Government would announce which local groups had been successful in their applications to become Free Schools, one primary school in Haringey had been accepted in the last round, providing 30 additional school places.
• Particular areas of concern for the Children’s Services department were: keeping inside the budget, academies and working with schools that were not performing and new arrangements for children’s centres in the borough.
• The volume of looked after children, placement costs and the cost of legal proceedings were causing budgetary concerns.  Work was being conducted to keep costs down including comparing with other boroughs.
• The Council had approximately 620 children in care, which was higher than other boroughs but the Council’s thresholds for taking children into care were Ofsted approved.
• New arrangements being considered included alternative care (including special guardianship orders, long term foster placements as well as adoption), reviews of less vulnerable children in care (conducted in conjunction with plans for them to return home or to relatives) and alternative ways to support young people living in the community (where there were no protection issues) as well as a review of children’s homes run by the local authority.
• A briefing on Child Protection Core Assessments will be presented at the next OSC meeting on 12^th December(Action No. 46.2).
• It was explained that the social worker training scheme was not continuing due to large numbers of newly qualified social workers available for employment.  There was a need to recruit experienced social workers at present.  A briefing note on the numbers of permanent and agency social workers employed by the Council would be provided to members (Action No. 46.3).

Clerk’s Note:  17:25 hrs - The Chair, Cllr Bull, arrived and took over chairing the meeting at 17:55hrs.

NOTED.

To consider the report on the 2011 provisional results for the Early Years Foundation Stage, Key stage 2 and GCSE.

The Committee received the report on the 2011 Provisional Results for the Early Years Foundation Stage, Key Stage 2 and GCSE, introduced by Avi Becker (Business Intelligence Manager) and the following was noted further to members’ questions and comments.

NOTED

• Members stated that Maths results (for the Foundation stage by network learning communities) should be reflected in the report.  The Committee would receive current maths data (Action No. 47.3).
• Local and national data showed links between poverty and deprivation and poor performance of pupils.  It was anticipated that Haringey would benefit from the Government’s new formula for funding to address deprivation issues.
• Gaps between ethnic groups were closing with some groups making more progress than others.  Schools offered support in English and Maths and structured speaking activities for these families.
• There was still a gap in the performance of boys and girls generally and the difference between the attainment of children born at the start of the academic year and those born towards the end of the year was evident (particularly in the Foundation Stage).
• Whilst the government no longer required local authorities to meet a “value added” target (using schools and pupils performance data Haringey still monitored this data.
• Under performing schools were being linked with schools that were performing to a high standard in order to share good practice.

NOTED.

To receive a presentation on the redevelopment of St Ann’s Hospital site from Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust representatives.

The Committee received a presentation updating on the development of the St Ann’s site, introduced by Maria Kane (Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health Trust - Chief Executive) and Andrew Wright (Barnet, Enfield & Haringey Mental Health Trust - Director of Strategic Development). The Mental Health Trust was working in partnership with stakeholders and consulting widely.  The general consensus had so far been that health services should be the main provision from the site.   A discussion took place.

NOTED

• Most services offered on the site would be primary and community care services and could accommodate any doctors’ practices that wished to move to the site. 
• Partners were committing to moving to the site and in response to the suggestion that dialysis training be conducted on St Ann’s site it was noted that The Royal Free hospital had already offered to provide dialysis services from the site.  Suggestions about training to allow patients to conduct dialysis from their homes would be taken back and discussed with The Royal Free (Action 48.3).
• Local residents’ suggestions that accident and emergency services be provided from the site would not be sustainable and, once consultation had ended, responses would give reasons for rejecting any suggestions.
• The Committee would be sent a document reporting on health planning conducted with the health providers and Primary Care Trust looking at the need for health facilities (Action 48.2)
• It was recognised that the NHS was constantly changing and that a review of the site might be required in the future but it was vital to start planning now and get as much health care provision on the site as possible. 
• A full environmental impact assessment will be conducted and will take into account the historical aspect of the site and planning applications submitted.  The clerk would contact Bruce Castle Museum to see if any historical memorabilia related to the old St Ann’s Hospital was kept in the museum (Action 48.1).
• The Mental Health Trust was in discussions with Transport for London about improving transport links to the area.
• It was recognised that moving mental health inpatient services to other sites possibly in Enfield and Barnet would create travel difficulties but with the rolling out of home treatments staff would only be travelling to the site for team meetings and other specific reasons.
• It was emphasised that the plans were still in the consultation stages.
• Thanks were given to Mental Health Trust officers for attending.

NOTED.

To receive an update on the previous scrutiny review on Support to Carers.

The Committee received the progress update on the recommendations of the June 2009 Scrutiny Review of Support to Carers, introduced by Barbara Nicholls (Head of Adults Commissioning).

NOTED

• Recommendation 4 – concerning signposting carers to advice and information (page 23 of the agenda pack) – It was explained that some carers had not been aware of the benefits of the assessment process and so work had taken place to emphasise the benefits of an assessment as well as on-going work with community groups to raise awareness.
• Recommendation 7 – funding for respite carers (page 29 of the agenda pack) – It was confirmed that a specific budget for adult community services existed for respite care as well as some other Council funding.  There had been some funding available from the Primary Care Trust (PCT) but it had not been ring-fenced and Council officers are not aware of any specific spending plans since the funding was first provided to PCT’s in 2009. Cllr Bull would send a letter to the PCT on behalf of the North Central London Joint Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JOSC) to seek clarification on why the PCT had not made available monies linked to the Carers Strategy for respite care for informal carers. (Action No. 49.1).

NOTED.

To receive an update on the previous scrutiny review on Sustainable Transport.

The Committee received the update on actions from the Sustainable Transport scrutiny review concluded in March 2010, introduced by Joan Hancox (Head of Sustainable transport) and David Rowe (Transport for London (TfL)), a discussion took place. 

NOTED

• The Committee asked for a structure chart of the Council’s transport department to be circulated (Action No. 50.1).
• TfL had been supporting the Council in progressing with its travel plan.
• The Committee asked that the recommendation to invite London Travelwatch to Haringey to provide individual travel planning advice to local residents (page 57 of the agenda pack) be followed up (Action 50.2).
• The Committee suggested that Political Party Chief Whips were informed about the recommendation for a Member Champion for cycling in Haringey (Action No. 50.3).  It was reported that the local cycle group was involved in the detail of the designs for cycle schemes before they went out to public consultation.
• In response to questioning why there was only one supplier for car club scheme parking bays Mr Rowe explained that there was little competition and the Council used the main provider, Zipcar.
• Members were advised to pass any enquiries about bus routes in the Borough to Council transport officer, Malcolm Smith, who attended a public transport liaison forum where such issues could be raised.  The minutes of the recent transport forum would be circulated to all members of the Council. (Action No 50.4).
• There were no plans by TfL to close ticketing offices in its stations.  London Overground, however, were closing ticket offices, although the Council had lobbied against this.
• Officers recognised the Committee’s concerns about the lack of disabled access at tube stations and highlighted that TfL maps displayed which tube stations were accessible.
• In response to concerns about access getting into Sainsbury’s on Green Lanes, Harringay, it was reported that the Council had conducted some work to improve the traffic junction but much of the problem was to do with egress from the Arena Retail Park and managing access to the car parking area.  Cllr Alexander would try to obtain contact details for the new owners of the Area Retail Park and liaise with the Head of Transport regarding these matters (Action No. 50.5).
• Regarding suggestions for a review of transport provision for elderly and disabled residents (page 65 of the agenda pack) it was reported that a study into the possibility of shared services for organising transport through a single, central service had been conducted.
• The Head of Sustainable Transport agreed to look into the possibility of better transport links to the St Ann’s hospital site (Action No. 50.6).

NOTED.

To consider any updates from chairs of scrutiny reviews.

No progress to report.

To approve the scoping documents for reviews on the following subjects:

a.         Health Inequalities – Men’s Health: Getting to the Heart of the Matter

b.         Worklessness (TO FOLLOW)

a.         Health Inequalities

            The Committee received the scoping report for the scrutiny review of Men’s Health: Getting to the heart of the matter (pages 67 – 124 of the agenda pack).

            RESOLVED that the terms of reference of the Health Inequalities review of Men’s Health: Getting to the heart of the matter be approved.

b.         Worklessness

The Committee received the review scoping report for the scrutiny review of Worklessness (pages 1-18 of the additional documents pack).

RESOLVED that the terms of reference for the Worklessness review among 16-24 year olds be approved.

None.

a.         Scrutiny Review on Benefits

The Committee received the tabled briefing on the current challenges and performance of the Benefits Service, introduced by the Chair who suggested that this review be postponed.

            NOTED

·        In response to comments that enquiries to the Benefits service from residents and members were not being responded to the Chair agreed to organise a meeting between the Cabinet Member, Cllr Goldberg, the Head of Benefits and Local Taxation and Cllr Weber to discuss issues (Action No. 54.1).

·        Cllr Weber was invited to sit on the Worklessness Review, which could include discussions around benefits

RESOLVED that the previously agreed scrutiny review on the Benefits Service be deferred and removed from the 2011-12 Overview & Scrutiny Committee work programme.

b.         Budget Scrutiny Themes

NOTED the following themes from the Council’s 2012-13 Budget had been agreed for scrutiny by the Budget Scrutiny Panel:

·        Looked After Children (including legal costs and comparisons to other local authorities)

·        Accommodation for the Homeless

·        How the borough’s Co2 emissions could be reduced

To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 27^th June, 29^th June, 15^th and 24^th August 2011.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings held on 27^th June, 29^th June, 15^th and 24^th August 2011 be agreed as a correct record of proceedings.

To note the actions completed since the last meeting.

NOTED.

To discuss response timelines for actions, particularly the action 39 arising from the call-in meeting held on 24^th August 2011.

Action 39 arising from 24 August 2011 - Call-in of the decision taken by the Cabinet Procurement Committee – PROC12 – Contract for the supply of desktop and laptop hardware and associated professional services

ACTION NO 39: The Committee agreed that a letter should be sent to the Cabinet Member on behalf of the Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee 

The Committee agreed that the Chair would follow-up his letter of 4^th September 2011 to the Cabinet Member for Finance & Carbon Reduction (Action No 57.1).

Budget Scrutiny Panels (October – dates to be confirmed)

Monday 12^th December 2011

Monday 6^th February 2012

Monday 30^th April 2012

NOTED

Monday 12^th December 2011

Monday 6^th February 2012

Monday 30^th April 2012

The meeting ended at 20.30 hrs