Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all present to the meeting and informed them that the meeting was being webcast.

To receive apologies for absence.

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).

NOTED that a copy of the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report had been circulated with the ‘To Follow’ pack and would be discussed at item 14 of the agenda.

Councillor Newton declared an interest in respect of item 11 as he was a member of the Community Safety Partnership.

Yvonne Denny declared an interest in respect of item 9 as she was the core group representative for residents in respect of Decent Homes.

None.

To note the terms of reference and protocol for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Scrutiny Panels.

TO FOLLOW

The Chair introduced the report as set out in the agenda pack and asked Members for their comments.

NOTED:

Protocols

·               Paragraph 5.3 – requested amendment to “Hard copies of the agenda and papers for OSC shall be circulated to all members and relevant partners at least 5 clear days before the meeting”.

·               Paragraph 5.6 – requested amendment to “Pre-decision scrutiny on forthcoming Cabinet decisions should only be undertaken at scheduled OSC meetings, in adherence with the Council’s Forward Plan”.

·               Paragraph 5.7 – requested amendment to “It is intended that each Scrutiny Review Panel shall hold 4 scheduled meetings each year, plus 1 meeting for Budget Scrutiny”.

·               Paragraph 6.2 – requested addition “The format for the item shall be agreed prior to the meeting by the OSC Chair and the Leader”.

·               Paragraph 8.2 – requested amendment “a lead OSC member” with “the Vice-Chair”.

Actions:

·               Child poverty to stay under the children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.

ACTION: Scrutiny Officers

·               Children’s Safeguarding to be added to the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel remit.

ACTION: Scrutiny Officers

·               Adults Safeguarding policy to be added to the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel remit.

ACTION: Scrutiny Officers

·               Councillor Newton and Rob Mack to receive copies of the Children’s Safeguarding Policy and Practice Advisory Committee minutes.

ACTION: Scrutiny Officers

·               Cllr Adamou and Melanie Ponomarenko to receive Safeguarding Adults Members Panel minutes.

ACTION: Scrutiny Officers

·               The Leader’s portfolio areas to be added to the OSC remit.

ACTION: Scrutiny Officers

·               Legal to provide advice on the scrutiny of Alexandra Palace.

ACTION: Stephen Lawrence-Orumwense

·               Comments from OSC, as outlined above, on OSC procedure rules and protocols to be fed into the Constitutional Working Group in due course.

ACTION: Chair

·               Property to be added to OSC work programme.

ACTION: Scrutiny Officers

·               Environment and Housing Scrutiny Panel work on planning enforcement to be amended to ‘planning and licensing’.

ACTION: Scrutiny Officers

RESOLVED to

(i)        Note the Terms of Reference and Protocol for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(ii)       Establish the following Scrutiny Review Panels:

Adults and Health Scrutiny Review Panel

Children and Young People Scrutiny Review Panel

Communities Scrutiny Review Panel

Environment and Housing Scrutiny Review Panel

(iii)      Approve the Terms of Reference for the Panels.

(iv)     Approve the Panel Membership.

To approve the work programme for the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and the Scrutiny Panels.

To approve the panel membership for the Scrutiny Panels.

TO FOLLOW

The Chair introduced the report as set out in the agenda pack.

Action:

·               Nursery Places and Provision to be added to Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel under ‘other issues’.

ACTION: Scrutiny Officers

RESOLVED that

i)          The OSC work programme be agreed for 2013/14 based on the list of possible areas in section 4 of the report.

ii)         The list of possible areas for the Scrutiny Panels to scrutinise in 2013/14 be approved.

To receive the report and appoint two representatives to the North Central London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair introduced the report as set out in the agenda pack.

RESOLVED that

i)          Councillors Bull and Winskill be appointed as the two Haringey representatives to the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

ii)         That Councillor Adamou shall also attend JHOSC meetings and be added to the distribution list to receive agendas and minutes of meetings.

An opportunity for the Committee to question the Leader and Chief Executive on the Council Priorities for 2013/14

The Chair welcomed Councillor Kober – Leader of the Council – and Nick Walkley – Chief Executive – to the meeting.  Councillor Kober outlined the priorities for the next two years, as set out in the agenda pack.  The Corporate Plan contained 5 main principles, with outcomes sought and priorities for Haringey.

The following responses were provided to questions from the Committee:

·               Although income generation was important, it could not be the sole driver of any course of activity.

·               Haringey schools were on an upwards trajectory in terms of improvement, although exam results were still lower than London and National averages.  There were ambitious plans and a three year target to achieve above these averages.  A ‘Schools Champion’ had been appointed to help drive improvements in school performance and pupil attainment across the borough.

·               The Schools Champion – Christine Gilbert – will report directly to Nick Walkley, but the work carried out would cover the entire school partnership.

·               The Education Commission had been reviewed after a year and an action plan published, setting out the progress so far and key milestones.

·               A recommendation from the Education Commission was to establish a connection between Haringey schools and the Russel Group of universities.

·               Housing needs for older people was linked to the wider housing challenge facing the borough, for example under occupancy, over occupancy, vulnerable groups being placed in on bedroom flats in specific areas etc.

·               Automatic pay progression for senior staff – Hays Group had been commissioned to conduct an external review which would create a benchmark and a set of recommendations for Haringey.  This may include contact renegotiations.  The report and recommendations would fit into the corporate restructure in the Autumn.

·               A customer services report would be presented to Cabinet in July/September and would set out medium to long-term improvements, for example getting more back office operating at the front line.]

·               It would be fruitful for OSC to look at the focus on prevention and early intervention in areas such as health, public health, social care and children’s services.

·               There was an Early Years Strategy.

·               There would be a focus for staff on Value for Money over the next two months, this would be followed by a focus on Safeguarding.

·               There had been a change in priorities from Government and the GLA in relation to Decent Homes which had caused challenges alongside already complex issues being dealt with currently.  Procurement issues were focused on whether an OJEU notice (Official Journal of the European Union) could be issued before a Section 20 notice.  This had only been clarified recently.  There were lessons to be learned with regards to communication with people.  A member briefing on Decent Homes would be circulated to all Councillors on 18 June.

·               Councillor Newton commented that the Education Commission Action Plan was due to be an agenda item on a forthcoming Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel.

Actions:

·               Chief Executive to attend a future Communities Scrutiny Panel for discussions on the HAVCO initiatives for supporting community  ...  view the full minutes text for item 231.

To receive an update on the Council’s financial position and the budget going forward to 2014/15, from the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction.

TO FOLLOW

The Chair welcomed Councillor Goldberg and Julie Parker – Director of Corporate Resources – to the meeting.  Councillor Goldberg provided a short overview of the financial position of the Council.

NOTED

·               In 2010, the Government announced a four year austerity programme – this was now likely to be seven years.  The authority had experienced a 13 fold hit compared to some less deprived boroughs, and a 30 fold hit compared to the least deprived borough, Dorset.

·               The authority was in a dangerous situation and there were challenges to be faced with regards to changes to Council Tax and Business Rates collections.

·               The Public Administration Committee was very concerned about the fiscal resistance of local authorities.

·               It was important that the authority had reserves in place to enable the right choices to be made.

The following responses were provided to questions from the Committee:

·               Although there could be change of Government by 2015, one could not speculate as to whether the cuts would continue, or for how long.

·               Paragraph 9.3 related to Alexandra Palace and was revenue rather than capital fundings.  Councillor Goldberg had set a challenge for the Palace to reduce their overheads and running costs in order to identify savings – these savings could then be used to support the regeneration plans.  With regards to match-funding, Alexandra Palace were likely to request some funding from the authority at a later stage of the regeneration process.

·               Paragraph 6.1 – the general underspend was 2.2%.  When put into perspective with the whole budget this was not a significant sum.  A benefit of producing a provisional outturn was that savings could be made earlier, for example Adult Services were able to manage their projected over spend quickly.

·               Treasury Management savings of £2m a year were anticipated as these had been achieved previously, however this saving would depend on being able to continue to borrow internally and on interest rates.

·               Paragraph 6.5 – there were different rules for different schools becoming academies in different ways.  This meant that some schools would leave behind a deficit with the authority and some would not.  This was not something that the authority could control.  The aim would be to get schools out of any deficit at all.  Where schools had a ‘licensed deficit’ the local authority can work with them to give support.  However, schools did not always want this support.

·               Work was being done on Zero Based Budgeting.  The process was about where the Council was, where we would like to be by 2020 and how we can get there.  The ZBB work would feed into the 2015/16 budget setting process, not the 2014/15.  Work currently being done included:

-       Speaking to residents

-       Benchmarking with other authorities

-       Internal challenge

The ZBB work would begin in the Autumn, and would be an opportune time for scrutiny to consider the evidence base.

·               Some services had been lost as part of the cuts.  When making the decision to deal with challenges, sometimes the most obvious  ...  view the full minutes text for item 232.

To note and comment on the three year statutory Community Safety Partnership Strategy 2013-17 and annual delivery plan, prior to approval by Full Council.

TO FOLLOW

The Chair welcomed Councillor Watson – Cabinet Member for Communities – Hazel Simmonds – Community Safety Review Manager -  and Claire Kowalska – Community Safety Strategic Manager -  Councillor Watson introduced the report as set out.

NOTED:

·               The previous strategy was no longer fit for purpose – it was too wide, with too many objectives.

·               A strategic needs assessment had been produced, and this was used to bid for community safety funding from MOPAC.

·               The strategy now had six key priorities:

-       Community confidence

-       Domestic Violence / abuse

-       Gangs

-       Reducing re-offending

-       Reducing Anti-Social Behaviour

-       ‘Prevent’ agenda

·               Public consultation had been carried out twice, with a very good response rate.

·               The strategy had been presented to the Community Safety Partnership, and would be presented to Cabinet and full Council.

The following responses were provided to questions from the Committee:

·               The Youth Council Chair and members had been engaged with.  Currently there were no plans to include a member of the Youth Council in the membership of the Community Safety Partnership, but the CSP were looking at other ways to engage and include young people.

·               There would be a 20% reduction to the Safer Neighbourhood Teams, however there would be some positive changes to local policing.  There would be issues with accessing police services, but the Deputy Borough Commander was keen to work in partnership with the Council to continue the work of SNTs.

·               The Community Confidence outcome may be impacted due to the SNT reductions.

·               There had been a slight increase in the numbers of police locally.

·               Members were encouraged to raise any issues directly to Councillor Watson.

·               The Action Plan would be going to the Communities Scrutiny Panel for their input.

·               Changes to the Probation Service would be a huge challenge for the strategic partnership to manage.

·               Engagement with the Health and Wellbeing Board led to the inclusion of mental health in the strategy.

Actions:

·               For a written briefing to be provided on the MOPAC funding – how much funding had been allocated and how it would be used.

ACTION: Councillor Watson

·               For a ‘ready guide’ of contact information for members / residents to be created on enforcement – what issues can be reported, what teams were responsible, how issues can be reported.  Councillor Watson agreed to speak to Councillor Canver or Stephen McDonnell to see if this was possible.

ACTION: Councillor Watson

The Chair introduced the item and explained that although this was a standing item on the agenda, thought needed to be given as to how the Area Chairs could provide feedback to OSC.

Action:

To arrange a meeting between OSC and Chairs of Area Committees to discuss how to improve links between OSC and Area Committees.

ACTION: Scrutiny Officers

To receive and note the minutes of:

Environment & Housing Scrutiny Panel – 16 April 2013

TO FOLLOW

NOTED the minutes of the Environment and Housing Scrutiny Panel held on 16 April 2013.

Actions:

·               An informal meeting of the OSC to be arranged to discuss the work programme for the forthcoming year.

ACTION: Scrutiny Officers

·               OSC to await Decent Homes briefing before deciding whether any further scrutiny involvement was needed.

ACTION: Chair

NOTED the Overview & Scrutiny Annual Report.

Actions:

·               The shortlisting of the Men’s Health Review to be added to the Annual Report.

ACTION: Scrutiny Officers

·               Ensuring minutes of the shadow Health and Wellbeing Board were made available on the website to be added to the A&HSP section of the Annual Report.

ACTION: Scrutiny Officers

·               Outline of new organisations under the health structure to be added to the A&HSP section of the Annual Report.

ACTION: Scrutiny Officers

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2013.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 April 2013 were approved as a correct record.

Monday 7 October 2013

Monday 25 November 2013

Monday 16 December (budget)

Thursday 23 January 2014

Monday 17 March 2014

NOTED the dates of future meetings.

NOTED the responses to actions.

Action:

·               The Chair to speak with the Chief Executive to discuss a better way of following up actions from future meetings.

ACTION: Chair