Agenda and minutes

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Noted.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ibrahim.  Councillor Brabazon was in attendance as a substitute.

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 15 below).

None.

None.

None.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2016.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2016 be approved.

To receive and note the minutes of the following Scrutiny Panels and to approve any recommendations contained within:

Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel – 11 July 2016

Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel – 5 July 2016

Environment and Community Safety Scrutiny Panel – 30 June 2016

Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel – 27 June 2016

RESOLVED that the minutes of

Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel – 11 July 2016

Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel – 5 July 2016

Environment and Community Safety Scrutiny Panel – 30 June 2016

Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel – 27 June 2016

be noted.

This report provides an update on actions that were agreed by Cabinet on 15 December 2015 in response to implementing the Overview and Scrutiny Committee recommendations.

Simon Farrow, Parks and Leisure Services Manager, introduced the report as set out. 

The following arose from discussion of the report:

a.         This was the second update on the Scrutiny review carried out in 2015. 

b.         Councillor Ahmet (Cabinet Member for Environment) would continue to chair the stakeholder group to allow ward members to concentrate on their ward constituents.  The group had a wide membership across three boroughs.

c.         The income from Wireless in 2016/17 was £448k, and the Parks income target for 2016/17 was £545k.  The income level for events was set by benchmarking similar events in other boroughs.  The money charged by Haringey needed to reflect other boroughs, otherwise it may result in a loss of business.

d.         The Chair referred to recommendation 14 and asked whether it would be appropriate to have a report back to OSC once there were plans in place for the 3-5 year programme of events.  Simon Farrow informed the Chair that the team were working on a procurement process to ascertain whether there would be any interest from events companies to sign up to a long term deal.  Initial enquiries were taking place for next Summer, and further thoughts would be given as to when a report would be provided to OSC.

e.         Paragraph 9.4 of the report referred to the income target over a three year period until 2018.  It was an increase of £600k, to make the total target income of £845k by 2018.  Any income which exceeded the target would be ringfenced for projects across the Parks.

The Chair thanked Simon Farrow for attending.

RESOLVED that the achievements made in implementing the recommendations made by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee be noted, and that a date for a further update would be agreed with officers.

To receive the report and approve any recommendations contained therein.

Councillor Hearn introduced the report as set out.  Councillor Ayisi (Cabinet Member for Communities) and Councillor Weston (Cabinet Member for Children and Families) were in attendance to speak in support of the project, and provided assurances to the Committee that the issues raised in the report would be taken seriously, and the recommendations would be supported by themselves and the Cabinet.

The Chair requested that a recommendation be added to the report – “That the final report of the Panel’s review be submitted formally on behalf of the Council to the Lammy Review of BAME representation in the Criminal Justice System”.

RESOLVED that the report and its recommendations be approved, and submitted to Cabinet for response.

This report sets out the 2016/17 Quarter 1 financial position; including Revenue, Capital, Housing Revenue Account and Dedicated Schools Grant.

Councillor Arthur introduced the report as set out.  He provided an update on the financial situation since the report had been published.  Quarter 5 was showing an overspend of £23m, however, this was a reduction from £28m in the previous quarter.  Work was being carried out to reduce the overspends in Adults, Childrens and Temporary Accomodation.

The following arose from discussion of the report:

a.         Work was being undertaken in reviewing care packages in Adults Services, and there had been positive feedback so far in relation to the changes.  It was expected that the reviews would result in financial savings, without too much impact on users.  The process was halfway through, and further information on the impact of the overspend would be available once the review had been completed in November.  In response to a question regarding Haven day care centre, there had been delays in closing the centre, and therefore the savings would be realised over two financial years.

b.         In response to comments made in relation to an overspend in Temporary Accommodation, Councillor Arthur explained that in previous years, the cost of TA would have been covered by grants which were no longer available.  A transformation programme was in place which should help to control the funding / spending pressures.

c.         It was not uncommon for local authorities to work to multi-year budgets – it provided a better approach than a piecemeal one year budget setting approach.

RESOLVED that

i.          The report and Council’s 2016/17 Quarter 1 financial position in respect of revenue and capital expenditure be noted;

ii.         The risks and mitigating actions identified in the report in the context of the Council’s on-going budget management responsibilities be noted;

iii.        The measures in place to reduce the overspend in service areas be noted; and

iv.     The virements over £250k in Table 1, Appendix 1, and other virement be noted.

This report sets out an update to the 2015/16 O&S Committee Budget recommendations.

RESOLVED that the progress made on the recommendations be noted.

This report sets out proposals to engage the public, businesses and partners on the council’s budget challenges, to feed into a forthcoming MTFS consultation.

Councillor Arthur and Simon Jones (Assistant Director for Communications) introduced the report as set out.

The following arose during discussion of the report:

a.         The purpose of engaging with residents was to obtain as much feedback as possible.  A number of engagement events had been planned, along with a consultation leaflet which would be distributed across the borough.  It was important that as many residents as possible were engaged with, and so officers would be visiting a number of outside locations where there was a high footfall, and the leaflets would be produced in a variety of languages and formats.

b.         Members of the Committee provided some feedback on the leaflet, mainly that the italic writing would make it hard for some people to read, and that some of the messages were not clear.  There was a lot of information on the leaflet and the small font size may be difficult for some people to read.

c.         There were no plans to hold a public meeting, but if it was felt that there had not been enough engagement with the public through the planned events, then further events could be planned.

RESOLVED that the plans for pre-budget engagement be noted.

To receive and note the work programme update.

The Chair introduced the report as set out.  Following a short discussion it was

RESOLVED that

i.          The Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Panel work programmes be noted;

ii.         The scoping document for the Supported Housing for Older People Scrutiny Review be approved;

iii.        The scoping document for the Physical Activity for Older People Scrutiny Review be approved;

iv.       The scoping document for the Community Safety and Confidence Scrutiny Review be approved;

v.         The update on progress with the proposed Child Friendly Haringey be noted; and

vi.       The update on progress with the Social Inclusion Scrutiny Review be noted.

To approve the change in membership for the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel, the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel and the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel.

RESOLVED that the revised membership of the Adults and Health Scrutiny Panel (including the addition of Councillor Berryman, as advised at the meeting), the Housing and Regeneration Scrutiny Panel and the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel be approved.

None.

28 November 2016

17 January 2017 (budget)

30 January 2017

27 March 2017

Noted.