Agenda item

MOTION M (2005/06):

Councillor Reith has given notice that she will move in the following terms:

“This Council notes the importance of voluntary sector organizations in delivering local services, building community cohesion and encouraging civic pride throughout our area. Their work within the community, fostering engagement, driving forward local initiatives and campaigning for local projects is invaluable to our vision of an effective and working society.

This Council believes that in order to ensure both the Council and the third sector are able to compliment each other to the best of their abilities there must be a clear partnership framework.

As such, this Council welcomes the news that a period of consultation on a formal compact with voluntary sector organizations closes shortly and that the final compact will be brought to the next Council. This compact will clearly lay out what voluntary organizations can expect from Haringey.

This council is committed to maintaining a high level of financial support to voluntary organizations, in sharp contrast with the situation in London boroughs controlled by Liberal Democrat and Conservative administrations”.

MOTION N(2005/06):

Councillor Williams has given notice that he will move in the following terms:

“This Council; acknowledges the findings of the Audit Commission’s report into the project management of Tech Refresh and endorses the findings and criticism of the council’s management of this project contained therein;

Apologises to the people of Haringey for the £10 million plus budget overrun of the projects and deeply regrets the loss of funding this entails for vital council services;

Believes that members of the Council Executive must be held to account for their negligent lack of involvement and senior sponsorship of such a large project and the Executive must learn the lessons of this negligence.”

MOTION M (2005/06):

It was moved by Councillor Reith and seconded by Councillor Wynne that:

“This Council notes the importance of voluntary sector organizations in delivering local services, building community cohesion and encouraging civic pride throughout our area. Their work within the community, fostering engagement, driving forward local initiatives and campaigning for local projects is invaluable to our vision of an effective and working society.

This Council believes that in order to ensure both the Council and the third sector are able to compliment each other to the best of their abilities there must be a clear partnership framework.

As such, this Council welcomes the news that a period of consultation on a formal compact with voluntary sector organizations closes shortly and that the final compact will be brought to the next Council. This compact will clearly lay out what voluntary organizations can expect from Haringey.

This council is committed to maintaining a high level of financial support to voluntary organizations, in sharp contrast with the situation in London boroughs controlled by Liberal Democrat and Conservative administrations”.

The Motion was then put to the meeting and declared CARRIED.

MOTION N (2005/06):

It was moved by Councillor Williams and seconded by Councillor Hoban that:

“Acknowledges the findings of the Audit Commission’s report into the project management of Tech Refresh and endorses the findings and criticism of the council’s management of this project contained therein;

Apologises to the people of Haringey for the £10 million plus budget overrun of the projects and deeply regrets the loss of funding this entails for vital council services;

Believes that members of the Council Executive must be held to account for their negligent lack of involvement and senior sponsorship of such a large project and the Executive must learn the lessons of this negligence.”

An amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor Sulaiman and seconded by Councillor Milner proposing :

 Delete all after "This Council acknowledges the findings of the” and replace with text below to read

This council acknowledges the findings of the “District Auditor’s report into the Tech Refresh project. 

Tech Refresh is a project designed to support the delivery of better housing, cleaner streets and safer communities for the people of the borough through the use of better more resilient and efficient technology.  

The council notes that in June 2003 the Tech Refresh project was being delivered and programme managed by external partners.  Once the overspend was reported to councillors in May 2005, programme management was undertaken in-house.  Tech Refresh is now 95 per cent complete and is already helping to deliver more efficient use of council resources.

This council notes the following findings from the district auditor’s report:-

·        Whilst the project implementation was problematic the new IT systems will help the council deliver better services.

·        The original budget was very tight meaning that additional expenditure was always likely.

·        Haringey is an improving three star council with a track record of strong financial management.

·        The funds to pay for this overspend were found from earmarked reserves last year meaning that this is not funded through a council tax rise.

This council also notes the Executive asked the district auditor to examine the project last year and that a report from the Interim Chief Executive has already been requested to address the lessons that need to be learnt.

Finally this council is a good and improving borough and is well equipped to make further progress - a fact that has been recognised by the recent Audit Commission rating.

The Amendment was then put to the meeting and declared CARRIED.

The substantive Motion was then put to the meeting and declared CARRIED

MOTION M (2005/06):

It was moved by Councillor Reith and seconded by Councillor Wynne that:

“This Council notes the importance of voluntary sector organizations in delivering local services, building community cohesion and encouraging civic pride throughout our area. Their work within the community, fostering engagement, driving forward local initiatives and campaigning for local projects is invaluable to our vision of an effective and working society.

This Council believes that in order to ensure both the Council and the third sector are able to compliment each other to the best of their abilities there must be a clear partnership framework.

As such, this Council welcomes the news that a period of consultation on a formal compact with voluntary sector organizations closes shortly and that the final compact will be brought to the next Council. This compact will clearly lay out what voluntary organizations can expect from Haringey.

This council is committed to maintaining a high level of financial support to voluntary organizations, in sharp contrast with the situation in London boroughs controlled by Liberal Democrat and Conservative administrations”.

The Motion was then put to the meeting and declared CARRIED.

MOTION N (2005/06):

It was moved by Councillor Williams and seconded by Councillor Hoban that:

“Acknowledges the findings of the Audit Commission’s report into the project management of Tech Refresh and endorses the findings and criticism of the council’s management of this project contained therein;

Apologises to the people of Haringey for the £10 million plus budget overrun of the projects and deeply regrets the loss of funding this entails for vital council services;

Believes that members of the Council Executive must be held to account for their negligent lack of involvement and senior sponsorship of such a large project and the Executive must learn the lessons of this negligence.”

An amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor Sulaiman and seconded by Councillor Milner proposing :

 Delete all after "This Council acknowledges the findings of the” and replace with text below to read

This council acknowledges the findings of the “District Auditor’s report into the Tech Refresh project. 

Tech Refresh is a project designed to support the delivery of better housing, cleaner streets and safer communities for the people of the borough through the use of better more resilient and efficient technology.  

The council notes that in June 2003 the Tech Refresh project was being delivered and programme managed by external partners.  Once the overspend was reported to councillors in May 2005, programme management was undertaken in-house.  Tech Refresh is now 95 per cent complete and is already helping to deliver more efficient use of council resources.

This council notes the following findings from the district auditor’s report:-

·        Whilst the project implementation was problematic the new IT systems will help the council deliver better services.

·        The original budget was very tight meaning that additional expenditure was always likely.

·        Haringey is an improving three star council with a track record of strong financial management.

·        The funds to pay for this overspend were found from earmarked reserves last year meaning that this is not funded through a council tax rise.

This council also notes the Executive asked the district auditor to examine the project last year and that a report from the Interim Chief Executive has already been requested to address the lessons that need to be learnt.

Finally this council is a good and improving borough and is well equipped to make further progress - a fact that has been recognised by the recent Audit Commission rating.

The Amendment was then put to the meeting and declared CARRIED.

The substantive Motion was then put to the meeting and declared CARRIED