Agenda item

Question and answer session with the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Social Inclusion and Sustainability, Councillor Joe Goldberg focussing on his work on Social Inclusion, and to note the report on social inclusion.

For more information on social inclusion in Haringey visit:

http://www.haringey.gov.uk/sites/haringeygovuk/files/haringey_stat_-_social_inclusion.pdf

a.         Cabinet Member questions

RECIEVED a verbal update from the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Social Inclusion and Sustainability, Councillor Joe Goldberg on his portfolio areas.

i.          Carbon Emissions

                        NOTED that

A.        Haringey was a leading London borough in the reduction carbon and the Borough’s growth in population compared to its carbon emissions demonstrated success;

B.        the smarter homes project had been successful in improving energy efficiency;

C.        large homes in the wealthy areas of the Borough were a concern and needed investment to become more efficient;

D.        the Tottenham Hotspur Football Club development would include an energy centre to supply heat to the stadium and local estates;

E.        in response to questions:

·         Haringey’s schools were all at 45% carbon emission levels.  The Council provided sustainable investment funds (SIF) to implement energy efficiency measures.  The SIF was used to make Haringey’s swimming pool pumps more efficient;

·         the procurement team would be requested to provide numbers of schools which had taken up SIF funding;

ACTION: COUNCILLOR GOLDBERG

·         the way energy would be generated to new homes built as part of the Tottenham regeneration project was a concern to the Cabinet Member.  Solar panels should be supported to generate some energy, decentralised energy was a better idea but not the Council had not adopted the technology to support this.  Low carbon buildings were not aesthetically pleasing with small windows and no baths so that residents consumed less water); 

·         expectations of developers and the Mayor of London were clear and the Council and Planning Committee were responsible for ensuring policies relating to energy efficiency were followed.  Fines could be imposed if developers did not meet the requirements;

·         whilst recycling was not within the Cabinet Member’s remit he recognised the role that fewer weekly waste collections played in reducing emissions;

·         the community could be encouraged to reduce carbon emissions with the provision of more electric vehicle charging points, making the Borough more cycle friendly and more pedestrian friendly.  The 40:20 initiative was created to change behaviour and attitudes and communities were able to apply funds towards community initiatives to improve awareness.  Partners including 21 Century Homes in Highgate, voluntary sector organisations and the N10 energy co-operative have conducted some good work in educating the community.

RESOLVED to note the successes achieved through the 40:20 Ambition programme.

b.         Economic Development

i.          the economic growth paper aimed to create 20,000 local jobs by 2030 and ensure that local residents had the skills for these jobs;

ii.         the Opportunity Investment Fund (OIF) for Tottenham subsidised small businesses setting up in unused spaces;

iii.        Chicken Town and the Fashion and Technical College( FTA) Academy (the only manufacturing college in Europe) were among four pilot schemes through the OIF and further projects were in progress;

iv.        the Council provided opportunities to increase the skills of 16-24 year olds and enable their employability.  This initiative was supported by some large businesses;

v.         an apprenticeship drive in March 2015 resulted in 130 apprenticeships being agreed (the target had been 100);

vi.        the next stage would be to replicate the economic growth offer in Wood Green and ensure the infrastructure for transport and broadband was in place;

vii.       the Council gave charities 100% business rate subsidies the same offer could be used to encourage non charitable businesses to the Borough’s high streets for a limited amount of time.

RESOLVED to note the successful economic growth work of the Council.

Clerk’s note: 20:25hrs Cllr Jogee left the meeting and returned at 20:27hrs

c.         Social Inclusion

RECEIVED the report on Social Inclusion (pages 57-60) introduced by Jeanelle de Gruchy, Director of Public Health and Lead officer for A Fair and Equal Borough, and the Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Social Inclusion and Sustainability, Councillor Joe Goldberg

NOTED that

i.          the Haringey Stat had considered key areas of concern for social inclusion and explored the definition of social inclusion and what drives exclusion with the aim of developing areas in the corporate plan to reduce inequalities;

ii.         exclusion disadvantaged a person through a life time (where they were not getting the best start in life);

iii.        it was often specific groups who were excluded and there was a strong link between poverty and deprivation.  Haringey’s figures for poverty were improving in line with London although some areas such as Northumberland Park showed little improvement;

iv.        it was recognised that the Committee’s and Panels’ work programmes already comprised inclusion element such as early years and youth transition;

v.         scrutiny of social inclusion to assist with finding solutions to reduce inequalities and social exclusion;

vi.        in response to questions:

·         the work on social inclusion would not seek to replicate the Equalities Impact Assessments (EQIAs) which already took place in other areas of the Council.  These were informative and assisted to set the brief for action to be taken to reduce inequalities;

·         a clear definition of what social inclusion looked like in Haringey was key including temporary accommodation, diversity, ethnic group exclusion; 

vii.       successes included reduced teenage pregnancy improved data,

viii.      the Committee suggested the following areas be considered in future work programming:

·         main social inclusion indicators to be considered by the Panels;

ACTION: CABINET MEMBER/ KATHRYN BOOTH

·         poor outcomes for people in the Campsbourne area;

·         what worked well in other boroughs and lessons learnt;  

·         what drove people to leave Haringey;

·          

ix.        officers supported suggestions to look at case studies and geographical areas, learning from successes and delving deeper into specific areas where there was less evidence;

x.         the Committee was encouraged to think about how particular groups were being further included and equalities were reducing in their current work plans.

RESOLVED to note the contents of the report and to work with officers to focus the work programme for 2015/16 and scoping areas to add value to the Council’s approach to social inclusion.