Issue - meetings

To receive a report from Overview & Scrutiny Committee setting out the Scrutiny Annual Work Programme and Workstreams identified for 2017/18.                                                                                     (Report No:49)

Council is asked to note that Cabinet will be considering this report at their meeting on 13 September 2017.  Any comments from Cabinet will be included on the Council update sheet at the meeting. 

Councillor Levy proposed and Councillor Smith seconded the report of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee setting out the Scrutiny Work programme and work streams identified for 2017/18.  (Report No: 49)

NOTED

1.               That Cabinet had considered the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Work programme 2017/18 at their meeting on 13 September 2017 and recommended approval to Council.

2.               Councillor Levy’s speech in support of the work he had done as the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee over the past 3 years and more including

·       His dedication to the work of the Council not only on Scrutiny, but also on the quasi-judicial licensing and planning committees, and the local pension board, as well as for his constituents in Southbury Ward.

·       His pledge to continue with his work until the end of his term of office.

·       His comments about the behaviour of his fellow councillors on both sides of the chamber and the hope that members would in future reflect on what he had said and respect for others, standards of behaviour, and debate would improve. 

·       That the work programme had been carefully put together, fully discussed, and agreed by all members of Overview and Scrutiny.  It had an inbuilt flexibility to enable discussion of other topical or urgent items which might occur. 

·       This year there would be more single item agendas, larger local projects requiring more in depth analysis and more joint meetings with other committees where it was felt that the subject matter warranted it. 

·       Another work stream, which had yet to be scoped, would be added to the programme, on the topic of loneliness and isolation. 

3.               The comments of Councillor Smith for the Opposition:

·       The work programme covered a wide range of topics although there were subjects which had not been included.

·       His view that the scrutiny function served a useful purpose which was better than nothing.  Call in was an important tool a chance to analyse key decisions in detail although there were some concerns about the lack of frank exchange and discussion. 

·       As Chair of the Crime Standing Work Stream he would be looking at the possible merger of police services in both Enfield and Haringey and knife crime.

·       His support for the other work streams planned.

·       Concern about the lack of sufficient commitment to scrutiny on the part of back bench members. 

4.               The response of Councillor Levy including:

·       His thanks for the tributes and respect he had been shown. 

·       His apologies to Councillor Laban and Councillor Rye for past behaviour.

·       The arguments for more research support for scrutiny, which he had expressed at Cabinet, the preceding week, which would give more validity to the work streams. 

·       The introduction of call-ins of a different kind whereby Cabinet Members were invited to attend meetings to discuss issues in advance to avoid call ins being necessary. 

·       That many more members should be prepared to do some work and take a greater role in the scrutiny function. 

AGREED to approve the scrutiny work programme and work  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10

6.1     SCRUTINY ANNUAL WORK PROGRAMME 2017/18

A report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee is attached. (Non -key)

(Report No.49)

(8.20 – 8.25 pm)

6.2     HOUSING REPAIRS SCRUTINY WORKSTREAM

A report from the Housing Repairs Scrutiny Workstream is attached. (Non – key)

(Report No.50)

(8.25 – 8.30 pm)

6.3     CALL-IN: MERIDIAN WATER STATION UPDATE AND BUDGET (DECISION TAKEN BY CABINET ON 26 JULY 2017, PUBLICATION OF DECISION LIST NO.16/17-18 ISSUED ON 28 JULY 2017)

          To note, for information, that at its meeting on 14 August 2017, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered a call-in of the above Cabinet decision and, agreed to confirm the original Cabinet decision.

6.1     Scrutiny Annual Work Programme 2017/18

Councillor Achilleas Georgiou (Deputy Leader) invited Councillor Derek Levy (Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee) to present the report setting out the scrutiny annual work programme and work streams for 2017/18 (No.49).

NOTED

1.               That the number of Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings this year had been increased from 4 to 9 to enable more issues to be considered in greater depth.  More would be added to the schedule if necessary. 

2.               This year more joint meetings would be organised to focus on particular issues.  A joint meeting had been held earlier in the summer on the issue of knife crime and another was planned for health.

3.               The view of Councillor Levy that, because of the additional demands on scrutiny and the pressure on current officers to carry out more administrative tasks, an extra scrutiny officer was needed to add to the scrutiny research capacity of the Governance and Scrutiny Team.   Councillor Anderson supported the view that an adequate research resource was important to ensure good outputs. 

4.               The changes to work stream memberships. 

5.               The view of Councillor Levy that scrutiny chairs should take greater responsibility for ensuring that other members were involved, for carrying out research’ and for ensuring that the work streams moved forward. 

6.               More pre-decision scrutiny was planned.  A session had already been held on the new Housing Allocations Policy.  As well as some one day scrutiny events where one issue could be investigated in depth, over a whole day. 

Alternative Options Considered: NOTED, that no other options had been considered as the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was required, under the Council’s Constitution, to present an annual scrutiny work programme to Council for adoption.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL to approve the proposed work programme and work streams for 2017/18 subject to the comments made at Cabinet, as set out above.

Reasons for recommendations: To comply with the requirements of the Council’s Constitution, as the work programme had to be formally adopted by Council. In addition, scrutiny was essential to good governance, and enabled the voice and concerns of residents and communities to be heard, and provided positive challenge and accountability.

(Non key)

6.2     Housing Repairs Scrutiny Work stream

Councillor Achilleas Georgiou (Deputy Leader) invited Councillor Derek Levy (Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to present the report (No.50) to the Cabinet.

Councillor Levy presented the report on behalf of Councillor Katherine Chibah who had led the review. 

NOTED

1.               That the Housing Repairs Scrutiny work stream was set up following reports to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee detailing concerns with the performance of the Housing Repairs service.

2.               A significant amount of work had been carried out.  It was found that the quality of work carried out by repairs and maintenance contractors was not always as good as it could have been, nor was the quality control exercised by council officers. 

3.               Councillor Oykener, Cabinet Member for Housing and Housing Regeneration, welcomed the report and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6