Agenda and minutes

Councillor Danny Rich, the Chair of the Committee, welcomed all attendees to the meeting. The Committee welcomed the members of the Adults and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee, Children and Education Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee and Cabinet Members who were in attendance for scrutiny of the proposed budget and medium-term financial strategy.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2023 be approved as a correct record.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Dean Cohen, who was substituted by Councillor Peter Zinkin.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Emma Whysall who was substituted for by Councillor Simon Radford.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Giulia Innocenti.

Councillor Danny Rich and Councillor Anne Hutton declared a non-pecuniary interest as they were trustees of Barnet Carers, who received money from the London Borough of Barnet.

Councillor Alison Cornelius declared a non-pecuniary interest as she was a trustee of the Elenor Palmer Trust, but not the Council nominated trustee, which had a care home in sheltered housing.

Councillor Paul Lemon and Councillor Richard Barnes declared a non-pecuniary interest as they were the Council appointed trustees of the Elenor Palmer Trust.

Councillor David Longstaff a non-pecuniary interest as declared as he was a trustee of Elenor Palmer Trust and a trustee of Dementia Club UK and both organisations worked with the Council.

Councillor Peter Zinkin declared a non-pecuniary interest as he was the Director of London Energy Limited which was subsidiary of the North London Waste Authority precept which was mentioned in the agenda papers.

Councillor Arjun Mittra declared a non-pecuniary interest as his family were tenants of Barnet Homes.

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The Chair invited Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources and Effective Council, to give an overview of the budget proposals for the Council.

Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources and Effective Council

The Chair invited Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources and Effective Council, to give an overview of the budget proposals for the Council.

The Leader outlined the context, stating both local and national pressures had impacted the budget, from austerity, inflation, interest rates, increases in energy prices, the effects of the pandemic, a rising elderly population, more children with complex social care needs, and increased cost for temporary accommodation, especially in London, which cumulative resulted in significant shortfalls in the budget. The Council were working to address the issues by investing locally, building more council housing, helping people to live independently, and bringing children’s social care provision for placements in-house.

In response to comments from the Committee on the high cost of social care placement packages, the Leader confirmed that pan-London work was ongoing with London Councils and the Council had engaged and was leading in the joint work being undertaken in to reduce the costs, especially in relation to children’s social care placements.

In response to comments from the Committee on the value of buying houses that had already been built instead of building additional housing, the Leader confirmed that in doing so the council obtained twice as many houses for the same cost, increasing the housing stock and the associated Council Tax income.

The Committee queried if the Council would seek an above inflation increase in Council Tax despite the rate of inflation decreasing to 4.6%. In response, the Leader confirmed that while the inflation rate had slowed, prices were still rising, and the standard inflation rate widely used stood at 6.8%.

Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration

Councillor Ross Houston, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration, gave an overview of the budget and savings proposals within his portfolio which was an area that covered income and investment in assets. He advised the Committee that the rising demand for housing, increased use of temporary accommodation, a 30% increase in homelessness applications, a 20% increase in private rents, while the local housing allowance had been frozen, and a falling supply in housing (down 40% across London), had all led to increased pressures on the budget. The were other pressure areas such as the cost of hotel accommodation, costs associated with the fire safety works, work on damp and mould, and the impact of reduced income from planning services. He reported that the Council were working to address these issues.

The Committee expressed concern that a shortfall in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA)may require input from the General Fund and the potential impact on the reserves and thus the planned Capital Programme. The Cabinet Member noted the concerns and the external pressures affecting the HRA, which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Committee considered the report that sets out the Cabinet Forward Plan (Key Decision Schedule) for 2023/24.

The Committee noted that the Plan included items that could be included in the committees work programme for pre-decision scrutiny during 2023/24. Following consideration of the item, the Chair moved to vote on the recommendations in the report which were unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED that the Committee note the Cabinet Forward Plan (Key Decision Schedule. 

The Committee RESOLVED to note the Overview and Scrutiny Committee 2023- 2024 Work Programmes for Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

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