Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that -the minutes of the meeting held on the 29^th February 2012 and 8^th March 2012 be approved.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Maureen Braun and Councillor Kath McGuirk.  An apology for late arrival was received from Councillor Brian Gordon.

a)      Personal and Prejudicial Interests

b)      Whipping Arrangements ( in accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 17)

None.

None

(submitted in accordance with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 9) (if any)

None.

Cabinet 4^th April  2012

Cabinet Resources Committee 4^th April 2012 ;or

Any action taken by Cabinet Member(s) and /or Directors/Chief Officers under delegated powers (Executive Functions)

Councillor Brian Salinger provided feedback to the Committee on the Cabinet meeting on the 4^th April 2012 where the reference back on Libraries had been considered.

(Submitted in accordance  with Overview and Scrutiny Procedure  Rule 22) (if any)

None.

The Assistant Director, Transport and Highways, provided an update to the Committee on the East Finchley Impact Assessment. The Committee were informed that a systematic study had been undertaken and that the findings had been reported to the Cabinet Member for Environment.  The Committee were advised that a meeting would take place with Walk Safe to discuss the initial findings and potential options before any further steps were taken.  Following this meeting a Delegated Powers Report would be produced and a copy made available to the Committee.

Councillor Mittra addressed the Committee on the recent traffic management solutions that had taken place in East Finchley. Councillor Mittra raised concerns about the removal of railings and other works close to local schools and urged officers within the Environment, Planning and Regeneration directorate to liaise with officers in education to ensure that a holistic approach was being taken. Councillor Mittra urged the Committee to resolve that these works be halted until the impact assessment of East Finchley had been completed.

The Committee sought further details on the timetable for the removal of the railings and expressed concern that this was occurring across the borough at this time. The Assistant Director, Transport and Highways, advised the Committee that the removal of the railings was part of the Mayor of London’s transport strategy which included de-cluttering and the removal of guard rails. The removal of the railings was part of the 2011/12 budget and priority had been given to improving the footways.

RESOLVED that

1. the Delegated Powers Report on the East Finchley Impact Assessment be circulated to the Committee for comments as soon as it becomes available.

2. Officers from the Environment Planning and Regeneration directorate undertake an objective assessment of any proposed removal of railings and inform East Finchley Ward Members of any plans to remove any further railings in the East Finchley area.

The Leader of the Council presented the Regeneration Review and advised the Committee of the review findings and the proposed next steps.

The Committee were requested to consider the Regeneration Review and make comments and/or recommendations on the proposals to the Leader.

RESOLVED that the following comments and recommendations be made to the Leader

(1)   That the Leader work with the appropriate agencies to encourage more local apprenticeships and employment of local people.

(2)   That the Leader consider alternative and more flexible funding streams as part of the Action Plan.

(3)   That the Leader maximises the opportunities to create a  mixture of housing to meet local needs.

(4)   That the Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee be kept informed of the progress of the regeneration Review Action Plan and be sent a copy of any update report to Cabinet on delivery of the council’s regeneration programme.

The Cabinet Member for Housing provided an overview of the findings of the six month review of the Council’s Housing Allocations Scheme.

RESOLVED- that the following comments and recommendations be made :

(1)   That the Cabinet Member for Housing be requested to note the concern of the Committee regarding the application of priority rules and the use of discretion in the allocation of accommodation by housing officers, and that officers be required to provide more transparent feedback to housing applicants.

(2)   That the Cabinet Member for Housing note the Committee’s comment that the current housing allocation process should focus on meeting housing need rather than adhering to criteria.

(3)   That the Committee recognised that Officer time was more effectively being used by dealing with applicants that could be re-housed.

(4)   That the Committee consider that the success of any new housing allocation system was reliant on the affordability of housing.

The Assistant Director of Communications and the Overview and Scrutiny Manager gave a presentation on the new Council website and the new committee papers content management system.

RESOLVED that-

(1) the Committee welcomed the Council’s new website and committee papers content management system.

(2) the presentation slides be circulated to the Committee.

The Overview and Scrutiny Manager introduced the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2011/12.

RESOLVED that-

(1)   the Scrutiny Office be requested to circulate the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report to the Chairman of Budget and Performance, Safeguarding and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and incorporate any comments prior to submission to Council on the 10^th July 2012.

The Committee considered a report detailing progress made in implementing recommendations made by Overview and Scrutiny Task and Finish Groups which had been accepted by Cabinet.

RESOLVED that –

(1)        the progress made in implementing recommendations made by Overview and Scrutiny Task and Finish Groups accepted by Cabinet be noted. 

RESOLVED that:

(1)  the following Task and Finish groups be established

Effectiveness of Task and Finish Groups

Road Safety

Children’s Centres

(2) That the Scrutiny Office contact the Conservative Group Secretary  

      to seek nominations for the vacancies on convened Task and Finish Groups.

      .

RESOLVED that:

(1)  the following Task and Finish groups be established

The Committee considered the Cabinet Forward Plan for the period April to July 2012 which had been tabled at the meeting.

RESOLVED that

(1) the Cabinet Forward Plan be noted.

(2) Officers be requested to bring forward the following reports (prior to consideration by Cabinet and Cabinet Resources Committee in June and July)-:

(i) Skills and Enterprise Action Plan/ Supporting Young People into Employment

(ii) Grahame Park and Brent Cross Regeneration

(iii) Highways Asset Management Plan and Highway Maintenance

The Committee considered the Forward Work Programme 2011/12.

RESOLVED that:

(1) the report be noted.

(2) the following items be added to the Committee’s work programme :

(i)Skills and Enterprise Action Plan/ Supporting Young People into Employment

(ii) Grahame Park and Brent Cross Regeneration

(iii) Highways Asset Management Plan and Highway Maintenance

The Vice-Chairman thanked the Chairman for conducting Committee meetings in a fair and diligent way during the 2011/12 municipal year.