Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2013 be agreed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence had been received from:

• Councillor Maureen Braun;
• Councillor Alison Moore (who was substituted for by Councillor Geoff Johnson);
• Councillor Rowan Quigley Turner (who was substituted for by Councillor John Marshall); and
• Councillor Kath McGuirk (who was substituted for by Councillor Alan Schneiderman).

a)      Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Non Pecuniary 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.

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

None.

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

None.

Neil Richardson, the Highways Manager, provided the Committee with a verbal update on the Saracens Event Day Controlled Parking Zone. 

Mr Richardson informed the Committee that the primary features of the Event Day Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) were:

• To ensure effectiveness for the area;
• To ensure that the use of the developed Barnet Copthall Stadium did not adversely impact on residents and traders and other community based activities; and
• That Saracens would meet all reasonable costs to introduce and maintain the measures, including enforcement of any restrictions introduced.

The Highways Manager advised the committee that kick-off times would be varied throughout the season and that there would be no kick-offs before 12.00 noon. 

The Committee were informed that there were 7,500 people in the CPZ that were eligible to apply for a permit or visitor’s vouchers.  Households could apply for up to 88 parking vouchers per annum, with additional vouchers being made available to support congregations and other community activities.

The Highways Manager noted the importance of making sure that the highways were safe for all road users.  The Committee were advised that only one test match had taken place so far at the Copthall Stadium on 27 January 2013.  Officers reported that “light” enforcement had been undertaken on that day where vehicles in contravention of parking restrictions were given a leaflet advising of the Event Day parking controls and advising drivers of the dates of the remaining matches for the current season.  The Highways Manager also advised the Committee that a similar approach would be taken at the next match on 16 February 2013, but that yellow line restrictions would be enforced.

Lisa Wright, the Traffic and Development Manager, informed the committee that Officers will be monitoring each match of the current season to assess the parking impact.

The Highways Manager informed the Committee that they would be carrying out another consultation with every property in the area at the end of the current season, asking for views on the scheme.  Comments made would be taken on board to help determine whether any changes to the scheme might be required moving forward. 

Referring to the light enforcement, where leaflets were given to cars that would otherwise have received tickets, a Member questioned how many of these leaflets had been issued.  He was advised by Officers that the figure was approximately 140 leaflets.  Responding to a question, Officers informed the Committee that the vehicles that were leafleted as part of the light enforcement were situated throughout the CPZ.  Officers advised the Committee that the attendance for the match was approximately 3,700.  The Committee noted that as this was a test game, the maximum attendance would be in the region of 4,000.  Attendance was expected to be higher at future matches.

A Member questioned if it was unusual for residents to not have to pay for permits.  Officers responded that it was, but that they were being provided at zero cost to residents by Saracens in recognition that there would be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

During consideration of the item above, Councillor Alan Schneiderman left the meeting at 8:30 pm.

The committee noted the Advanced Notification of Executive Decisions (published on 25 January 2013) which had been tabled at the meeting.

A Member referred to the item titled ‘Disposal of Former Friern Barnet Library’ which was scheduled for consideration by the Cabinet Resources Committee on 25 February 2013.  The item sought the Committee’s approval to commence the marketing of the property for disposal.  The Leader of the Council advised the Committee that since the publication of the Notice, the decision had been changed.  Instead of a disposal, the Council had entered into a short temporary licence while negotiations were being completed with a view to agreeing a two year licence to enable the Council to assess whether Friern Barnet Library can be run as a community library.  The Committee noted that licensing arrangements were likely to be discussed at the meeting of the Cabinet Resources Committee.

Resolved that:-

1.      The Committee note the Advance Notice of Executive Decisions

2.      The Committee note the update from the Leader of the Council regarding the disposal of Friern Barnet Library.

The Committee considered a report by the Scrutiny Office which provided an update on the four currently convened Task and Finish Groups and Overview & Scrutiny Panels.

Education Strategy

The Chairman of the Education Strategy Overview & Scrutiny Panel, Councillor John Marshall, informed the Committee that the Panel had held two meetings so far, with another meeting scheduled for the following week.  The Overview and Scrutiny Manager advised the Committee that the Council were currently developing an Education Strategy for Barnet which would provide a strategic response to the new educational landscape and the future role of elected Member Governors and Parent Governors.  The Panel were considering how the Council could engage with schools and maintain a high performance across the board.  The Overview and Scrutiny Manager advised the Committee that it was expected that the Education Strategy for Barnet would be reported to Cabinet in April or June and the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel would feed into that overall strategic approach. 

Children’s Centres

The Chairman advised the Committee that it had been agreed that a Task and Finish Group review on Children’s Centres should commence.  The committee were informed that Officers were recommending that the start of the group be deferred as the Children’s Service had commissioned an external evaluation study which had not yet been completed.  Members were requested to agree that the commencement of this Task and Finish Group be deferred until mid-April to enable the Group to utilise the information obtained from this external review.

The Deputy Director for the Children’s Service, Jay Mercer, advised the Committee that the Children’s Service considered this to be a good opportunity for Members to look at the base facts surrounding Barnet’s Children’s Centres, and to have an input in shaping the way forward for Children’s Centres. 

The Chairman questioned Officers whether the study would be looking at the catchment areas of Children’s Centres.  Mr. Mercer advised that the study did not specifically look at these, but that this was an area that could arise in future discussion.  At the request of the Chairman, Mr. Mercer advised that the scrutiny review could consider the issue of catchment area for Children’s Centres in Barnet.

A Member questioned if the external study would focus solely on Children’s Centres, and questioned whether it would consider wider aspects of early years provision. Officers advised the Committee that this piece of work would just focus on Children’s Centres. 

A Member questioned whether a Children’s Centre attached to a primary school which had been placed under special measures as a result of an OfSTED inspection and was forced to become an academy whether the Children’s Centre would still be run by the Council.  Officers advised the Committee that the current Service Level Agreement (SLA) that has just been circulated for agreement for 2013/14 made it clear that if a school went into special measures, then the SLA would be terminated and the Council would take the Children’s Centre back into direct management.

Secondary School Places:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Assistant Director for Adult Social Care, David Jones, presented a report that provided the Committee with an update on the implementation of recommendations made by the Health and Social Care Integration Task and Finish Group. 

The Assistant Director referred to the recommendations below:

Recommendation One:

• Cabinet and the Health & Well Being Board are requested to endorse the vision proposed by the Task and Finish Group for the integration of health and social care in Barnet, as set out in section 1. (of the final report)

Recommendation Two:

• Cabinet and the Health & Well Being Board consider and agree the principles proposed by the Task and Finish Group for the integration of health and social care, as set out in section 2. (of the final report)

Recommendation Three:

• Cabinet and the Health & Well Being Board consider and agree the recommendations on the approach to Health and Social Care Integration proposed by the Task and Finish Group as set out in section 3. (of the final report)

The Assistant Director for Adult Social Care advised the Committee that recommendations above had all been accepted by Cabinet and the Integration Board, and that they were being incorporated by the Health and Wellbeing Board into the Health and Wellbeing Strategy. 

Recommendation Four:

• The Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee consider and agree the proposal that the Task and Finish Group is given a longer term role in providing oversight to Health and Social Care Integration projects, as described in the Introduction. (of the final report)

The Assistant Director advised that when this item had been reported to Cabinet, Cabinet Members and Officers had agreed that this could be expedited by forming a Reference Group comprising of elected Members, the NHS, and the voluntary and private sector. 

Responding to a question from a Member, Mr. Jones informed the Committee that he expected that the membership of such a Reference Group would not be restricted to non-executive representation, but would include both commissioners and providers. 

The Assistant Director advised the Committee that the outcome of the health and social care integration pilot projects would be bought to the appropriate Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

Councillor Barry Rawlings, who had participated in the Task and Finish Group, sought assurance that Members would be involved in the Reference Group and questioned when it would be established.  The Assistant Director advised the Committee that the Group should be set up when the health and social care integration programme had been fully established.  He undertook to report back to the Committee with timescales as soon as possible. 

RESOLVED that:-

1.            That the Committee note the progress made in implementing the Task and Finish Group Recommendations as set out in the report and above.

2.            That the Committee note that the Assistant Director will report on the timescales around convening a Reference Group at the earliest opportunity.

RESOLVED that the Committee note the Forward Work Programme.

None.