Agenda and minutes

Councillor Grocock asked for her name to be corrected on the front page of the minutes.

Some alignment errors were noted in relation to voting numbers on page 2.

Councillor Patel reported that there was an error in Item 3 of the minutes – ‘Barnet Community Library’ did not exist. She was a Trustee of Friern Barnet Community Library.

Resolved that the minutes were approved as an accurate record of the meeting subject to the above amendments.

None.

None.

None.

None.

The Chairman invited Councillor Conway to speak to her Member’s Item.

Councillor Conway reported that residents had raised concerns about access to libraries for children and young teenagers and the impact this could have on literacy development and the community. Visiting figures for East Finchley, Hendon and Chipping Barnet libraries were not available. Reduced participation in the Summer Reading Scheme in Barnet was also a concern.

The Chairman noted that participation in the Summer Reading Scheme had decreased nationally over the past few years. A review of this would be brought to the Committee in March 2019.

The Divisional Director of Family Services noted that the Summer Reading Scheme had not been changed in 19 years and participant numbers had fluctuated since 2011. In 2017 and 2018 additional events had been run alongside the scheme and there had been an increase in uptake of 36%.

Barnet Council was looking at new ways to get children to take up the challenge.

After discussion and consideration of the item the Chairman moved to the vote on the recommendation.

1.    That the Committee’s instruction relating to this Member’s Item are requested.

Resolved - the Committee unanimously agreed to receive a report in March 2019 to review the changes in the library service.

None.

The Chairman introduced the report and supplementary appendix, Library Service Fees and Charges Amendments for 2019/20 from the Strategic Director for Environment.

A Member enquired about paragraph 2.16 of the report and how the money allocated for the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) had been spent. The Interim Assistant Director, Strategy and Communications responded that there were three lots as part of the contract: brokerage and infrastructure, the Barnet Community Directory and a volunteering brokerage.

A Member enquired how the contract, which would finish in two years’ time would be sustainable beyond this time. The Interim Assistant Director, Strategy and Communications stated that the contract been re-let in July to Inclusion Barnet for a further two years. Currently alternative funding pots were being considered.

A Member spoke in relation to paragraph 2.18 of the report: nationality checking for EU citizens was critical; there was concern that people would not have support to sort out their papers before the end of March 2019 in advance of the proposed Brexit.

The Member was also concerned about the loss of £110k funding a year due to the contract being awarded to a new provider from December 2018. The Head of the Registration and Nationality Service at Barnet responded that the role of local authorities in future nationality checking was not yet clear but a continuation of the current checking service looked likely. The landscape was frequently changing and as soon as he had more information he would circulate this to all Barnet Council Members.  Information would also be available on the Barnet website for residents shortly.

Action: Head of Registration and Nationality Service

The Chairman moved to the vote on each of the officer’s recommendations:

1.    That the Committee consider the Corporate Plan (Appendix A) and the Corporate Plan Priorities in Appendix B for referral to Policy and Resources Committee before adoption by Full Council.

For (approval) – 6

Against (approval) – 4

Resolved that the Corporate Plan and the Corporate Plan Priorities were noted and agreed for referral to Policy and Resources Committee before adoption by Full Council.

2.    That the Committee approve the additional Committee Priorities as set out in Appendix B.

For (approval) – 6

Against (approval) – 4

Resolved that the additional Committee Priorities as set out in

Appendix B were approved.

3.    That the Committee consider the MTFS proposals that relate to the Committee as set out in Appendix C after having considered the initial equalities impacts and refer their comments to Policy and Resources Committee for eventual decision by Council.

For (approval) – 6

Against (approval) – 4

Resolved that the Committee considered the MTFS proposals that relate to the Committee (Appendix C) after having considered the initial equalities impacts and referred their comments to Policy and Resources Committee for eventual decision by Council.

4.    That the Committee consider the savings proposals for the next financial year as set out in Appendix C subject to the initial equalities impacts and refer them to Policy and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Chairman introduced the report and noted that Appendix One (Barnet Together Action Plan 2018) had been published on the morning of the meeting. He asked the Committee whether they were satisfied that they had had time to fully consider this paper and were happy to proceed with decision making. The Committee members unanimously agreed that they had read the documents fully and would not need to defer the item.

A Member stated that she would welcome recognition of the stress the Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS) was currently under due to it picking up previous state-led services. She added that it would be helpful to have updates from this sector at CLLC meetings. There appeared to be an over-reliance on the same groups and it was important to ensure that the sector felt supported and was working well.

The Interim Assistant Director, Strategy and Communications reported that the local authority had commissioned research into the challenges faced by the voluntary sector - she would feed back to the Committee on this at a future meeting. She added that the Communities Together Network had been set up to facilitate organisations being in contact with one another. A plan was in place to invite VCSF partners to present at the next CLLC meeting to give an update on their plans for the next two years of the contract.

A Member asked about support for frontline workers in the sector, particularly in relation to their mental health. The Interim Assistant Director, Strategy and Communications reported that this was being considered at Barnet. She would report back to the Committee in the future with further information.

Action: Interim Assistant Director, Strategy and Communications

A Member asked how Barnet Council ensured it was working efficiently together with the VCSF sector. The Interim Assistant Director, Strategy and Communications reported that internal networks were in place within the local authority to ensure work was not being duplicated. They also met frequently with the sector. In addition to this the new providers would be creating their own networks for joint working.

The Chairman moved to the vote on the officer’s recommendation:

1.    That the Committee agree to the implementation of the Barnet Together Action Plan 2018.

In favour of the above recommendation – unanimous.

Resolved - that the Barnet Together Action Plan 2018 was agreed.

The Chairman introduced the report. He noted that pages 85-100 of the report were exempt from the press and public - a motion should be moved to exclude press and public if these were discussed.

The Assistant Director for Community Safety and Regulatory Services (CSRS) noted that the detailed action plan had been left in the report in error. Also on page 55 of the main report the appendices should not have been referred to.

A Member asked about the Residents’ Perception Survey and why it was on hold. The Interim Assistant Director, Strategy and Communications stated that the last one had been carried out in Spring 2017 and funding was being sought for future surveys. Annual surveys were not the standard approach of many local authorities and other mechanisms, such as engagement events, were being considered.

A Member asked for clarification of the high number of referrals into Channel having been people with mental health issues or learning difficulties and whether Barnet Council was linking in with psychiatrists and crisis teams locally. The Prevent Coordinator stated that data showed that those at risk of radicalisation had a high preponderance of mental health or learning difficulties; a member of Barnet Haringey NHS Trust and an officer from Adult Safeguarding attended every meeting of the Channel Panel. Also NHS England had produced national guidance in 2017 and there was a strict timeline for Channel referrals to avoid delay.

The Chairman moved to the vote on the Officer’s recommendations:

1.    The CLLC to comment and note the progress made in delivering Barnet’s Prevent Strategy.

2.    The CLLC to comment and note the progress achieved against the Strategic Review of Prevent Delivery (2017 to 2020).

3.    The CLLC to agree to a further annual update to be provided in November 2019.

Approval of the above recommendations was unanimous.

Resolved – the Committee commented on and noted the report and agreed to receive a further update in November 2019.

The Chairman introduced the report.

A Member asked for clarification on the reason for the ‘amber’ status for two of the priorities on page 103. The Assistant Director for Community Safety and Regulatory Services noted that increased reporting was not a sign that the community was less safe.

The Chairman moved to the vote on the Officer’s recommendations.

1.    The Committee is asked to review the financial, performance and risk information for Q2 2018/19 and make any referrals to Policy and Resources Committee or Financial Performance and Contracts Committee in accordance with the terms of reference of these Committees.

The Committee voted unanimously in favour of the above recommendation.

Resolved – the Committee reviewed the performance report and did not make any referrals to Policy and Resources Committee or Financial Performance and Contracts Committee.

The Chairman introduced the report. A PowerPoint presentation was also tabled.

The Assistant Director of Community Safety and Regulatory Services (CSRS) outlined the multi-agency approach to anti-social behaviour (ASB) that had been carried out in Burnt Oak.

A Member noted that it was excellent to see community partners working together with great success but enquired how this could be sustained as it had required huge effort and cost. The Assistant Director of CSRS responded that her team was in regular contact with the Streetscene team which inspected the area weekly. The police were also aware of the plan and were monitoring the area. There was also greater engagement with the local community which helped with the monitoring, including displacement of the street drinking and other antisocial behaviour. There was currently more input into the area and this would need to be reviewed again in the near future. The Assistant Director of CSRS expressed her gratitude to the Ward Councillors for their help.

Councillor Conway reported that she had objected on behalf of residents to an application to sell alcohol in the area (and will be doing so again as another one has recently been put in) but that the Licensing Sub-Committee had been unable to take any action. So it was proposed at the most recent Licensing Committee meeting to review policy, specifically to look at cumulative impact zones so that new licenses could be considered in the context of the wider area. The police are also interested in assessing this approach. A report is expected to be brought back to the Licensing Committee in early 2019.

A Member enquired what could be done about repeated fly-tipping at Montrose park and Watling Park. The Assistant Director of CSRS reported that Barnet had a strong relationship with Community Payback and was seeking the support of the probation services for continued work on fly-tipping. Also the use of CCTV for all Barnet parks was being investigated.

A Member enquired how long the process had taken in setting up the Public Space Protection Order. The Strategic Lead stated that the idea had initially been discussed two years ago but once agreed it had taken around three months to mobilise all the partners into action.

A Member reported that the bicycle rack in Burnt Oak, as pictured on the front page of the PowerPoint presentation, needed repair. The Assistant Director of CSRS would feed this back.

Action: Assistant Director of Community Safety and Regulatory Services

A Member recommended the ‘Friends of the Parks’ schemes as a way of helping to improve Barnet parks.

The Chairman moved to the vote on the Officer’s recommendations.

1.    To note the multi-agency approach taken to tackling anti-social behaviour and environmental crime in the Burnt Oak area, including the implementation and enforcement of Barnet’s first Public Space Protection Order zone.

2.    To endorse a continuation of this same approach to tackling anti-social behaviour and environmental crime in the Edgware and Childs Hill areas.

The Committee voted unanimously in favour  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Chairman introduced the report.

There were no questions from Members. The Chairman moved to the vote on the Officer’s recommendations.

1.    That the Committee note the Communities Together Network Annual Report 2017/18 and approve its publication on the Council’s website.

The above recommendation was unanimously approved.

Resolved – the report was noted and it was agreed that it could be published on the Council’s website.

The Chairman introduced the Forward Work Programme, November 2018-March 2019.

Further to a discussion the Chairman moved to the vote on the Forward Work Programme.

Resolved – the Forward Work Programme November 2018-March 2019 was approved.

A Member asked about possible shared learning in light of the recent fire at Willow House. The Chairman noted that he had already enquired about this and the matter was likely to be discussed at Policy and Resources Committee.