Agenda and minutes

The Chairman of the Committee, Councillor Anthony Finn opened the meeting and welcomed all attendees.

The Chairman noted that Jamie Masraff will be leaving the Council this week and thanked Mr Masraff for all his work and efforts during his time at Barnet.   

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 5^th January 2017 be agreed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Reema Patel.

The following interests were declared at the meeting:

None.

There were no public comments.

The Committee noted the details of the received public questions and the answers which were published ahead of the meeting. There were no supplementary questions.

None.

The Chairman introduced the Q3 performance monitoring report.

Councillor John Marshall commended the work of the teams and the two schools who have achieved the Gold award for Healthy Schools which places Barnet in joint first position across all London boroughs.

Councillor Kathy Levine raised a query about the use of agency staff in adult social care. Upon invitation of the Chairman, Mr Mathew Kendall, Director of Adult Social Care, provided a response.

He noted the reduction in spend on agency staff for the current year in comparison to 2015-16. The Committee heard that a number of the current agency staff work on the implementation of the new IT system within Adults Delivery Unit until April 2018. One off funding sources have been utilised for the use of some agency staff who are employed to work on short term projects.

The Committee queried the impact of increased duties on local authorities in respect of managing homelessness and prevention. The Assistant Director for Housing Options Barnet Homes, Kate Laffan briefed the Committee about the proposals under the new Homelessness Prevention Bill 2016-17 which is currently being considered before enactment later in the year.

As part of the preparations for the likely impact of the Bill and anticipated increase in demand across the capital, Ms Laffan noted that proposals by Barnet Homes include working in a customer focused way to reduce homelessness and manage demand.

Committee Members requested that narrative on p.65 for indicator CES/S11-1 be amended for clarification to ‘Bigger is better’ in the report for the next meeting. (Action)

Jamie Masraff, Interim Strategic Lead - Programmes & Performance introduced the Corporate Risk Register, strategic risks and escalated risks from services. 

Members asked that the Committee at its next meeting, receive a report on risk management detailing information about escalated risks and the measures put in place as treatments. (Action: Forward Work Programme)

A request was made by the Committee to undertake a review of the top 20 contracts in terms of value for future inclusion in the Log of Contract Variations. It was agreed that officers would consult with the Chairman, Councillor Geof Cooke and Councillor Peter Zinkin to take this forward. (Action)

It was RESOLVED that:

1.    The Committee scrutinised the performance of services, especially in relation to delivering the Corporate Plan, and (if necessary) make recommendations to other committees on the policy and commissioning implications.

2.    The Committee noted the corporate risk register, including the escalated service risks, as detailed in Appendix J.

3.    The Committee noted the Quarter 3 2016/17 revenue budget and forecast position, as detailed in paragraph 1.7.

4.    The Committee noted the additions and deletions (which include virements) and approved the accelerations and slippages in the capital programme, as detailed in paragraph 1.8.

5.    The Committee noted the savings delivered in Q3 2016/17, as detailed in paragraph 1.9.

6.    The Committee noted the agency costs for Quarter 3 2016/17, as detailed in paragraph 1.13.

7.    The Committee noted the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Chairman introduced the report and welcomed Jess Baines-Holmes, Head of Integrated Care Quality, Mathew Kendall Adults and Communities Director and James Mass Community and Wellbeing Assistant Director who presented the report.

Following discussion, the Committee agreed the following two motions:

·         That the Chairman would write to the Adults & Safeguarding Committee Chairman regarding the enablement report.

·         That the Committee receive a report setting out the findings of a wider review around the procurement processes in place, to be undertaken jointly by Commercial and Procurement.(Action: Forward Work Programme)

Upon the vote being taken, the motion was declared carried.

It was therefore RESOLVED:

1.    That the Committee noted the report setting out the review of the procurement and mobilisation of the previous enablement service in Barnet.

2.    That the Chairman write to the Adults & Safeguarding Committee Chairman regarding the enablement report and mobilisation plans.

3.    That the Committee receive a report setting out the findings of a wider review around the procurement processes in place based on the lessons learnt from enablement service, to be undertaken jointly by Commercial and Procurement.

The Committee noted the standing item on the agenda which covers the business items for 2017. The Chairman noted the items for addition to the Work Programme as discussed during the course of the meeting:

·         The Committee made a request in relation to risk management, to receive detailed information about the escalated risks and the measures put in place as treatments.

·         The Committee requested that a report is brought back to the Committee setting out the findings of a wider review around the procurement processes in place to be undertaken jointly by commercial and procurement.

It was RESOLVED that the Committee considered and commented as above on the items included in the 2017 work programme in Appendix A.

None.

The Committee RESOLVED that the press and public, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, be excluded from the meeting.

The public gallery was cleared.

The Committee noted the exempt information as set out in the report.

None.