Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Anita Vukomanovic 020 8359 7034 Email: anita.vukomanovic@barnet.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

2.

Absence of Members

Minutes:

There were none.

3.

Declaration of Members' Interests

a)      Personal and Prejudicial Interests

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

Minutes:

Member

Subject

Interest declared

Councillor Brian Salinger

Agenda Item 10 (Task and Finish Group / Overview and Scrutiny Panel Update – Secondary School Places Overview and Scrutiny Panel)

Non-pecuniary interest as Chairman the Pupil Referral Unit Management Committee

 

4.

Public Question Time (if any)

Minutes:

There were none.

5.

Members' Items

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

Minutes:

There were none.

6.

Councillor Calls for Action

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

Minutes:

There were none.

The Chairman announced a variation in the order of the Agenda, with the Brent Cross / Cricklewood Regeneration Scheme item being considered next, followed by the Call-in.

7.

Brent Cross / Cricklewood Regeneration Scheme pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Leader of the Council presented a report on Brent Cross / Cricklewood Regeneration Scheme which had been considered by the Cabinet Resources Committee on 18 April 2013.

 

The Leader of the Council advised the Committee that the progression of the Southern part of the site was very important in delivering the whole scheme.

 

A Member expressed concern about the amount of time that the scheme had taken to date.  The Leader of the Council advised the Committee that Officers had worked hard to progress the scheme to its current stage. 

 

The Committee raised the issue of infrastructure on the South side of the site, and advised that that a strategic approach was needed in to meet infrastructure needs and provide sufficient affordable housing.  The Leader of the Council also advised that a Section 73 proposal would improve pedestrian access in the area.  Members commented on the importance of linking of the North and South ends of the site. 

 

A Member requested that the Committee were provided with feedback on the current situation for schools within the regeneration scheme area, and advised Officers that Members should be kept informed on the current situation in relation to affordable housing and job opportunities. 

 

The Committee agreed that, given the strategic importance of the scheme, the Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee should receive more updates in order to give the issue a greater focus.

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

1)        The Committee receive an annual report on the Brent Cross / Cricklewood Scheme to update the Committee on the progress.

 

2)        The Committee request that Officers note the importance of linking the North and South sides of the site.

 

3)        The Committee request a written update on the current proposals relating to schools, affordable housing and job opportunities within the area.

 

8.

Any matters Referred by Members of the Committee relating to key decisions made by: pdf icon PDF 16 KB

Cabinet 18th April 2013;

Cabinet Resources Committee  18 April 2013 ;or

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

Minutes:

Cabinet Resources Committee, 18 April 2013

 

The Committee considered the following decision of the Cabinet Resources Committee meeting held on 18 April 2013 and asked questions of the Cabinet Member for Safety and Resident Engagement in respect of the following:

 

Decision Items:

Subject:

 

1.1, 1.2 and 1.3

Report of the Cabinet Member for Safety and Resident Engagement

Future CCTV Services

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1.         Following consideration of the call-in the above decision was not referred back to the Cabinet for reconsideration.

 

2.         The Committee requested that Officers provide further detail on the financial modelling set out in the Business Case (as referred to on page 54 of the Cabinet Resources Committee report).

 

9.

Management Agreement with The Barnet Group for the Management of Council's Housing Stock and Provision of the Housing Service pdf icon PDF 385 KB

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Housing presented a report which outlined the process for renewing the management agreement with Barnet Homes.  The report outlined the key activities, risks and timeline for the renewal of the Management Agreement.

 

Responding to a question from a Member, the Cabinet Member for Housing advised the Committee that Barnet Homes were aware of the requirements of the Borough which included improving the quality of the housing stock and continued improved performance. 

 

A Member expressed concern that there was a vacancy for a Councillor on the Board of Barnet Group. Tracey Lees, Chief Executive of The Barnet Group, advised the Committee that there a recruitment process was underway to appoint two new Members to the Board of The Barnet Group.

 

Members questioned what consultation, pursuant to Section 105 of the Housing Act 1985, had taken place with tenants.  The Director for Place, Pam Wharfe, advised the Committee that a broad range of consultation activity had been undertaken with tenants. 

 

A Member commented on the new areas of business activity and questioned whether staff of Barnet Homes and the Barnet Group had sufficient capacity to take on new opportunities without compromising the core activities of the organisation.  The Chief Executive of The Barnet Group advised the Committee that there was sufficient capacity and that core activities would not be compromised. 

 

A Member advised Officers that the housing needs of vulnerable young people and children were varied and requested that Barnet Homes give consideration to ways in which they could meet the needs of young people.  The Director for Place advised the Committee that Barnet Homes had always been good at providing support to tenants.. 

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

1)        The Committee note the proposals set out in the report.

 

2)        The Committee request that the Housing and Environment Lead Commissioner and Barnet Homes give consideration to how they can meet the needs of vulnerable groups of people.

 

3)        The Committee emphasised the importance of filling vacancies on the Board of The Barnet Group.

 

4)        The Committee request that the Scrutiny Office give consideration as to how on-going scrutiny of housing matters can be facilitated in the current committee structure, particularly housing needs and resources, and the management of housing in general. 

 

10.

Task and Finish Group / Overview and Scrutiny Panel Updates pdf icon PDF 128 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee were provided with recommendation tracking reports, which outlined provided a “RAG” (Red, Amber or Green) rating on the implementation of the recommendations made by Task & Finish Groups and an Overview & Scrutiny Panel.

 

Domestic Violence Task and Finish Group:

 

The Committee considered the Recommendation Tracking report for the Domestic Violence Task and Finish Group.  The Committee noted that the recommendations of this Task and Finish Group had been made to the Safer Communities Partnership Board rather than the Cabinet due to the multi-agency nature of the issue and responses to recommendations.

 

The Chairman of the Task and Finish Group, Councillor Brian Salinger, advised the Committee that he continued to be concerned about the amber statuses on the recommendations which involved the NHS.  He noted that it could be difficult to influence the work of the NHS and noted the high turnover of NHS staff as a challenge.  Councillor Salinger advised the Committee that there was a role for NHS staff in identifying people who were suffering from domestic violence, including the children who were exposed to it.

 

A Member commented that the Task and Finish Group Update for Recommendation One  (relating to commissioning of psychological support services) did not make it clear if the projects referred to had been supported by physiologists. 

 

Contract Monitoring Task and Finish Group:

 

The Committee considered the recommendation tracking report for the Contract Monitoring Task and Finish Group.  The Committee Chairman noted that all but one of the recommendations was green and commended the progress made.

 

Secondary School Places Overview and Scrutiny Panel

 

The Chairman of the Committee read a comment that had been submitted by the Panel Chairman, Councillor John Marshall:

 

I should like to welcome the progress which has been made on several of the recommendations. In particular I welcome the creation of the Archer Academy which will meet the need for additional places in the N3 and NW11 areas. I welcome the additional places which have already been planned by the Authority. I am disappointed that more progress has not been made in relocating the Pupil Referral Unit. The need for better vocational education is also pressing.”

 

The Committee noted that in the new education landscape statutory responsibility for school place planning had been retained by the local authorities which could potentially be an issue with the increased number of free schools and academies in Barnet.   Officers advised Members that Council had agreed to establish an Education Overview and Scrutiny Committee which would consider the issue of school place planning and it was anticipated that a report on this issue would be presented to the first meeting of the Committee on 1 July 2013.

 

A Member questioned the methodology behind the RAG rating system and suggested that Recommendation Five (relating to the accommodation for the Pupil Referral Unit) should have been labelled as red, not amber. 

 

Early Intervention and Prevention (Children’s Service) Task and Finish Group

 

The Committee considered the updates provided by the service area on the Early  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Overview and Scrutiny Manager, Andrew Charlwood, introduced the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2012/13.  The report outlined the details of the Overview and Scrutiny work that had been undertaken during the 2012/13 municipal year.

 

The Committee were advised that two new Overview and Scrutiny Committees had been commissioned for the forthcoming municipal year (Education Overview & Scrutiny Committee and Contract Monitoring Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

 

The Overview and Scrutiny Manager advised the Committee that when the Chairmanships of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees were announced, the Overview and Scrutiny Office would work with the Chairmen to produce an outline work programme for all committees for the 2013/14 municipal year. 

 

RESOLVED that the Committee endorse the Overview and Scrutiny Report 2012/13 for onward referral to Council.  

 

12.

Advanced Notice of Executive Decisions pdf icon PDF 94 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the Advance Notice of Executive Decisions.

 

Members commented that the Advanced Notice of Executive Decisions was not an effective tool for informing the Committee about the work programme of the Executive.  The Chairman advised the Committee that he would take this matter up with the Leader of the Council.

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

1)     The Committee note the Advanced Notice of Executive Decisions.

 

2)     The Committee note that the Chairman of the Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee will make representations on behalf of the Committee in relation to the Advanced Notice of Executive Decisions.

 

13.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 95 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered their Forward Work Programme. 

 

RESOLVED that:-

 

1)        the Committee note the Forward Work Programme.

 

2)        The Committee receive an update on the RAG Rating system for Task and Finish Group / Scrutiny Panel updates at the next meeting as referred to above.