Agenda item

Update from Partners on Strategic Priorities

Minutes:

London Borough of Barnet

 

Julie Taylor reported that the Council was now in advanced dialogue with shortlisted suppliers on two major contracts upon which Cabinet would shortly be making a decision. The New Support and Customer Services Organisation contract would start from 1 April 2013 and would present opportunities for partnership through a single offer to partners on customer services. The Development and Regulatory Services contract would start in May 2013 and would play a major role in the regeneration and growth issues discussed elsewhere on the agenda.

 

Councillor Harper reported that Cabinet had agreed that waste, recycling and street scene services were to be brought together as a transformed in house service.

 

Ms Taylor further reported that the Council was concluding its senior management review as part of developing a new ‘Commissioning Council’ model, constituting a Commissioning Group, a Delivery Group and an Assurance Group. Once all top level appointments had been confirmed, she would send details to all partners.

ACTION; Julie Taylor/Andrew Nathan

 

Andrew Travers’ appointment as Interim Chief Executive on Nick Walkley’s departure had been agreed by the Chief Officers Appointment Panel. Ms Taylor confirmed that in future Andrew Travers would attend as Chief Executive, but on this occasion he had a prior commitment in East Sussex. She outlined that he would be giving considerable personal attention to the growth and regeneration agenda, as a priority for the next eighteen months, and he would therefore be expecting to make some time to see key partners individually in January.

 

Middlesex University

 

Steve Knight reported on changes in the University including a rebranding, a reorganisation to reduce support costs by centralising professional support, and the further transfers from Trent Park and Archway to the Hendon Campus which by 2013 would host 95% of the University’s provision. Student numbers following the imposition of tuition fees had been affected less than at most universities.

 

He reported that the University were still in the process of trying to create a student village at Colindale and also emphasised the need for a greater supply of light industrial and office space. The Leader of the Council highlighted that proposals for greater retention of business rates would assist in this.

 

JobCentre Plus

 

Julie Willoughby was welcomed to her first meeting as District Operations Manager and it was noted that a new District Manager Paul McKeown had been appointed. Her current challenge was to engage with those who would be affected by the Benefits Cap, for whom additional support in areas such as money advice and job searching was being rolled out, as well as other welfare reforms including changes to the social fund, preparations for Universal Credit and rolling out a new Universal Job Match Service which would include equipping JobCentres with internet access for customers to search for jobs.

 

The synergies with the Council’s own welfare reform agenda, specifically the changes to Council Tax benefit were noted. 

 

Dr Sue Sumners reported that many of those affected by welfare changes were presenting to GPs (as well as to voluntary sector agencies), and it was agreed that as far as possible JCP should share data with the Clinical Commissioning Group and discuss how GPs be collectively engaged in helping people to manage change. This could be done on a neighbourhood basis depending on the geographical pattern of those affected.

ACTION: Julie Willoughby/Dr Sue Sumners

 

Community Barnet

 

Denise Murphy reported that Community Barnet were scheduled to appoint a new Chief Executive on 28 November. Current priorities included improving communication with the Council and CCG and increasing the influence of network Chairs, and promoting the development of partnerships and consortia. 

 

Barnet Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

 

Dr Sumners reported that the CCG was going through its authorisation process, and that its new Chief Officer was taking up post. They had made an encouraging start in co-operating with the Council, 3rd Sector and NHS providers to identify issues, and she highlighted that two such, frail elderly and paediatrics, were very relevant to the Borough’s changing population profile.

 

They were also having an input into current changes among acute providers, specifically the Barnet Enfield and Haringey Clinical Strategy and the Barnet and Chase Farm approaching the Royal Free to partner as a single Foundation Trust.

 

The Police update was covered by the Borough Commander at item 7.