Agenda item
Reports from the Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees
To receive a report on behalf of the Chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees in accordance with standing order 41.
Minutes:
Councillor Gladbaum (Chair of the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee) reminded members that the new overview and scrutiny structure had been agreed by Full Council on 13 September 2010. Because of the flat structure adopted, each of the committee chairs would be taking it in turn to keep Full Council informed about the work of overview and scrutiny. Councillor Gladbaum stated that she was pleased to be able to present the first report
To launch the new overview and scrutiny committees the chairs had hosted a consultation event on 28 September – One Community Many Voices. The aim of the event was to:
Ø provide an opportunity for members, partners, voluntary groups, and residents and members of the youth parliament to network and gain a better understanding of each others’ roles,
Ø launch the new overview and scrutiny structure,
Ø help inform the committees’ work programmes, and
Ø form part of the council’s contribution to local democracy week.
Councillor Gladbaum was pleased to report that the event was very well attended and feedback from participants had been positive. The views expressed at the event would influence the areas that the committees would focus on over the next year.
Councillor Gladbaum reported on the work of each committee.
The Budget and Finance Overview and Scrutiny Committee had met on three occasions since the last Full Council and heard evidence from a variety of sources while following the budget setting process. The committee had received regular updates on the council’s current budget position and at its last meeting members had explored the comprehensive spending review, what it was likely to mean for Brent and what steps were being taken to meet the resulting challenges. The Leader of the Council and the Lead Member for Resources also attended the meeting.
The main focus of the first meeting of the Partnership and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been on crime and community safety. The meeting was attended by Genny Renard, Head of Community Safety Partnerships and Inspector Claire Smart and it considered the impact of government announcements on the work of the Crime Prevention Strategy Group and the proposed changes to Anti Social Behaviour Orders. It had been agreed to set up a task group on diversion and exiting strategies for gangs. Members of the task group are:
Cllr Van Kalwala
Cllr Mathews
Cllr HB Patel
Cllr Ogunro
The committee had also agreed to set up a further task group when resources become available to look at community reassurance, particularly in relation to CCTV.
The One Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee received an overview of the two Adult Social Care One Council projects. Proposals resulting from the Direct Services Transformation Project would be discussed in more detail at the next meeting prior to those proposals going to the Executive. As well as council performance information this committee would receive regular updates on all of the projects within the One Council Programme to help members decide which of the projects to focus on in detail.
Following a motion from full council on car repair and spray painting the committee agreed to set up a task group to undertake a short review. Its members were:
Councillor Allie
Councillor Colwill
Councillor Moloney
The Health Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee has considered the NHS White Paper, Equity and Excellence – Liberating the NHS and endorsed the council’s response to it. The committee will receive ongoing reports as it is implemented. The committee has also considered plans for the future of the Burnley GP Practice at Willesden Centre for Health and Care. Following a recommendation from the committee, NHS Brent agreed to carry out an open tender process for the practice and the committee is pleased with this outcome.
Finally, the committee has been consulted on plans to transfer the management of Brent Community Services to Ealing Hospital Trust and create an integrated care organisation with the trust, plus community services from Harrow and Ealing. Members did not endorse the proposals for numerous reasons including worries over safeguarding issues, concern that neither GPs nor BCS staff were completely behind the proposals and because of the timing of the consultation, which had taken place very late on in the process.
A task group was looking at the impact that fuel poverty has on health in Brent and will report to committee in December 2010. The members involved were:
Councillor Long
Councillor McLennan
Councillor Mitchell Murray
Councillor Hector
Councillor Adeyeye
Councillor Colwill
The Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee has co-opted members from faith groups and observers from the teaching unions and Brent Youth Parliament. As chair of the committee, Councillor Gladbaum informed members that she would be meeting with representatives of BYP on a quarterly basis.
The committee had received reports on the Children and Young People’s Plan, the inflow and outflow of secondary pupils, Education standards in Brent 2009, school places updates, support for Somali pupils, locality services for social care teams, the Youth Service review and a Brent Youth Parliament summit report.
A task group on Youth Offending in Brent had been set up comprising:
Councillor Gladbaum
Councillor Hunter
Councillor Harrison
Councillor Gladbaum stated that it was intended to scrutinise all existing agencies in the borough and good practice here and elsewhere to prevent young people becoming known to the Youth Offending Service.