Agenda item

To receive reports from the Chairs of the Council’s Scrutiny Committees in accordance with Standing Order 36.  The reports have been attached as follows:

11.1    Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee

11.2    Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

Members are asked to note that this session will include an opportunity (within the time available) for non-Cabinet members to ask questions of relevant Scrutiny Chair’s in relation to the remits of their Committees.

NOTED the update reports provided by the Chairs of the Resources & Public Realm and Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committees.

Responses were also provided by the relevant Scrutiny Chairs on the following additional questions raised during the open session of this part of the meeting:

·                Councillor Thakkar regarding the changes that had been made to maternity services at Northwick Park as an outcome of the recent CQC Inspection and discussions between the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee and relevant partners.

Before being presented with the updates from each Scrutiny Committee Chair, the Mayor reminded members the time set aside for this item was 12 minutes, with each Chair having up to three minutes in which to highlight any significant issues arising from the work of their Committees.  Once these updates had been provided, the remaining time available would then be opened up for any other non-Cabinet members to question (without the need for advance notice) the Scrutiny Committee Chairs on matters relating to the work of their Committee.

Councillor Mashari was then invited to introduce the update report on the work being undertaken by the Resources and Public Realm Committee, with the following issues highlighted:

·             The wide ranging remit of the Committee and its work programme which included waste and recycling, welfare and benefits, employment and skills, planning and regeneration, climate and community safety.

·             The wide scope of work undertaken by the Panel over the previous year which, amongst other issues had included a focus on the impact of pandemic on employment, fly tipping, the future of high streets and local business support.

·             The Committee’s engagement with a range of stakeholders and external witnesses at their meetings including the business representatives as well as the voluntary and community sector.  It was felt this had provided an interesting and diverse perspective to the Committee’s work.

·             The Committee’s intention to include a review at its next meeting of the safety concerns already referred to at the meeting in relation to the scenes witness in and around Wembley Stadium in the build up to the UEFA European Championship Final.

·             As outlined in the Committee’s Work Plan for 2021/22, future focus would be on a range of topics including fire safety, CCTV provision and collaboration and consultation with members of the public on a range of issues including the budget.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Mashari for her update.

Councillor Ketan Sheth was then invited to introduce the update report on the work being undertaken by the Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, with the following issues highlighted:

·             Members were advised of the establishment by the Committee of a Scrutiny Task Group to review GP access, chaired by Councillor Daly.  The Task Group review was currently ongoing with three wide ranging evidence gathering sessions having been held to date.

·             Following publication of the recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) review of maternity services at Northwick Park Hospital, the Committee had agreed to convene a special meeting in order to consider the report and areas for improvement which had been identified.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Ketan Sheth for his update and it was RESOLVED that the contents of both update reports be noted.

Following the updates provided, the Mayor advised that the remainder of time available would be open for questions from non-cabinet members to the Scrutiny Chairs. The Mayor reminded members of the need to ensure that questions raised were focused on the updates provided or the work being undertaken by each Committee. The following questions were raised and responses provided:

(i).             Following on from the update provided in relation to the Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Thakkar sought further details on the planned review of the CQC inspection report in relation to maternity services at Northwick Park Hospital and how and action or improvements identified would be taken forward with partners.

In response, Councillor Ketan Sheth advised that the arrangements for the special meeting of the Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee were currently being finalised but would include representatives from the main partner organisations with a focus on the key areas for improvement identified and plan to address those areas.  He advised that any interested members would be welcome to attend.

As no further questions were raised the Mayor thanked both Chairs and members for their contribution before moving on to the next item.