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 remit of their Committees

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

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

·                  From the Chair of the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee to Councillor Kansagra seeking clarification on the outcome of the review on performance of Thames Water across the borough and Committee’s position regarding renationalisation of the utility service.

·                  From the Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee to Councillor Kabir regarding proposals for any planned new build hospital provision within the borough.

Before being presented with the updates from each Scrutiny Committee, 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 Conneely was then invited to introduce the update report on the work being undertaken by the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee, with the following issues highlighted:

·                 The broad ranging and dynamic nature of the Scrutiny Committee’s work programme for 2023-24

·                 Key issues identified for review as part of the Committee’s work programme had included monitoring ongoing delivery of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy and tracking the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Budget Task Group to ensure the proposals being developed moving forward continued to meet the needs of Brent’s residents; Brent’s Community Engagement and consultation Framework to ensure the way in which the Council consulted and engaged with local residents reflected the requirements being identified; progress in delivery of Brent’s Climate & Ecological Emergency Strategy 2021-2030 with updates to also be provided on the work being taken to tackle violence against women and girls as part of the Safer Brent Partnership Community Safety Strategy.

·                 As a final update, members were advised of the Committee’s ongoing concern in relation to the operation of Thames Water as a key public service provider both in terms of their recent financial challenges and also the transparency and level of local service being provided to customers.  With a representative having attended a recent meeting, it was confirmed that the Committee would continue to keep a watching brief in order to challenge local performance with the Chair supportive of any eventual move towards renationalisation of the service as a key public utility, given the performance concerns identified.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Conneely for her update and then invited Councillor Ketan Sheth as chair of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee to introduce the update report on the work being undertaken by that Committee.  The following issues were highlight as part of the update:

·             The broad ranging nature of the Committee’s work programme for 2023-24 with the Committee having already held its first meeting of the new Municipal Year to coincide with celebrations to mark the 75^th anniversary of the NHS.

·             Key issues considered at the initial Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee had been focussed around the delivery of health services to local residents including a review of the work being undertaken by the Council and local health partners to address health inequalities across the borough through the Brent Health Matters programme.  Whilst noting the positive and collaborative nature of work being undertaken locally, the Committee had also recognised the significant challenges still to be addressed in seeking to tackle the inequalities identified and would therefore be maintaining a watching brief on progress.  As a further area of focus the Committee had also considered the key challenges relating to funding, recruitment and retention of staff in the health and social care sector.  Given the negative impact of current pay rates and funding on recruitment and retention and the associated impact on local healthcare provision the Committee had agreed to accelerate the work being undertaken on this issue during the year.

·             Concerns were also highlighted in relation to the funding settlement which had been provided to support Mental Health Service provision across Brent when compared to the level of need identified, which Councillor Ketan Sheth, as Chair of the North West London Joint Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) advised he intended to raise at the next JHOSC meeting with the Chief Executive of the North West London Integrated Care Board (ICB).  In terms of other areas of focus he advised that the JHOSC would also be seeking to raise concerns regarding the Government’s recent decision to postpone funding for the new build and refurbishment works at hospitals across North West London, including St Mary’s, Hammersmith, Charing Cross and the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre as well as seeking updates on the plans to standardise adult and children’s ophthalmology services and develop musculoskeletal services across North West London which he would continue to keep members updated on.

The Mayor thanked Councillors Ketan Sheth and Conneely for presenting their updates and it was RESOLVED that the contents of both 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 ChairsThe Mayor reminded members of the need to ensure that questions raised were focused on the updates provided or the work being undertaken by the relevant Committee.  The following questions were raised and responses provided:

(i)       Councillor Kansagra seeking clarification on the outcome of the review undertaken by the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee on the performance of Thames Water across the borough and Committee’s position regarding renationalisation of the utility service.

In response, Councillor Conneely advised that the Committee’s review of Thames Water had initially been focussed around the management of flooding and flood risks across the borough along with the communication process involving local residents and the Council.  In view of concerns highlighted during the review regarding the lessons which had been learnt by Thames Water, the Committee had been keen to retain focus on the development of Thames Waters Business Plan and London Level Strategy.  As an outcome of the review one of the recommendations identified had included the need to consider the potential future public ownership of key public utilities including the water infrastructure.

(ii)      Councillor Kabir to the Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee regarding proposals for any planned new build hospital provision within the borough.

In response, Councillor Ketan Sheth advised that neither he or the Committee were currently aware or had been informed of any specific new build proposals for hospital provision across Brent.

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