Agenda item

To consider work programme, including planning for cabinet member interviews, budget scrutiny and next contract briefing and timetabling of allotments and any other scrutiny reviews.

6.1  The chair suggested that, following on from the housing, environment, transport & community safety scrutiny sub-committee’s report on services relating to domestic violence and abuse in Southwark, the committee consider a further scrutiny of this issue but taking a broader view of work across departments and external agencies.  The scrutiny could encompass aspects relating to housing, children and health.

6.2  The chairs of the three sub-committees updated the committee on their work programmes.  Councillor Mark Williams reported that the health, adult social care, communities & citizenship would be signing off scoping documents for reviews of public health, dementia and King’s Health partners.  The sub-committee’s meeting the following day would also be receiving updates on psychological therapies services and the clinical commissioning group.

6.3  Councillor Gavin Edwards reported that the housing, environment, transport & community safety scrutiny sub-committee had begun a scrutiny of tenants’ and residents’ association halls, the scope of which would include the provision and use of halls, access, investment and the way halls were run.  The sub-committee would also be undertaking a scrutiny of the council’s tree strategy.

6.4  Councillor David Hubber stated that the education, children’s services & leisure scrutiny sub-committee had invited Councillor Claire Hickson to its next meeting to agreed two scrutiny reviews, of bullying and the changes relationship with secondary schools.

6.5  The committee discussed its approach to scrutiny of the council’s budget.  Members felt that they were happy with the format of previous years but that it would be helpful to have an over-arching theme.  The chair suggested that a theme for the budget interviews could be that of value for money for Southwark residents.

6.6  The committee also considered the contracts on which it would like to receive updates.  Members suggested that these include works on the Four Squares Estate, the housing repairs and maintenance contract in the South of the borough and the call-centre.  At a later date it would also be useful to receive and update on the performance of the in-house contractor in respect of housing repairs and maintenance in the North of the borough.

6.7  The committee noted that its next meeting would include a briefing on risk management of major regeneration projects.  Members suggested that this focus on the Elephant & Castle, risks in contract delivery and risks to affordable housing.  As a separate issue, a member asked for a brief update on progress in respect of the Wooddene site.

  RESOLVED:

1.  That as a preliminary to a further scrutiny of domestic violence and abuse in March 2013, the strategic director of housing & community services be asked to provide information over the past three years of the numbers of tenants evicted as a result of domestic violence and the extent of re-housing of victims.

2.  That, as in previous years, the budget scrutiny include interviews of all cabinet members but with the over-arching theme of value for money for Southwark residents.

3.  That the following contract updates be requested:

October - Four Squares Estate and the housing repairs and maintenance contract in the South of the borough

December - the call-centre

2013 - performance of the in-house contractor in respect of housing repairs and maintenance in the North of the borough