Agenda item

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development tracking quarterly progress with previous Scrutiny recommendations.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report on tracking quarterly progress with previous Scrutiny recommendations.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

(a)  Appendix 1- Recommendation tracking flowchart and classifications:-

  Questions to be considered by Scrutiny Boards

(b)  Appendix 2 - Recommendation Tracking – Progress Report

(March 2009) which focused on the following previous Scrutiny

Inquiries:-   

·  Inquiry into Anti-social Behaviour Interventions (2005)

·  Inquiry into Affordable Housing (2006)

·  Lettings Inquiry (2008)

·  Inquiry into CO2 emissions (2008)

The following officers were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:-

Harvinder Saimbhi, Public Safety Manager

John Statham, Strategic Landlord Manager

George Munson, Climate Change Manager

For ease of reference, the Chair went through Appendix 2, page by page, inviting Board Members to comment on the status categories 1-6 in respect of each recommendation, following which, the individual comments were duly noted and recorded by the Principal Scrutiny Adviser.

Arising from discussions, where timescales for implementing the recommendations were not adhered to, Board Members agreed to assign a Category 5 status to those recommendations and that these would continue to be monitored.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues which sought clarification or further action:-

Inquiry into Anti Social Behaviour Intervention

• Recommendation 12 – the concerns expressed that Ward Members had not been informed in relation to Anti Social Behaviour monthly reports and that a two way sharing of information was essential rather than relying upon Elected Members to view reports via the Council’s intranet system
• Recommendation 18 – clarification of Area Committee funds being used for the Truancy Watch Team in the East of the city

Inquiry into Affordable Housing

• Recommendation 7 – concerns were expressed that Ward Members were not always being consulted when decisions were being made around development sites.  The recreation site at Brown Lane (East) was given as an example

(The Strategic Landlord Manager responded and agreed to follow up this issue and report back to the Board via the Principal Scrutiny Adviser)

Inquiry into Lettings

• Recommendation 2(ii) – clarification was sought on why the briefing sessions on the updated Lettings Policy had been delayed

(The Strategic Landlord Manager responded and explained that one of the reasons was the delay in producing the Members Handbook on the Lettings Policy, which would be part of the briefing)

• Recommendation 2(ii) – the need for such briefing sessions to be undertaken during the evenings as well as lunchtime

(The Strategic Landlord Manager responded and confirmed that this would be reported back to the Member Development Team who were planning the sessions)

• Recommendation 9(i) – the need for the Board to receive an update report on the levels of under-occupancy across Council housing stock and for a breakdown of areas in relation to the 100 customers that had applied to downsize due to under occupancy

(The Strategic Landlord Manager responded and agreed to supply the above information to the Board via the Principal Scrutiny Adviser)

• Recommendation 9 (i) – the need for the Council to continue with customer profiling to help alleviate difficulties in finding suitable alternative accommodation for customers who have applied to downsize
• Recommendation 11(i) – the need to do more to promote mutual exchanges whilst also acknowledging the development of IT solutions

Inquiry into C02 emissions

• Recommendations 4, 5 and 6 – whilst acknowledging the progress made, Members noted that work was still ongoing to achieve these recommendations and therefore the Board agreed to continue monitoring them

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

(b)  That the status of the recommendations be updated to reflect the decisions made by the Board.