Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of meeting held on 11 February 2020 be confirmed as a correct record.

None received.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Summary of decisions that took place at open session.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

The Scrutiny Manager gave an oral report to the Panel on matters relating to the Overview and Select Committees work for 2019-2020.

The Panel noted that those Select Committees currently undertaking in-depth reviews were either finishing the analysis of the evidence they had collated, or had concluded and made recommendations to Mayor and Cabinet.  The Scrutiny Manager stated that the final cycle of Select Committee meetings in this municipal year would take place in March 2020. 

In light of progress reported by the Scrutiny Manager, the Panel noted the following updates:

·                     Housing Select Committee.  Residents’ engagement review had concluded and the final report and recommendations were submitted to Mayor and Cabinet.  A copy of the report was also sent to all scrutiny members.

·                     Sustainable Development Select Committee.   Review into parks’ management would conclude in March 2020 when the final report with recommendations would be considered. Recommendations would likely focus on the upcoming insourcing of the service.

·                     Children and Young People Select Committee.  Review into children living in temporary out-of-borough accommodation would conclude in March 2020, and recommendations would be considered for implementation.

·                     Safer Stronger Communities Select Committee: Equalities review had involved the collation of a significant amount of evidence, most recently via a trip to Glasgow City Council. Further work would be required to allow the evidence to be analysed thoroughly.  Therefore, the final report with recommendations would be submitted for consideration at the first meeting in the next municipal year.

·                     Public Accounts Select Committee.  A number of recommendations relating to the ongoing review into corporate culture change and commercialisation had been made, but work would continue into the municipal year.

·                     Healthier Communities Select Committee: A review into charging migrants for treatment at Lewisham Hospital was ongoing, and a response from the Mayor and Cabinet was pending.  Councillor John Muldoon, the Chair of the Committee added that a request had also been made for Members to receive briefing on contraception shortages in the borough.

On behalf of the Panel, the Chair, Councillor Bill Brown, thanked Members and officers for progress in relation to work undertaken by the various select committees.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.

Summary of items considered at the closed meeting.

The Chair of the Panel, Councillor Bill Brown, announced that he had received a request for Members to consider a decision taken by the Mayor and Cabinet on 12 February 2020 in relation to:

·         “Permission to extend contract for youth services and to negotiate with Youth Frist for the delivery of youth services in Lewisham:

The Panel moved to determine the report in a ‘closed session’ by virtue of Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as the issue involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act, as amended by the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (Amendments) (England) Regulations 2006.

Members noted responses by Officers to questions raised, and they welcomed information that all options were being considered as part of the contract review exercise, including in-house delivery of youth services.

Members acknowledged that budget constraints would likely present a challenge when determining options but concluded the contract review exercise should progress without adverse detriment in service delivery to young people in Lewisham.  It was also the view of Members that the preferred option should take into account workers’ rights, including the payment of ‘living wage’ to existing and potential staff.