Agenda item

5.1       Katie Wood introduced the report and informed the committee that the provisional timetable for the budget cuts report was now September 2019.

·         The Chair and Vice-Chair tabled some proposed changes to the work programmed, a copy will be included with the agenda documentation.

·         Members of the Committee felt it would be useful to continue to receive the Library and Information Service annual report but as part of a wider report on Lewisham Libraries to come to Committee in October.

·         There was discussion on the National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation Company update. Some members felt a joint committee with LB Southwark could be useful. Committee members requested that the Scrutiny Manager and the Head of Public Protection liaised to ensure the reports were relevant and accurate to allow for quality scrutiny by the committee.

·         It would be useful to have regular updates on progress on the public health approach to Violence.

·         An item on food poverty was important. This could include how to get a better understanding of the number and location of food banks in the borough and summer holiday provision.

·         The Committee requested that an item on Modern Day Slavery be included in the Committee’s work programme. This could be an update including looking at compliance, monitoring and contracts.

·         The annual report on Local Assemblies should include information on the review of the implementation of the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy. This should also include detailed equalities implications of funding allocations.

·         Members of the committee requested the Committee carry out an in-depth review on Equalities. This could link into the timeframe for the consultations for the new Comprehensive Equalities Scheme. The review should include looking at the Council’s employee profile and staff survey results; how equalities is embedded across the Council including organisations funded by the Council; Equalities Impact Assessments including looking at what best practice is and how they are carried out in Lewisham; and looking at data and disclosure rates to see whether improvements need and can be made. Each Directorate could be asked to highlight the key issues in their area.

·         Members of the Committee felt a referral to Business Panel highlighting that all Select Committees should ensure they have a strong focus on equalities in particular when they are scrutinising new plans such as the Children and Young People Plan and Housing Strategy and ensure that equalities implications have been properly considered and documented.  

·         A new violence reduction board was being set up. Scrutiny chairs would be invited to be on the board.

5.2     RESOLVED:

1)    That the Committee carry out an in-depth review looking at how the Council embeds equalities across its service provision.

2)    That the following referral be made to Business Panel: That

·         Due to the importance of promoting equality of provision across the Council; all Select Committees should ensure they have a strong focus on equalities as part of their annual work programme. In particular, select committees should ensure that when they are scrutinising new plans such as the CYP Plan and the Housing Strategy that they ensure that equalities implications have been properly considered and documented.  

3)    That the following changes be made to the work programme:

·         An “Adult isolation and services for the elderly” report be added to the work programme for the May meeting and an invitation to Age UK, the Positive Ageing Council and the Deputy Mayor be sent.

·         A report entitled “Vision for the third sector: Compact and Transformation” be added to the work programme for the July meeting

·         A report on Food Poverty be added to the work programme for the October meeting.

·         A report on “Lewisham Libraries Future and Transformation” be added to the work programme for the October meeting. This should include the Library and Information Service annual report which should therefore be removed from the May meeting.

·         The Council’s employment profile and staff survey results should be part of the data presented for the scope of the Committee’s in-depth review on Equalities.

·         Invitations to the relevant cabinet members should be made as appropriate throughout the year.

·         The National Probation Service and Community Rehabilitation company report should remain on the Committee’s work programme. Officers should ensure the report is relevant, accurate and that it is clear how scrutiny can add value.

·         The Local Assemblies Annual report should remain on the Committee’s work programme but include information on the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy.

·         The YOS monitoring report should remain on the work programme

·         A report on Modern Day Slavery should be added to the Committee’s work programme at a suitable date.