Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair for the meeting.

It was moved, seconded and agreed that Councillor Alison Kelly be elected Chair for the meeting.

RESOLVED -

THAT Councillor Alison Kelly be elected Chair of the committee for the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Awale Olad, Chair of the Culture and Environment Scrutiny Committee.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

At its meeting on 18 June 2007, the Council constituted the “Joint Chairs of Scrutiny Committee”, as follows: 

Joint Chairs of Scrutiny Committee Terms of Reference [Part 3 of the Council’s Constitution]: To discuss the Leader’s Annual Statement to the Council and other relevant cross-cutting matters arising from the business of the Cabinet.

The membership of the Joint Chairs of Scrutiny Committee will comprise the chairs of the five scrutiny committees, with the Chair being appointed by the Committee. The Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council will attend each meeting of the Committee to discuss issues arising from the Leader’s Annual Statement to the Council. [Part 2 (Article Six) of the Council’s Constitution].

The Joint Chairs of Scrutiny Committee shall meet annually. The Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council shall attend this meeting to discuss issues arising from the Statement. [Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution].

RESOLVED –

THAT the terms of reference of the Joint Chairs of Scrutiny Committee as set out in the order of business be noted.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 16^th July 2013.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 18^th July 2013 be agreed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Report of the Leader of the Council.

To consider the Leader of the Council’s Annual Statement to Full Council.

Consideration was given to the Annual Leader’s statement, as considered at the full Council meeting on 14^th July 2014.

The Leader and Deputy Leader gave the following key responses to Members questions;

Housing and Regeneration

The Leader agreed to provide Councillor Don Williams with information relating to the number of commercial property voids that there were in the borough.

ACTION BY: Leader of the Council

When the Council originally applied to the Government to be allowed extra borrowing to build Council housing it was told that it would only be allocated £129,000. No reasons were given as to why Camden was allocated such a low figure. Since then the Council has re-applied for housing funding and it has now been allocated £11 Million. Again no reasons were given as to why the Government changed its mind on granting the Council a higher funding allocation.

The Council was able to meet its financial obligations in relation to borrowing to build Council housing. Greater flexibility from the Government to allow Camden to borrow more, would enable the Council to go some way in meeting the demand for social housing in the borough.

The Government and HS2 had a poor record of consulting and engaging with the local community regarding their proposals. The Council had a strong record of undertaking meaningful consultation and active engagement with the local community regarding its Community Investment Programme (CIP). These CIP initiatives were delivering badly needed homes (e.g. Gospel Oak and Maiden Lane), school refurbishments and places, all of which the local community were playing an active role in helping to shape, something that HS2 were not allowing to happen.  

The Council’s CIP was delivering one of the biggest capital programmes in the country. Members and officers were constantly reviewing and monitoring the programme to ensure it was being delivered.

Private Rented Sector Landlords – Licensing

Camden was currently consulting on a scheme to licence private rented sector landlords. The aim of the scheme is improve the quality of the properties, help with rent stability for tenants, enable landlords to fully understand their roles and responsibilities, and produce a comprehensive list of all private rented sector landlords operating in the borough.

Schools

The Council and the local community had worked together, along with the Institute for Education (the proposed sponsor), to try to set up a secondary school on the Wren Street site. This proposal was turned down by the Government, again no reasons for its decision were given. The proposal to see a secondary school established south of the Euston Road was still being taken forward by the local community. Who would be submitting a new bid to the Department for Education soon, but this time without a sponsor. The local community would need a sponsor for the proposal to be eventually taken forward, and the Council hoped that any such sponsor would wish to work within Camden’s family of schools and would share the boroughs aims.

Ofsted Inspection – Child Sexual Exploitation

Ofsted had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

There were none.