Agenda item

Reports attached.

Members considered a report which provided them with a copy of each of the Overview & Scrutiny Sub-Committee’s Annual Reports.

During the debate the Sub-Committee Chairmen provided some additional updates to the Board on the current work of their Sub-Committee.

Crime & Disorder

The Chairman advised that the Government had privatised the Probation Service.

MOPAC targets were set centrally for a three year period with the authority currently in the last year of previously set targets. The Council was able to bid for funding to ensure that the targets were met.

Members noted the annual report.

Environment

Members noted that officers were interpreting survey data from the United Kingdom Pavement Management System which was currently undergoing a review. Members of the topic group had agreed to defer the scrutiny of the planned maintenance programme to allow data held to be analysed more thoroughly.

The Chairman advised that the tasks carried out by the Probation Service were defined tasks that were measurable and approximately 18,000 hours of work had been carried out by the service on behalf of Havering. Members were keen that offenders that had offended in Havering were used in the borough and not neighbouring boroughs.

Members noted the annual report.

Health

Members were advised that A & E waiting times had significantly improved and were now at 94% of the target.

Members noted that the Breast Screening service at Victoria Hospital was being closed and the service transferred to King George’s Hospital. A visit to the new facility was planned for the Sub-Committee.

Individuals

Members were advised that visits were planned for the Sub-Committee to view some mental care facilities.

The Sub-Committee was continuing with its work on the subject of Dementia and its diagnosis.

Towns and Communities

Members noted that the Sub-Committee still wished to receive details of contractor monitoring performance. Some under-performing contractors had been removed from contracts connected with Housing.

Children and Learning

The Sub-Committee had agreed to meet with the Health Sub-Committee to discuss children’s health and wellbeing as there was a scrutiny crossover. Two meetings would take place a year and an Action List had been developed.

The Chairman advised that she would shortly be meeting with the Chairman of SEND to discuss the increased demand for SEND transport at the same time as significant budgetary savings had to be made. 

Members reviewed each of the annual reports and agreed that they be submitted to the Council meeting in July 2015.