There was a change of membership for this meeting: Councillor Bolton replaced Councillor Walford.

There were no disclosures of interests.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2016 to be submitted and signed.

Copies of the minutes of this meeting are usually available seven working days following the meeting.

(All minutes are available on the Council’s website.)

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 March 2016 were submitted and signed.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the last edition of the Executive Decision Progress Report for 2015/16 and the first edition for 2016/17.

The Scrutiny Committee received the final edition of the Executive Decision Progress Report 2015/16 and the first edition for 2016/17. 

Councillor Dhindsa requested an update on the following projects –

·             Metropolitan Line Extension, previously known as the Croxley Rail Link, including whether the scheme was on track and the latest position regarding the Watford Metropolitan Station

·             Watford Health Campus following the decision on Farm Terrace allotments, including whether or not a new hospital would be built and what would be built on the allotment land

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer advised that both schemes were reported to Major Projects Board.  The Managing Director updated the Board on major schemes within Watford.

Councillor Rindl provided the scrutiny committee with an update on Watford Metropolitan Station.  Residents and local councillors continued their efforts to persuade Transport for London to keep the station open.  Mayor Thornhill had written to the new Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.  In addition there was a petition which had over 3,000 signatures in support of retaining the station.

In response to a question from Councillor Martins about the purchase of a property in Northamptonshire, the Chair advised that she had been contacted about the decision in line with the “Special Urgency” procedure rules.  The Council was re-balancing its portfolio and looking for the best return on its investments. 

Councillor Dhindsa noted the lease of the first floor of the Town Hall annexe and asked for further details.  The Chair responded that the occupier was already in place; it was the Sexual Health Clinic.  Councillor Dhindsa did not consider this to be an appropriate place for this type of clinic and that it should be in a more discreet location. 

It was noted that access to the building was restricted and it was not possible for the general public to walk in unaccompanied.  All staff from the council and other businesses located in the annexe had to use their security pass to gain access.  Visitors to the clinic had to make an appointment and were then met at the entrance at the appropriate time.

RESOLVED –

1.      that the report be noted.

2.      that the scrutiny committee be provided with the information requested.

Councillor Hastrick, the Council’s appointed representative to the County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee to provide an update.

Councillor Kareen Hastrick had been confirmed as the Council’s appointed representative to the County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee

She informed the Scrutiny Committee that County Councillor Anne Joynes had hoped to be able to attend the meeting and report on the progress of the County Council’s topic group which was looking into West Herts Hospitals Trust’s progress with the recommendations from the Care Quality Commission.  Councillor Hastrick was able to advise that the Hospitals Trust was recovering ground and working hard to resolve the recommendations.

RESOLVED –

that the update be noted

Report of the Committee and Scrutiny Officer

The report asks the scrutiny committee to agree the membership for the Neighbourhood Forum Task Group.

The Scrutiny Committee received a report of the Committee and Scrutiny Officer setting out details of the councillors who had expressed an interest in taking part in the Neighbourhood Forum Task Group.  There had been an over-subscription to the task group and following consideration by the Chair the following names were put forward for consideration by the scrutiny committee –

·             Councillor Stephen Cavinder

·             Councillor Kareen Hastrick

·             Councillor Anne Joynes

·             Councillor Rabi Martins

·             Councillor Mo Mills

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer reminded members that councillors were welcome to attend the meetings.  Due to the topic under review it was highly likely that the task group would be seeking views from all councillors.

RESOLVED –

that the Neighbourhood Forum Task Group comprises the following membership –

•          Councillor Stephen Cavinder

•          Councillor Kareen Hastrick

•          Councillor Anne Joynes

•          Councillor Rabi Martins

•          Councillor Mo Mills

Report of Committee and Scrutiny Officer

The report asks the scrutiny committee to consider a proposal for a new task group.

The Scrutiny Committee received a report of the Committee and Scrutiny Officer setting out a proposal for a new task group.  The suggestion had been submitted by the Head of Regeneration and Development requesting a task group was set up to review the first year’s recommendations contained in the Parking Strategy.  It was noted that the task group had to be completed to enable officers to present their report to Cabinet in September. 

All non-executive councillors had been informed about the proposed task group and invited to put their name forward if they were interested in taking part in the review.  Following the publication of the agenda, a further five councillors responded to emails from the Committee and Scrutiny Officer.  This resulted in an over-subscription to the proposed task group.  Following consideration by the Chair the following names were put forward for consideration by the scrutiny committee –

·             Councillor Sohail Bashir

·             Councillor Stephen Bolton

·             Councillor Anne Joynes

·             Councillor Glen Saffery

·             Councillor Derek Scudder

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer reiterated that meetings were generally open to the public and any councillor who was not a member of the task group would be welcome to attend.

RESOLVED –

1.      that a task group be established to review the Parking Strategy’s Year 1 recommendations.

2.      that the Parking Strategy (Year 1 recommendations) Task Group comprises the following membership –

·             Councillor Sohail Bashir

·             Councillor Stephen Bolton

·             Councillor Anne Joynes

·             Councillor Glen Saffery

·             Councillor Derek Scudder

Report of Committee and Scrutiny Officer

The report asks the scrutiny committee to review Cabinet’s response and consider when it wishes to review the recommendations.

The Scrutiny Committee received the minutes from Cabinet held on 7 March 2016, when the final report from the Management of Conservation Areas Task group had been considered.

Councillor Martins, who had chaired the task group and presented the report to Cabinet, reported that Cabinet had acknowledged the recommendations.  Generally the recommendations had been well received; however there were a couple that Cabinet was unable to commit to them being implemented. 

Councillor Martins said that the task group had considered it important that people knew they were within a conservation area.  Cabinet’s response had been that roundels were not necessarily appropriate.  However, the task group had felt it was important that the designated areas could be identified.

The scrutiny committee agreed that it was important that residents, the public and landlords were aware of the exact location of conservation areas.  It was suggested that this may be carried out by providing estate agents with leaflets which they could give to new tenants; a leaflet drop in the area and an article in ‘About Watford’. 

It was agreed that the progress in implementing the recommendations needed to be monitored.  It was decided that this would be reported to the scrutiny committee in January.  It was hoped that by this time officers would be able to confirm if it was possible to include information on the council tax bills for 2017/18.

RESOLVED –

1.      that Cabinet’s response to the Management of Conservation Areas Task Group’s recommendations be noted.

2.      that the recommendations be reviewed by Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 19 January 2017.

Since the last Overview and Scrutiny Committee there have been no Budget Panel meetings.  The next meeting is scheduled to be held on

·               Tuesday 28 June 2016

Budget Panel’s minutes are available on the Council’s website – www.watford.gov.uk/budgetscrutiny

The Chair informed the scrutiny committee that the next meeting of Budget Panel would be held on 28 June, when it was proposed that the agenda included training on ‘Local Government Finance’.  She encouraged all councillors to attend.

It was noted that Councillor Asif Khan had been appointed to continue as Chair.

Since the last Overview and Scrutiny Committee there have been no Outsourced Services Scrutiny Panel meetings.  The next meeting is scheduled for –

·               Thursday 7 July 2016

Outsourced Services Scrutiny Panel’s minutes are available on the Council’s website - http://watford.moderngov.co.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=223

Councillor Williams, the Chair of Outsourced Services Scrutiny Panel, advised that he had met officers to discuss the work programme for the year.  He was able to confirm that the Procurement Manager would be attending the panel’s first meeting to talk about procurement and the procedures the Council followed.  Later in the year it was hoped to include items on Veolia, community centres and IT.  In addition it was planned to arrange visits to one of the leisure centres and the Colosseum.

Report of the Committee and Scrutiny Officer

The report asks the scrutiny committee to agree the membership for the Community Safety Partnership Task Group.

The Scrutiny Committee received a report of the Committee and Scrutiny Officer setting out details of the names of non-executive councillors who had been nominated or come forward to participate in the Community Safety Partnership Task Group. 

The Chair advised that she had noticed that the list had included all three ward councillors for Central.  She suggested that the task group needed representation from across the borough.  Following discussions with Councillor Martins it was proposed to put forward the following councillors for consideration –

·             Councillor Stephen Bolton

·             Councillor Stephen Cavinder

·             Councillor Jagtar Singh Dhindsa

·             Councillor Amanda Grimston

·             Councillor Rabi Martins

·             Councillor Mo Mills

·             Councillor Matt Turmaine

RESOLVED –

that the following councillors be appointed to the Community Safety Partnership Task Group –

·             Councillor Stephen Bolton

·             Councillor Stephen Cavinder

·             Councillor Jagtar Singh Dhindsa

·             Councillor Amanda Grimston

·             Councillor Rabi Martins

·             Councillor Mo Mills

·             Councillor Matt Turmaine

The scrutiny committee is asked to review the current version of the work programme and consider any additional areas members wish to scrutinise.

The scrutiny committee received a draft outline of its work programme for 2016/17.  The Chair explained that once the annual scrutiny survey results had been downloaded, she would review any scrutiny suggestions with the Committee and Scrutiny Officer.  The Portfolio Holders had been set and they may have some suggestions for scrutiny.  She had requested that an item be included on the agenda as soon as possible about the new housing development company.

Councillor Khan suggested that councillors may wish to scrutinise the Housing Trust again.  He was concerned about the Trust’s service to its residents.

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer agreed to send the scrutiny suggestion form to Councillor Khan.

Councillor Martins proposed that an item be added to the agenda about the voluntary sector groups that were supported by the Council.

Members were encouraged to forward any suggestions to the Chair and Committee and Scrutiny Officer.

RESOLVED –

that the work programme be updated as agreed.

·               Wednesday 22 June 2016 (For call-in only)

·               Thursday 21 July 2016

·               Wednesday 28 September 2016

·             Thursday 21 July 2016

·             Wednesday 28 September 2016 (for call-in only)

It was noted that the meeting scheduled to take place on 22 June 2016 had been cancelled as no executive key decisions had been called in.