Apologies had been received from Councillors Grimston, Parker and Stanton.

There were no disclosures of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2021 to be submitted and signed.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2021 were submitted and signed.

The following scrutiny committees and task groups have met since the last meeting of Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·      Finance Scrutiny Committee on 28 June 2021

It was noted that Finance Scrutiny Committee had met on 28 June.  Minutes of the meeting were available on the council’s website.

Report of the Business Intelligence Manager

The scrutiny committee received the report of the Business Intelligence Manager setting out the council’s End of Year 2020/21 key performance indicators (KPIs).

The Business Intelligence Manager introduced the report in which most indicators showed end of year results.  In some cases, however, quarter 4 results were shown where this information was more relevant.  Previous results, targets and relative performance were presented for comparison purposes.

Drawing the scrutiny committee’s attention to the continuing impacts of Covid 19 on performance, the Business Intelligence Manager discussed the highlights identified in her report. 

During discussions on the report, members raised the following points requesting additional information where relevant:

•           Waste and recycling: whether food waste levels had been netted off from the green recycling rates to provide an accurate understanding of overall recycling rates.  It was also suggested that clarity was needed for residents about the need to separate food waste from garden waste on weeks that green bins were being collected from households.

•           Housing benefit claims: whether any assessment had been made by officers about the impact of delayed housing benefit claims and subsequent waits on claimants.

•           Rough sleepers: the need for better understanding around the difference between the rough sleeper target of five against a strategy citing zero.  The Head of Housing clarified that whilst the council’s aspiration was to have no rough sleepers on Watford’s streets, many factors remained outside the authority’s control.  As such, the aim was to achieve a near zero number of rough sleepers, subject to the continuation of funding.

•           Channel shift: no targets had been set for this area in 2020/21 however this would be amended in the current year.  It was explained that current indicators did not consider the resolution of queries, only the way in which people had contacted the council.  Response times to specific queries were measured in other indicators.

RESOLVED –

that Overview and Scrutiny Committee notes:

1.          the key performance indicator results for 2020/21, appended at Appendix A to the report.

2.          that the KPIs will continue to be reviewed as part of the Business Intelligence Strategy, and Overview and Scrutiny Committee will be kept up to date with any changes to the KPIs, or the process for collecting, analysing or presenting KPI data.

Action: Business Intelligence Manager

Presentation by the Head of Housing and Housing Strategy Officer

The scrutiny committee received a presentation by the Head of Housing and Housing Strategy Officer on the council’s current homelessness and rough sleeping strategy.  Copies of the presentation had been circulated to members in advance of the meeting.

During discussions, members raised a number of issues and clarifications were provided by officers:

•           Members applauded the exemplary work being undertaken in Watford to tackle homelessness and rough sleeping.  The success of the multi-agency, multi-disciplinary team approach provided a best practice model that should be shared with other authorities across Hertfordshire.

•           Funding for the council’s rough sleeping programme came from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and Hertfordshire County Council (HCC).  The cost of providing someone with a room and access to a complex needs support worker was approximately £400 per week.  Funding was due to end in March 2022 and officers were working now to secure continuity for the programme.

•           The number of families, including children, in temporary accommodation had been significantly reduced.  In November 2016, 233 families including 391 children had required accommodation.  Following extensive prevention and other intervention work by officers, this had been reduced to the current 95 families including 99 children and had resulted in a considerable cost saving to the council.

•           There was a distinction between non-engagers and those who relapsed and went back through the Pathway.  People needed to share information e.g., about benefits they were receiving and their immigration status, in order to receive assistance.  There were limits to what could be achieved where people refused to engage.

•           Immigration status proved an area of intensive and time-consuming work but was necessary, particularly for individuals with no recourse to public funds.  The New Hope charity currently funded seven people falling into this category. 

•           A small number of people had reverted back to the streets following the “Everyone In” campaign, however the vast majority remained in their accommodation.  This represented a significant success story for the council.  A small number struggled with issues such as substance abuse and mental health concerns which prevented them from engaging and put them back onto the streets.

•           Contrary to the approach taken by other authorities, Watford Borough Council had decided to minimise the time rough sleepers spent in hotels during lockdown, seeking instead to tackle the issues which kept them on the streets.  Availability of funding and the renewed incentive to tackle homelessness had enabled the council to reduce the number of rough sleepers from 80+ (in March 2020) to three individuals today.

•           Those discharged from hospital were able to go through the Single Homeless Pathway via The Sanctuary to ensure they were not on the streets. The same route was available to those leaving prison.

•           The council should be proud of what had been achieved over the past four to five years. Previously the council had been criticised for housing people in temporary accommodation outside the borough.  This was now no longer the case, unless they needed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the latest edition of the Executive Decision Progress Report and consider whether any further information is required.

The scrutiny committee was invited to review the current Executive Decision Progress Report for 2021-22 and consider whether any further information was required.

RESOLVED –

that the 2021/22 Executive Decision Progress report be noted.

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

Due to the absence of the Chair, who was the council’s appointed representative on Hertfordshire County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee, it was requested that an update be provided to committee members via email.

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

Members were invited to review Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s draft work programme for 2021/22 and suggest any additional items for review. 

RESOLVED –

that the 2021/22 work programme be noted.

·           Thursday 23 September

·           Thursday 21 October

It was noted that the next meeting would take place on Thursday 23 September.