The Committee and Scrutiny Officer reported that Councillor Collett was unable to attend the meeting.  Councillor Khan, the Vice-Chair, would be attending but due to work commitments would be late.  The Scrutiny Committee agreed to wait for a short while.  After 10 minutes it was agreed the meeting should start and the Committee and Scrutiny Officer sought nominations for Chair.

RESOLVED –

that Councillor Martins be elected Chair until Councillor Khan arrived.

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

As reported at minute number 24, apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Collett.  Apologies had also been received from Councillor Counter, Chair of the Outsourced Services Scrutiny Panel.

Councillor Hastrick informed the Scrutiny Committee that with reference to minute number 34, she was on Watford Community Housing Trust’s Board.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2013 to be submitted and signed. (All minutes are available on the Council’s website – www.watford.gov.uk/meetings)

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2013 were submitted and signed.

To consider any Executive decisions which have been called in by the requisite number of Members.

No Executive decisions had been called in.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the outstanding actions and questions from previous meetings.

The Scrutiny Committee received updates on questions and actions raised at previous meetings.

RESOLVED –

that the updates be noted.

Councillor Khan took the Chair

This report presents the latest update on the Council’s Performance Indicators as at the end of June (quarter 1).  The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the performance measures.

The Scrutiny Committee received a report of the Partnerships and Performance Section Head setting out the Council’s performance indicators and measures up to the end of quarter 1 2013/14.

The Partnerships and Performance Section Head highlighted some of the changes to the indicators since the previous report.  She reminded Members that following the changes to the Council’s structure on 1 July there would be further amendments in quarter 2. 

CS16 – Number of private sector units secured for use under HomeLet

Councillor Bell noted that new schemes had been developed.  He asked whether there was a register of certified landlords or if any landlord could participate.

The Head of Corporate Strategy and Client Services informed the Scrutiny Committee that information about HomeLet was available on the Council’s website (http://www.watford.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/housing/watford-homelet---private-renting/).  There were several packages available to landlords.  Further information would be circulated to the Scrutiny Committee.

CS17 – Number of households in bed and breakfast and nightly lets

Following a question from Councillor Bell, the Head of Corporate Strategy and Client Services explained that the nightly lets were all based in Watford.  There were occasions when bed and breakfast accommodation was located outside Watford, but this was only in an emergency.  She advised that the service would be asked to provide further details which would be circulated to Members.

Councillor Aron noted that the actual total matched the target for the quarter.  She asked what action was being taken to find these people permanent accommodation.

The Head of Corporate Strategy and Client Services advised that this was not a static figure.  There was a limited amount of time people could stay in bed and breakfast accommodation.  The Council tried to move people into temporary accommodation as soon as possible, for example hostels.  Dependent on a person’s eligibility and vacant properties, people were then assisted to secure permanent accommodation.  There was a huge demand for housing but there was a disproportionate lack of supply of properties.  HomeLet and the Rent Deposit Guarantee scheme had been developed to help people find a property within the private rented sector.

Street cleaning and recycling

Councillor Meerabux referred to the various performance indicators related to street and environmental cleanliness.  He said that they appeared to have a positive message, however he felt that the information did not provide the whole picture.  He was aware that some streets were in a very poor state.  He asked whether officers could ‘drill’ down through the information and identify the problem streets and send warning letters to residents and businesses in the locality.  When he identified a problem he contacted Veolia and the matter was resolved.  In terraced streets there was a problem with fly tipping and litter.  He felt that if the matter were dealt with by the Council it would lead to better waste disposal management. 

The Head of Corporate Strategy and Client Services said that the main issue was to be able to identify hot spots.  Veolia, in its role as contractor, responded  ...  view the full minutes text for item 30.

The report sets out the Task Group’s original recommendations, the response from Cabinet, the previous updates to scrutiny and the latest information provided by the service.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the update and consider whether the recommendations have been completed.

The Scrutiny Committee received an update on the progress of the recommendations from the Services for the Deceased Task Group’s report published in 2010.

The Head of Corporate Strategy and Client Services informed the Scrutiny Committee that the original review had been carried out three years ago.  The main point from the review was the financial viability of the service.  She outlined any further changes since the last update in 2012.  She advised that Veolia was responsible for the maintenance of the cemeteries and digging the burial spaces.  The Council had retained the management of the cemeteries.  The Council had come to an agreement with West Herts Crematorium that it would provide support for the Cemetery Manager and cover any periods she was absent.  This provided the Cemetery Manager with an improved support mechanism. 

RESOLVED –

that the update be noted.

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 received the latest edition of the Executive Decision Progress Report 2013/14.  The Committee and Scrutiny Officer informed Members that one item had been deleted from the list as the matter had been delayed for the foreseeable future.  She also advised that four decisions had been allocated to the wrong service and this would be updated in the next edition.

RESOLVED –

that the report be noted.

The next Health Scrutiny Committee is due to be held on Thursday 17 October 2013.

The Scrutiny Committee noted that there had been no further meetings of the Health Scrutiny Committee.  The next meeting was due to take place in October.

This report asks Overview and Scrutiny Committee to review the conclusions and recommendations set out in the final draft report from the Watford Community Housing Trust Task Group.

The Scrutiny Committee received a report of the Committee and Scrutiny Support Officer including the Task Group’s final report.

Councillor Khan, who had chaired the Task Group, informed the Scrutiny Committee that the Task Group had used some innovative methods.  Councillors had directly contacted tenants in their homes to ask about their experiences with the Housing Trust.  An evening event had been arranged to meet tenants to chat about their experiences.  The Task Group received a lot of information from tenants.  When the Task Group met the Housing Trust’s Chief Executive and other officers, Members had used a Select Committee approach.  Each Task Group Member had asked questions about a specific area.  There had been a frank exchange of questions and answers at the meeting.  The final report provided a clear set of recommendations.

Councillor Johnson, who had also been a member of the Task Group, commented that all though there were 20 recommendations; it was felt they were necessary.  He acknowledged the Housing Trust had carried out some good work, however, the recommendations covered those areas in which it was felt improvements could be made.

Councillor Khan said that it was important to scrutinise outside bodies as they had an impact on the town’s residents.  This Task Group had worked very well.

It was agreed that the Housing Trust would be asked for their comments about the Task Group’s recommendations.  Members also felt that it was important that tenants knew when the Housing Trust’s comments were expected.  The Chair suggested that the Housing Trust’s Chief Executive and the Board’s Chair should be invited to attend Overview and Scrutiny Committee in three months time. 

Councillor Martins thanked the Task Group for carrying out this scrutiny.  Repairs were a major issue for tenants.  He suggested that the report should be sent to the Chair’s of those Residents’ and Tenants’ Associations who covered Housing Trust properties.  The Trust’s initial comments should also be forwarded to the Residents’ and Tenants’ Associations.

Councillor Hastrick asked that those tenants who had participated in the scrutiny be asked for their views on the recommendations.

Following a question from Councillor Dhindsa, the Committee and Scrutiny Officer explained that the Council could not force external bodies to implement a Task Group’s recommendations.  Hopefully by working with the organisation, it could be encouraged to carry out the Task Group’s recommendations.

The Chair said that in his opinion the recommendations were reasonable.

The Scrutiny Committee agreed that the following people or groups should be forwarded a copy of the report either by post or electronically –

·               Watford Community Housing Trust

·               Tenants who participated in the review

·               Residents’ and Tenants’ Associations

·               Watford Borough Council’s Cabinet

·               The Head of Community and Customer Services

·               Email the link to all Watford Borough Councillors

·               Three Rivers District Councillors who have Housing Trust property within their wards

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer informed the Scrutiny Committee that the final report would be added to the Library on the committee and councillor section of the Council’s website.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

Since the last Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Budget Panel has met on the following occasions –

·               Wednesday 10 July 2013

·               Tuesday 10 September 2013

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

The Chair of Budget Panel to provide an update to the Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Dhindsa, the Chair of Budget Panel, provided an update on the meetings held on Wednesday 10 July and Tuesday 10 September.  He added that at the next meeting, on 29 October, a training session on Local Government Finance would take place and would be open to all Councillors.

It was noted that the minutes were available on the Council’s website and had been circulated separately to Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Since the last Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Outsourced Services Scrutiny Panel met on the following occasion –

·               Tuesday 16 July 2013

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

The Chair of Outsourced Services Scrutiny Panel to provide an update to the Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Counter, the Chair of Outsourced Services Scrutiny Panel, had provided a written update of the Scrutiny Panel’s meeting on Tuesday 16 July 2013.

It was noted that the minutes were available on the Council’s website and had been circulated separately to Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Since the last Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Community Safety Task Group has met on the following occasion –

·               Tuesday 9 September 2013

The minutes are available on the Council’s website - http://watford.moderngov.co.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=209

The Chair of the Community Safety Partnership Task Group to provide an update to the Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Khan, the Chair of the Community Safety Partnership Task Group, provided a brief update of the meeting held on Tuesday 9 September 2013.

It was noted that the minutes were available on the Council’s website and had been circulated separately to Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·               Thursday 24 October 2013 (For call-in only)

·               Thursday 28 November 2013

·               Thursday 19 December 2013 (For call-in only)

·               Thursday 26 September 2013

·               Thursday 24 October 2013 (For call-in only)

·               Thursday 28 November 2013