There was a change of membership for this meeting: Councillor S Williams replaced Councillor Khan and Councillor Martins replaced Councillor Walford.

During the discussion on the Housing Update (minute number 18), Councillor Dhindsa advised that he was a private sector landlord.  He leased his property to a person who claimed Housing Benefit.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 June 2015 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 18 June 2015 were submitted and signed.

To receive an update from the Head of Community & Customer Services and the Interim Housing Section Head regarding housing.

The Interim Housing Section Head circulated a late report to the Scrutiny Committee.  The report set out information on various aspects of the services provided by the Council’s Housing Section.

Change in Temporary Accommodation Usage

The Interim Housing Section Head referred Members to the chart in paragraph 3.1 of the report.  This showed the changes in usage of temporary accommodation since September 2012.  Temporary Accommodation numbers had increased over the last year in particular.  There had been a reduction in the number of people housed in bed and breakfast accommodation since March 2015. 

Councillor S Williams noted the increase shown in the chart.  He asked whether this compared similarly to other districts within the county or to London.

The Interim Housing Section Head advised that he had mainly worked in London boroughs and he felt the increase in Watford could be similarly compared to that in London.

Bed and Breakfast and Nightly Let

In response to a question from Councillor Martins about the types of units used, the Interim Housing Section Head explained that there was a total of 205 units used for temporary accommodation.  There were 36 single units and the remainder were for families.  Those units in shared accommodation would normally share bathrooms and kitchen facilities.

Following a question from Councillor Crout, the Interim Housing Section Head advised that the units outside the Borough were generally within Hertfordshire, however there were also some in Luton and Dunstable.

Councillor Dhindsa asked how officers assessed where people would be placed.  Some families may have children at school or adults might work in Watford.

The Interim Housing Section Head said that officers sympathised with families but it was difficult.  There were occasions when there was a lack of accommodation within the Borough.  A review would be carried out to look into how the Council procured temporary accommodation and a placement policy would be developed.  The service preferred not to place those with children at school or working adults outside the Borough.

Councillor Dhindsa asked whether officers had tried to secure accommodation on long term contracts, even if that meant that there were times they may be empty.

The Interim Housing Section Head stated that the service was currently exploring the opportunity to secure long-term units for the Council’s sole use.  The increase in demand meant that the service needed to review its policy.

The Interim Housing Section Head acknowledged that any big events in Watford, for example Premier League football matches, would cause an increased pressure if the service was looking for accommodation.  This would be considered when developing the procurement process. 

Homeless demand

Following questions about those seeking accommodation due to domestic violence, the Interim Housing Section Head explained that the service would assist the person fleeing their home.  The Council would support the victim in obtaining an order requiring the perpetrator to move out – where it was safe to do so. 

The Interim Housing Section Head informed Members that the biggest reason for homelessness  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the outstanding actions and questions from previous meetings.  The Committee and Scrutiny Officer will provide any further updates following the publication of the agenda.

The Scrutiny Committee received a list of outstanding Actions and Questions.  Members noted the updates.  The Committee and Scrutiny Officer updated Members on several responses she had received since the publication of the report.

IT Update

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer reported that she had contacted the Director of Finance, who had advised that an update would be circulated shortly.

ED 9 – Member involvement in the development of the Economic Development Strategy

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer informed the Scrutiny Committee that the Economic Development Manager had advised that a full consultation on the draft strategy had been carried out through the Council’s website.  The draft strategy was due to be considered by Cabinet in September.  He had suggested that if Members wanted to have a bespoke workshop on the strategy this could be arranged for the end of July or early August.

Following a discussion it was proposed that the Committee and Scrutiny Officer should email all Councillors and find out if they were interested in a workshop being held.

CSP 8 – Dates and times for the Anti Social Behaviour Advisory Group

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer reported that the Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator had replied to an email.  He stated that the group had been changed to the Community Protection Group and still met at the same time and frequency as the Anti Social Behaviour Advisory Group.  The Committee and Scrutiny Officer agreed to circulate the information and the officer’s contact details to all Members.

CPZ 2 – Recommendation 8 wording ‘under 16’

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer advised that she had contacted the Transport and Infrastructure Section Head regarding the Committee’s suggestion that the wording to the age limit should be amended.  The Parking Manager had replied and agreed that he would amend the rule to ‘under 18 years old’ to reflect the Members’ request.

RESOLVED –

1.      that the update be noted.

2.      that Councillors be canvassed regarding a workshop on the draft Economic Development Strategy.

3.      that all Councillors be provided with details of the Community Protection Group meetings and contact details for the Anti Social Behaviour Co-ordinator.

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 2015/16. 

RESOLVED –

that the report be noted.

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

Councillor Kareen Hastrick, the Council’s appointed representative to the Health Scrutiny Committee, informed Members of the range of discussions at the last meeting.

Members asked about the promotion of public health and how this would be monitored.

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer advised that the Head of Community and Customer Services was the lead officer for public health.  She would contact him to discuss how expenditure of any funds would be monitored and how Members could be involved in that process.  She was aware of one Hertfordshire authority that was monitoring the expenditure through a scrutiny committee.

Awareness of mental health was also discussed.  The Chair suggested that a Member briefing was arranged on the subject.

RESOLVED –

that the update be noted.

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

·               7 July 2015

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.

The Scrutiny Committee noted that Budget Panel’s first meeting was held on Tuesday 7 July 2015.  The Vice Chair, Councillor Joynes, updated members on the discussion at that meeting.

RESOLVED –

that the update be noted.

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

·               6 July 2015

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.

The Scrutiny Committee noted that Outsourced Services Scrutiny Panel’s first meeting was held on Monday 6 July 2015.  The Chair, Councillor Crout, informed Members that the Panel had agreed to include an ICT update request on its agenda for October, as it had not been due for consideration until February 2016.

Councillor Martins was concerned that no scrutiny committee appeared to be responsible for the monitoring of the market contract.

Councillor Crout replied that it may depend on the contract with Town and Country markets and the remit for Outsourced Services Scrutiny Panel.  He would ensure that clarification was sought from the Head of Democracy and Governance.

RESOLVED –

1.      that the update be noted.

2.      that the Head of Democracy and Governance be asked about the scrutiny of the contract for the New Watford Market.

The Community Safety Task Group first meeting is due to take place in September.

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

It was noted that the Community Safety Partnership’s first meeting was due to take place in September.

The Scrutiny Committee to consider a scrutiny proposal and whether to establish a Task Group.

The Scrutiny Committee received a report of the Committee and Scrutiny Officer setting out a suggestion for a new scrutiny proposal.  The suggestion had been submitted by Councillor Martins.

Councillor Martins explained why he had suggested the topic.

Following a discussion it was agreed that the Task Group would be set up.  The Committee and Scrutiny Officer would contact all non-executive councillors and seek expressions of interest.  Councillors Topping and Dhindsa advised that they were interested in taking part in the review.

RESOLVED –

1.      that a Task Group be established to review the management of conservation areas.

2.      that the appointment of members to the Task group be delegated to the Head of Democracy and Governance in consultation with the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the recommendations contained in the Task Group’s final report.

The Scrutiny Committee received the Task group’s final report.  The Committee and Scrutiny Officer informed Members that the Head of Corporate Strategy and Client Services had advised that a representative from the Communications and Engagement Team would be attending the next Community Centres Forum in August.  The Team would be nominating one of its officers as champion who would be the point of contact for the representatives from the community centres.

RESOLVED –

that the Voluntary Sector Commissioning Framework (Community Centres) Task Group’s final report be forwarded to Cabinet as part of the Head of Corporate Strategy and Client Services’ report on the new Commissioning Framework.

·               Wednesday 29 July 2015 (for call-in only)

·               Thursday 24 September 2015

·               Thursday 22 October 2015 (for call-in only)

·               Wednesday 29 July 2015 (For call-in only)

·               Thursday 24 September 2015

·               Thursday 22 October 2015 (For call-in only)