Scrutiny Report - Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea report 2009-10.pdf · 2010-10-01 · Scrutiny Committees have regularly reviewed and challenged the performance of the Council;

Scrutiny Report 2009-2010

Cabinet and Corporate Services

• Equalities:ReportontheWhistlerWalkChildren’sHome,St.Mark’sChildren’sHomeandKensingtonandChelseaRegisterOffice

• Rapeprosecutions

• Regeneration

• Investmentdecisions

• Contractshandling

Family and Children’s Services

• Financeandpriorities

Housing, Environmental Health and Adult Social Care

• Chargingforsocialcareservices

• IllegalSublettingReview Health

• DentistryReview

• HealthPrioritiesReview

Public Realm

• PostOfficesreview

• AirQualitySeminar

List of Scrutiny Reviews Reporting in 2009-2010

2 RobustReview,ConstructiveChallenge

Chairman’sforeword......................................................... 4

CabinetandCorporateServices........................................ 6

FamilyandChildren’sServices........................................ .10

Housing,EnvironmentalHealthandAdultSocialCare........... 14

Health............................................................................. 18

PublicRealm................................................................... 22

CommitteeMembership.................................................. 26

Contacts......................................................................... 28

Table of contents

3RobustReview,ConstructiveChallengeRobustReview,ConstructiveChallenge

Wecontinuetoliveuptoourstrapline“Robust Review, Constructive Challenge”.

Intoday’slocalgovernmentworld,fewdecisionsaretakeninfullCouncil.ActionstemsfromKeyDecisionsissuedeitherbyindividualCabinetMembers,orbytheCabinetasawhole.Outsideofthefour-yearelections,theCabinetisregularlyheldtoaccountonlybyScrutinyandthusitsroleiscriticalinourdemocraticenvironment.

ScrutinyprovidesausefultraininggroundfornewMemberswhoseehowtheCounciloperates,whilstalsogivingthemanearlyopportunitytocontributetheirknowledgeandskills.

Overthepreviousyear,ScrutinyCommitteeshaveregularlyreviewedandchallengedtheperformanceoftheCouncil;undertakenworkbehindthescenestohelpformulateandshapepolicy;andusedpre-decisionscrutinytobringanindependent,citizens’focusonthedecisionsoftheCabinet.

ThevalueaddedbyScrutinyCommitteesgoesbeyondtheirworkwiththeCabinet.InthisreportwegiveexamplesofrecommendationsmadebyScrutinyCommitteesandacceptednotjustbytheleadershipoftheCouncilbutalsobyexternalorganisationsasdiverseasthelocalandLondon-widehealthagencies,thePostOfficeandthepolice.

ThisyearScrutinyhasenhanceditsonlinepresencebylaunchinganewmicrositecontainedwithinthemainCouncilwebsite.Aselectionofbackgroundinformation,currentandpastreports,helpfullinksandcontactdetailscanbeaccessedatthefollowingwebaddress:www.rbkc.gov.uk/scrutiny

We continue to live up to our strapline ‘Robust Review, Constructive Challenge’. The Cabinet is regularly held to account only by Scrutiny and thus its role is critical in our democratic environment.


Scrutiny Chairman’s foreword

CouncillorChristopherBuckmasterChairman:ScrutinySteeringGroup

Followingtheelectionstherehavebeenmanychangesinvariouschairmanships.Iwanttothankthosechairmenwhohavenowmovedontootherroles–specificallyElizabethCampbellfromFamilyandChildren’sServices;KeithCunninghamfromCabinetandCorporateAffairsandFrancesTaylorfromPublicRealm.Theirexperienceandcontributionshavebeenconsiderableandtheywillallbesorelymissed.

Finally,Scrutinycannotfunctionwithoutthesmallbutdedicatedteamofofficerswhohaveservicedthecommitteesandtheworkingpartiesovertheyear.Their

hardworkandknowledgehasalwaysbeenconsistentandofaveryhighstandard.

>> Cllr Christopher Buckmaster

5RobustReview,ConstructiveChallenge

CllrElizabethCampbell,FamilyandChildren’sServicesScrutinyCommittee

CllrKeithCunningham,CabinetandCorporateServicesScrutinyCommittee

CllrMrsFrancesTaylor,PublicRealmScrutinyCommittee

HandingoverthekeytothenewChelseaAcademy.

Our thanks to previous Chairmen in 2009-2010

The Committee continued its important scrutiny of how the Council’s equality policies have been implemented on the ground with further visits to Council establishments.

Cabinet and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee

>> Chairman: Councillor Judith Blakeman


TheRoyalBorough’sCabinetandCorporateServicesScrutinyCommitteehasawideremittoscrutinisebusinesshandledbythefullCabinetthatdoesnotfallwithintheremitofanotherScrutinyCommittee.

ItcarriesoutthefunctionsofacrimeanddisordercommitteeinaccordancewiththePoliceandJusticeAct2006.Italsoconsidersmattersofcorporatemanagementorinterestincludinglocaldemocracy,decision-makingbytheCouncil,theCouncil’sbudgetandoverallfinancialmanagement;corporatepolicy,informationandcommunicationtechnology,corporategrants,communityrelations,andregenerationandeconomicdevelopment.

IbecametheChairmanofthiscommitteeinMay2010,somostoftheactivitiesoutlinedinthissectionofthereportwerecarriedoutduringthechairmanshipofCllrCunningham,whohadchairedthiscommitteeforthepreviousfouryears.

Equalities

Thecommitteehas

continueditsscrutiny

ofhowtheCouncil’s

equalitypolicieshavebeen

implementedontheground

throughitsprogramme

ofsitevisitstovarious

Councilservices,suchas

theWhistlerWalkChildren’s

Home,StMark’sChildren’s

HomeandKensingtonand

ChelseaRegisterOffice.

Suggestionsweremade

aboutimprovingtheservices

providedbytheseplaces.

Police and Community Safety

TheBoroughPolice

Commanderpresented

hisannualreporttothe

committeeinOctober,

coveringimportantissues

suchastheoperationofthe

borough-widecontrolled

drinkingzone,aggressive

beggars,Anti-Social

BehaviourOrders,young

people’sprojects,youth

offending,demonstrations

outsidetheIsraeliEmbassy

andtheNottingHill

Carnival.

Thecommitteeconsideredthevoluntarysectorgrantsprogrammeforthecomingyearandestablishedasub-grouptomeetwiththeCabinetMembertoconsiderinitialgrantrecommendations.

ThecommitteereceivedpositionpapersonanumberofCouncilactivitiesincludingemergencyplanning,communityengagement,partnerships,thewardinitiativesprogrammeandcommunitysafety.TheCabinetMemberforCorporateServiceswasquestionedonareasofherremitincludingElectoralServices,hot-deskingandthecostsassociatedwithhandlingFreedomofInformationenquiries.

ThecommitteealsoconsideredthedraftCabinetBusinessPlanandtheCorporateServicesrevenueandcapitalbudgets.Aspartofitsremittomonitorinformationandcommunicationtechnology,thecommitteereceivedpapersonwebsiteredevelopmentandwebsitestatistics.


Rape prosecutions

Thesub-group-setupbythecommitteetoexaminehowtheRoyalBorough’sperformancecompareswithotherLondonboroughsandseewhatstepscouldbetakentoimproveratesofprosecution-reporteditsfindingsandmaderecommendations.

Theserecommendationsincludedestablishinganannualforumonthisissue;publicisinghowtominimisetheriskofbecomingavictimofsexualassault;reviewingthefundingforvictimsupportagencies,particularlytheWomen’sTrust;andmonitoringthenew

centralisedarrangementsset

upbytheMetropolitanPolice

toinvestigatesexualoffences.

2011 census

TheCommitteetookan

interestinthepreparations

forthe2011census.It

acknowledgedthepoor

responserateacrossthe

boroughatthetimeofthe

2001Census,notingthat

therearecommunalblocks

andcommunitiesincertain

partsoftheboroughthat

aredifficultforcanvassers

toreach.Thecommittee

suggestedthatalistof

known‘difficultaddresses’

bedrawnupandtargeted

priortothecensus.

Regeneration

Thecommittee’s

Regenerationsub-group

reportedbackonthe

borough’sregeneration

activity,includingthe

impactoftherecession,

employment,fundingactivity

andtherecently-launched

WedgeCardscheme.

Economy, Efficiency and Effectiveness

TheEconomy,Efficiency

andEffectivenesssub-group

metthreetimesbetween

2009and2010toreview

keythemesintheCouncil’s

agendatomaximisevalue

formoney,includingwork

relatingtotheSmartest

Councilprogrammeandthe

long-termaffordabilityofthe

LocalGovernmentPension

Scheme.

Thesub-groupsubmitted

itsannualreporttothe

CommitteeinMarch2010

andatthistimeitwas

agreedthatworkshouldcontinueinto2010/11.

WedgeCard,partofaschemetoenhancetheborough’sregenerationactivity.


Two short, sharp reviews

ThecommitteecarriedoutashortreviewoftherobustnessoftheCouncil’sprocessesfordealingwithinvestmentdecisions.AmongstitsrecommendationsweretoreviewtheCouncil’scontractswithfundmanagers,implement

decisionstakenbytheInvestmentCommitteeonthenextworkingday,andtokeeptheInvestmentCommitteeChairmaninformedofanypotentialproblemsinimplementingadecision.

Anothershort,sharpreviewwasconductedonthehandlingofcontracts,whichrecommendedthat

allprojectsshouldconformtoPRINCE2standards;thatprojectboardsshouldbesetupforallmajorprojects;thateffectiveriskmanagementarrangementsshouldbeinplace;andthatauthorisationforexpenditureshouldnotbetheresponsibilityofatemporarymemberofstaff(inrespectofcontracts).

Muraldesignedandmadebyyoungpeople

(Earl’sCourtYouthClub)


Family and Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee

>> Chairman: Councillor Professor Sir Anthony Coates


…a process of deep level scrutiny, the purpose of which is to provide proper scrutiny of topical and important subjects in real time...

IbecamechairmanofthiscommitteeinMay2010;therefore,thissectionoftheScrutinyAnnualReportreflectstheachievementsofmypredecessor,CllrElizabethCampbell,whochairedthiscommitteebetweenMay2009andMay2010.Ihavesetoutplansforthenextyearattheendofthissection.

In-depth Review of Finance and Priorities

In2009thecommitteeappointedasub-grouptoconsiderthefinanceandprioritiesofFamilyandChildren’sServicesinviewofthelikelypublicsectorexpenditurereductionsoverthenextfewyears.

Thereviewrecognisedthatitsdiscussionswerepartofawiderexerciseandthereportrepresentedearlythinking.Therefore,thepointsmadeneededtobetakenasawholeandnotconsideredinisolation.

Itconcludedthatitshouldbepossibletomakesavingsofthreepercent,fivepercentortenpercentoverthenextthreeyears.However,itwasacknowledgedthatatenpercentreductionwillbehardertoachievewithouthavingasignificantimpact

onsomeserviceareas,andthatabalancewillneedtobestruckbetweenwhatisdesirableandwhatisaffordable.

Thereviewspecificallyexaminedthoseareasofexpenditurethatweresubstantiallyhigherthanthelevelofstatutorygrant.Itconcludedthattherewassubstantialscopefornarrowingthisgap,butthatcertainareasofexpenditurerepresentedtheCouncil’spreferenceinquality,styleandcontentofdeliverywhichoughttobemaintained.However,althoughdesirable,thiswillmostcertainlyneedtobereconsideredinthelightofsignificantlydiminishingresources.

Thereviewalsorecognisedthattherewasscopeforintroducingnewchargesforcertainservicesand

increasingsomeexistingchargesinotherareas,asthiscouldbeasignificantsourceofsavings.

Pupil performance

ThecommitteewasdelightedtonotethatstudentsinRoyalBoroughsecondaryschoolsweretopinthecountrywhenitcomestogettingfiveormoreA*toCGCSEs.

ChildrenreceivingfreeschoolmealsintheRoyalBoroughgotbetterGCSEresultsthanchildrenonfreeschoolmealsinanyotherlocalauthorities.ThenumberofRoyalBoroughschoolchildrenreceivingfreeschoolmealsandgettingfiveormoreA*toCgradesatGCSEs,includingEnglishandmathematics,is59percent–12percentaheadofthesecondbestcouncilinthecountry.

PupilsfromSionManningSchool


ResultsnotincludingEnglishandmathematicswereevenhigher,withboroughpupilsagainleadingthewaywith80percentachievingfiveA*toCgradesatGCSEs–sevenpercentaheadofthenextbestperformingauthority.

Looked After Children’s Council – For Us, By Us

Fiveyoungpeople,whoareinthecareoftheCouncil,cametothecommitteetospeakabouttheircontributiontotheLookedAfterChildren’sCouncilcalled‘ForUs,ByUs’.

TheyspokeabouttheirexperienceofbeingLookedAfterbytheCouncilandabouttheiractivitiesinForUs,ByUswhichincludedsettingupawebsite,virtualmeetingsandpeersupport.

Theseyoungpeoplewereclearlynotpassiverecipientsoftheservice,butwereactiveincontributingideas.ThisisanextremelyimportantsubjectforthecommitteebecauseCouncillorsareresponsibleforensuringthattheCouncilactsasagood‘corporateparent’forallthechildrenitlooksafter.Thecommitteerecognisedthattherole

ofthecorporateparentistohelpchildreninpubliccarefulfiltheirpotentialthroughoutlife,aseverygoodparentwouldwanttheirownchildrentodo.

Thelocalauthorityhasalegalandmoraldutytoprovidesuchsupporttothechildrenitlooksafter.

New secondary school in the north of the borough

Followingtheworkofthesub-groupinthepreviousyear(whichhadhelpedtoestablishthecaseforanewschool),thecommitteewaspleasedtoseethattheCouncil’sStrategyforChange:Part2submissionhadbeenacceptedbytheDCSFandapproximately£22mhadbeenallocatedtotheproject.

Holland Park School redevelopment

Ataspecialmeeting,thecommitteeconsideredthereporttotheCabinetbytheExecutiveDirectorsforFamilyandChildren’sServicesandforFinance,InformationSystemsandProperty.

Thecommitteeconcentratedonvalueformoney;the

generalconsenttodisposeofthesouthernsite;andtheprocessofmarketingthesite.Itsoughtassurancesaboutthefinancialstandingofthefirststagecontractorandwasbriefedontheproposedactiontosignificantlymitigatetherisksdescribed.

Thecommitteewaspleasedthatover99percentoftheschemehadbeentenderedtoaminimumofthreecompaniestoensurethattheCouncilachievedvalueformoney.ThecommitteeconcludedthatitwassatisfiedthateverythingpossiblehadbeendonetomitigatetherisksassociatedwiththeprojectandtoprotecttheCouncil’sfinancialposition.

Themarketingofthesouthernsitewasdiscussedandthecommitteewastoldthateachofthetopthreebidswouldprovidesufficientfundstobuildthenewschool,aswellasprovidingtheaffordablehousingandanewchildren’scentre–inadditiontomakingacontributiontoaneducationaltrust.

Followingthediscussion,thecommitteerecommendedtheCabinettopressaheadandbuildthenewschool.


Looking ahead to next year

Astheincomingchairmanofthiscommittee,Ihaveinstitutedaprocessofdeeplevelscrutiny,thepurposeofwhichistoprovideproperscrutinyoftopicalandimportantsubjectsinrealtime.Thiswillhelpthe

Cabinetinitsdecision-makingprocess,andhelptheCouncilasawholetocometogripswithkeyissues.

Topicsfordeeplevelscrutinywillbesoughtfrombothmembersandfromofficers,withthefirsttopicbeingStrongerFamilies.

TheyouthorchestraatCadoganHall


>> Chairman: Councillor Mary Weale

Housing, Environmental Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee

The needs of elderly persons in the borough remained a continuing matter of interest to the committee...


Illegal Subletting Review

Thisin-depthreviewwassetupin2008andpresenteditsfinalreportinMarch2010.Itinitiallyestablishedthattherewerenoagreedproceduresonhowtoidentifyillegallysubletproperties.Thereviewgroupthereforeundertooktotestanumberofdifferentwaysofidentifyingunauthorisedoccupantsandgatheringevidenceofillegalsubletting.

Onemethodtestedbythereviewgroupwastowritetoresidentsofsocialhousingintwowardsaskingthemtosendinformationabout

propertiestheysuspectedofbeingillegallysublet.Theywerethenencouragedtorespondtothechairmanofthereviewgrouponaconfidentialbasis.Thiswasfollowedupbyanotherexercisewhereresidentswereofferedamonetaryincentiveof£200toprovidesuchinformation.Neitherapproachprovedparticularlyfruitful.

Thereviewgroupdidnotdiscoveranysignificantevidenceofillegalsubletting,butitdiddeterminethattherewaslittledeterrence.

Anumberofvaluablerecommendationscame

outofthereviewincluding:providinghigherincentivesfortip-offsregardingunauthorisedsubletting;makingbetteruseofdatamatchingtechniques;andestablishingaphotographicrecordoftenantsatthebeginningofatenancy.

Mental Health Services

InJanuary2010thecommitteereceivedareportonchangestomentalhealthdayservicesprovideddirectlybytheCouncil.Theserequiredashiftfrombuilding-baseddrop-inservicestoapatternofsupportbasedonthe

Healthyeatingforolderpeople


needsofindividualusers,deliveredonaone-to-onebasisthroughoutreachandbefriendingservices.

AfurtherreporttothecommitteeinJune2010indicatedasignificantincreaseinreferralsofwomen,youngerpeopleandpeoplefromBMEcommunitiestotheservice,themainobjectiveofthechange.Thecommitteeheardfromaserviceuserwhowasverysatisfiedwiththechangeandaserviceuserwhohadconcerns.

Takingbothoftheseviewsintoaccount,thecommitteedecidedtokeepawatchingbriefontheissueandaskedforafurtherprogressreportattheendof2010.

Tenant Management Organisation (TMO)

TheKensingtonandChelseaTMOhasfaceddifficultchallengesintherecentpast–particularlywithregardtogovernanceissuesandsomeareasofserviceperformance.ThecommitteewasthereforedelightedtoreceiveapositivereportontheTMO’sperformanceinJune2010.

ThereportdescribedtheTMO’scompliance

withthetermsofitsown

ImprovementPlan,putin

placeinMarch2009and

completedinJanuary2010.

Thecommitteeconcluded

thatnotonlywastheTMO’s

currentperformancegood,

butalsothatthetrendwas

encouraging.

Review Group on Charging

Historically,theCouncilhad

chargedpeopleusingits

socialcareservicesatalow

level,butthiswasnolonger

sustainableinthecurrent

economicclimate.The

reviewgroupwastherefore

establishedtoadvisethe

Executiveonhowaservice

user’scontributiontowards

theirPersonalBudgetcould

bedetermined.

Thereview’sconclusions

werethat:serviceusers

shouldberequiredtomake

a100percentcontribution

towardstheiroverall

PersonalBudget,subject

toaweeklymaximum;the

existingcapitallimitshould

beincreasedfrom£25.000;

andthereshouldbean

amendmenttothefinancial

assessmentprocesstoallow

forahigherlevelofservice

userincometoberetained.

Housing Allocation Scheme

ThereportofanindependentreviewoftheCouncil’sHousingAllocationSchemecamebeforethecommitteeinJanuary2010.Itconcludedthattheexistingschemeallocatedpropertiesinlinewithexistingpolicyandwasthereforefairandconsistent.

However,thereviewalsomadeanumberofrecommendationsincludingsimplifyingandpublishinganamendedpolicy;removingthecurrentdisallowedpoints;reviewingtheuseoflocalresidenceasadeterminingfactorinassessinghousingneedandimprovingtheadministrationofthescheme.Committeemembersaskedthattheybekeptintouchwiththedevelopmentofanynewpolicy.

Elderly persons in the borough

Theneedsofelderlypersonsintheboroughremainedacontinuingmatterofinteresttothecommittee,whichreceivedreportsonPersonalisingOlderPeople’sDayOpportunitiesandontheOlderPeople’sHousingStrategy2010to2015.


Revised eligibility criteria for Supporting People Services

InMarch2010thecommitteereceivedareportonchangestotheeligibilitycriteriaforSupportingPeople(SP)services.

TheprincipalaimsoftheSPprogrammearetosupportpeopletoliveindependentlyinthecommunityandtopreventhomelessness.However,annualreductionsintheGovernment’sSPgrantandremovalofringfencingposeasignificant

challengeandtheneweligibilitycriteriawillallowamoreeffectivetargetinganduseofservices.

Thecommitteewelcomedthethrustofthereportandaskedthatgreaterattentionbegiventolessexpensive,lowerlevel,preventativeservices.

What the committee will be doing in 2010-2011

TheworkofthereviewgroupsonTemporaryAccommodationand

InformationforSelf-fundingAdultSocialCareclientswillbereportedtothecommittee.ThenextreviewgrouptocommencewilllookattheNoiseandNuisanceService.

ThecommitteewillcontinuetomonitortheperformanceoftheTMOandlooksforwardtocontributingtotheforthcomingreviewoftheHousingAllocationScheme.

AdairTower


Health Scrutiny Committee

>> Chairman: Councillor Christopher Buckmaster


The landscape for the commissioning and provision of health services is likely to change considerably in the coming years… There never was a more important time for Scrutiny.

HealthScrutinyincludesnotjusthealthservicesforpeoplewhoareill,butalsothehealthimprovementofthegeneralpopulationandplansbytheKensingtonandChelseaNHStrusttoreducehealthinequalities.

WithintheRoyalBorough,thescopeofHealthScrutinyincludesourlocalPCT(NHSKensingtonandChelsea);twoacuteTrusts(ChelseaandWestminster,andtheImperialCollegeNHSTrust);CentralLondonCommunityHealthcare(providerofcommunityhealthservices);thelocalGPconsortiumprovidingprimarycareservices;theCentralandNorthWestLondonMentalHealthTrust(CNWL);andtwospecialisthospitals(RoyalMarsdenandRoyalBrompton).

BothCNWLandtheRoyalMarsdenwerecalledinforquestioning.

Dentistry Review

TheDentistryReviewfoundthat,historicallyspeaking,thetake-upofdentalservicesaswellastheexpenditureondentistryintheboroughhasbeenatacomparativelylowlevel.However,thecommitteerecognisedthatNHS

KensingtonandChelseahadinheritedtheseproblemsandwasmakingsignificantprogressintacklingthem.

Recommendationsincluded:NHSKensingtonandChelseashouldgainabetterunderstandingoftheextentofchildoralhealthintheborough,wheretherecordondentistrywaspoor;itshouldpromotedentalhealthinschools,children’scentresandnurseries;improvetheprovisionofdentalcheck-upsforchildren;examinethelowtake-upofdentalservicesamongsttheunder17yearolds;andestablishwhetherthecurrent‘referraltospecialistservices’systemisfitforpurpose.

Initsresponse,NHSKensingtonandChelseawelcomedtheScrutinyCommittee’srecommendationsandsaidthatoverthenextyearit

wouldfocusonincreasingthedemandfordentistryintheboroughby40percent;promoteawarenessandtake-upofdentistryservices;andcontinuetoworkonimprovingcarepathwaysforpeoplewithspecialneeds.

Health priorities

ThecommitteelookedatNHSKensingtonandChelsea’sprioritiesinthecontextofthecurrentfinancialclimate.TheReviewdrewattentiontotwopossiblethreatstoserviceprovision:firstly,thepoorstateofpublicfinances;andsecondly,thefactthatNHSKensingtonandChelseareceivesanallocationthatisabout20percenthigherthanwhatmightbeexpectedonthebasisoftheborough’spopulation.

Thecommitteebroadlysupportedandwelcomed

Residentsatayogaclass


theprioritiesassetoutintheTrust’sCommissioningStrategy–inparticularthetenpriorityoutcomesandthecurrentcommissioningintentions.AmongstitsrecommendationswereforNHSKensingtonandChelseatomonitorandevaluatethechangesinpatientflowfromhospitaltocommunitysettings,inordertoestablishthatpatientoutcomesarebeingimproved.

Thereportwasconcludedbeforetheelectionandanysubsequentpolicychangeswhichthenewgovernmentmightintroduce.

The Kensington and Chelsea Local Information Network (LINk)

ThecommitteewaspleasedtonotetheimprovementinthewaythattheLINkwasmanagedand,consequently,itsachievementsoverthecourseof2009to2010.Membershiphasincreasedfrom274inNovember2009,to570inJune2010.

InJanuary2010thecommitteeapprovedaprotocolforenablingtheLINkandtheScrutinyCommitteetoworktogetheronissuesofcommoninterest.

Stroke and trauma services

InOctober2009theJointCommitteeofPrimaryCareTrusts(JCPCT)acceptedtheresponseofthepanLondonJointHealthOSC(JHOSC)coveringall33Londonboroughsandchairedbyme.

Thiswasamajorpieceofworkinvolvingquestioning53witnessesandresultedinareport,withappendices,of311pages,onitsconsultationproposalsonhealthcareforLondon.TheJCPCTsaidthatitfoundthereport’scommentstobebothinsightfulandchallenging,andthattheJHOSC’srecommendationshadbeenextremelyusefulinhelpingtoformulateitsfinalrecommendations.

Mental health

ThecommitteereceivedabriefingonthementalhealthserviceatitsSeptember2009meeting.Itwastoldoftherecentmajorinvestmentindevelopingprimarycaresupportforpeoplewithmentalhealthproblems,whichwouldmeanthatindividualswithabackgroundassociatedwithriskshouldbebettersupported.

Animprovedservicefor

thoseseekingcounselling

throughaGPreferralwas

beingdeveloped,with

atargetoftwoweeks

fromreferraltoseeinga

Counsellor.

Practice-based Commissioning (PBC)

Dr.MarkSweeney,Chairman

oftheKensingtonand

ChelseaPBCGroupmade

apresentationexplaining

itsrole,mainachievements

during2008to2009,

currentprojectandfuture

developments.

Thecommitteequestioned

Dr.Sweeneyonarangeof

issuesincluding:assessment

ofGPs;cancerdiagnostic

services;healthinequalities

intheborough;andtherole

ofGPsintacklingchildhood

obesity.

Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA)

Thecommitteehastakenacontinuinginterestintheproductionanduseofthisdatasetsinceitsinception.IthasurgedthattheJSNAshouldbebetterembeddedintheCouncil’sdecision-makingprocesstodrivestrategiesand

commissioningdecisions.


Joint work with other scrutiny committees

OverthecourseoftheyeartheChairmanoftheKensingtonandChelseaHealthCommitteemetwiththeChairmenoftheWestminsterandHammersmith&FulhamHealthCommitteesanumberoftimestoconsiderissuesofmutualinterests.Amongthetopicsfordiscussionwere:ajointresponsetothebidbyImperialCollegeHealthNHSTrustforFoundationstatus;andanupdatefromtheCentralLondonCommunityHealthcareAlliance

RegularmeetingswerealsoheldwiththechiefexecutiveofImperialCollegeNHSTrust.

TwomeetingswereheldinvolvingtheScrutiny

Recital,ChelseaandWestminster

Hospital

Chairmen,thePCTChairmenandChiefExecutivesfromallnorth-westLondonboroughstoconsidertheroleofthenorth-westLondonCommissioningPartnership;thenorth-westLondonProviderReviewandthereshapingofcancerservicesinnorth-westLondon.

What the committee will be doing in the future

Thelandscapeforthecommissioningandprovisionofhealthservicesislikelytochangeconsiderablyinthecomingyears–notjustintermsofrestrictionsinresources,butalsointhewaythathealthservicesarecommissionedanddeliveredandalsohowthetransferofresourcesfromtheacutetothecommunitysectoris

managed.Thecommitteewillbekeepingacloseeyeontheseandotherdevelopments.

Thenewgovernmentismovingfast,questioningsomeoftheearlierNHSthemeswiththeirtopdownapproachandmovingmoretowardsaservicedrivenbypatients’needsandwishes.BoththeStrategicHealthAuthorityandthePCT,forexample,arenowscheduledtodisappear.

ToachievethenecessaryfinancialsavingswhiledeliveringabetterprovisionofserviceforourresidentswillnecessitateevenclosercooperationbetweentheRoyalBoroughandtheNHS.

ThereneverwasamoreimportanttimeforScrutiny.


>> Chairman: Councillor Joanna Gardner

Public Realm Scrutiny Committee

Public realm affects virtually everyone in the Royal Borough, as it covers a variety of day-to-day services.



PublicRealmaffectsvirtuallyeveryoneintheRoyalBorough,asitcoversavarietyofday-to-dayservices,frompavementstoleisurefacilitiestoplanning.TheworkinthisreportwasunderthechairmanshipofCllrMrsFrancesTaylor,whoIwouldliketothankforherchairmanshipofthecommittee.

Scrutiny of Post Office reorganisations

ThecommitteesetupaworkinggrouptolookintoRoyalMail’sproposedmoveofSortingandEnquiryOfficesoutoftheboroughtotheirnewcentraliseddeliveryoperationinNW10

andtoexaminethefutureoftheKensingtonHighStreet(KHS)PostOfficeandsite.

TheworkinggroupfirstmetinOctober2009andhavesincemetwithseniorPostOfficeandRoyalMailrepresentativesanumberoftimes.MemberspushedRoyalMailintolookinghowtominimisetheimpactofthechangeofdeliveryofficesbylongeropeninghoursatthenewcollectionofficesandbettercommunicationwithresidents.

AdetailedreportonthemoveofthesortingandenquiryofficesintheW2,W8andW11areas,andthestatusofKHShasbeen

addedtotheCouncil’swebsitesothatresidentscanstayup-to-datewiththelatestnews.

MembersmadeitcleartobothRoyalMailandthePostOfficethattheKHSfacilitiesareakeylocalamenityandiftheyweretoclose,localresidentswouldneedaclearcommitmenttonearbyreplacementfacilitiesandcontinuityofservice.ThePostOfficeconfirmedthatitis“fullycommittedtotheprovisionofPostOfficeServicesinKensingtonHighStreetandwillensurethatanewofficeisdesignedtomeetcustomerneeds.PostOfficeLtd’sintentionwillbetoensure,bythedesignand

PrinceCharles,theLeaderandtheMayoratLeightonHouse


staffingarrangementsforthenewbranch,thattheserviceisactuallyimprovedforcustomers”.

ThePostOfficeandCouncilwillcontinuetoworkcloselytogetheronpostalservicesintheboroughandtominimisetheimpactofanychangesonresidents.

The Air Quality Seminar

ThecommitteeheldapublicseminarinFebruary2010to

raiseawarenessofairquality

issueswithintheborough.

Speakersfromindustry,

campaigningorganisations

andacademiawereinvited

asguestspeakersincluding

SimonBirkett,founderof

theCampaignforCleanAir

inLondon;GeorgeTaylor

fromHartridgeLtd,which

specialisesindieselfuel

injectionandemissions

testingequipment;and

ProfessorFrankKelly,

ProfessorofEnvironmental

HealthatKing’sCollege.

ProfessorKellyarguedthatmanyprematuredeathsinLondonwerecausedbypoorairquality.HestatedthattherewasaneedtoreducetrafficlevelsandthatmoredecisiveactionisrequiredbyboththeLondonMayorandlocalcouncils.Hepresentedoptionsfortacklingpoorairquality,includinggivingtaxandotherincentives,restrictionsontrafficandchangestotheLondonbusfleet.

CllrMrsTaylorandcolleaguesattheAirQualityDebatepublicmeeting


Site visits

Duringtheyear,committeemembersattendedorganisedvisitstoinformthemselvesofdevelopmentsattheOlympicSite,LondonTrafficControlCentre,WillesdenBusGarageDriverTrainingFacilityandtheAlpertonBusGarage.

Opera Holland Park (OHP)

ThecommitteescrutinisedtheartisticandfinancialperformanceofOperaHollandPark’s2009season.Onthepositiveside,itenjoyedthehighestevernetsponsorshipandeventsrevenue,increasedmembershipandticketsales;onthenegativeside,itincurredabudgetdeficitof£180,000.

Thecommitteeheardthattheseasonwaschallengingastherepertoirewaslargeanddifficult,butitwasconsistentwiththetraditionestablishedoverrecentyearsbyOHP.Theproductionsreceivedstrongstarratingsfromreviewers,andoccupancyandsalesfiguresfortheseasonwereexceptionallyhighby‘industry’standards.

Thecommitteeconcluded

thatwhilethe2009seasonwasartisticallyoneofthebest,thismustinfuturebedeliveredwithinbudget.

Notting Hill Carnival 2009

TheNottingHillCarnivalisoneofthemostprominentartseventsintheRoyalBorough.ThecommitteereceiveditscustomaryanalysisoftheNottingHillCarnival2009.Accordingtothepolice,anestimated800,000peopleattended,downfromamillionin2008.TheCouncil’soperationswentwell,withfewcomplaintsandsomecompliments.Thecleanupwentaccordingtoplanandsomeinnovationsinthestreetwashingservicewereverysuccessful.

However,theprocessiondidnotstartasearlyasplannedandwhilethejudgingpointclosedneartoitsplannedtime,severalbandsweredisappointedastheyhadnotreachedthejudgingzonebythen.

The committee’s plans for the coming year

Asthenewcommitteechairman,Ihavesetanambitiousplanfor2010-

2011whichwewillworkhardtodeliver.WeaimtoreviewtheperformanceofthePlanningDepartment;continuemonitoringanyproposalsforthereductionofPostOffice/RoyalMailfacilitiesaffectingtheborough;andlookcloselyattheCouncil’sapproachtotheapplicationsforoutdoortablesandchairsatentertainmentvenuesintheborough.

Otherareasofreviewwillincludetheborough’sleisurefacilitiesandthePortobelloandGolborneMarkets.MemberswillalsoworkcloselywithotherScrutinyCommittees,whereremitsoverlap,toexaminethewayinwhichCouncilandpublicconsultationiscarriedout.


Family and Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee

• CllrAtkinson

• CllrBlakeman

• CllrBorwick

• CllrBCampbell

• CllrProfessorSirCoates(Ch)

• CllrDalton

• CllrJones

• CllrRutherford

• CllrWill

Co-opted voting members:

• MrJohnO’Donnell(ArchdioceseofWestminster)

• Rev.WilliamTaylor(LondonDiocesanBoardforSchools)

Parent Governors

• DrSamarAl-Zaher;

• JohnMurphyuptoMay2010

• PaulQuinnfromJune2010

Co-opted non-voting members:

• MrKieranParsons(Teacherrepresentative)

• MrsKathleenWilliams(Headteacherrepresentative)

Cabinet and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee

• CllrBlakeman(Ch)

• CllrBuckmaster

• CllrFBuxton

• CllrCampion

• CllrForeman

• CllrLindsay

• CllrMrsTaylor

Scrutiny Steering Group

• CllrBlakeman

• CllrBuckmaster(Ch)

• CllrProfessorSirCoates

• CllrGardner

• CllrWeale

Scrutiny Committee Membership


Health Scrutiny Committee

• CllrBuckmaster(Ch)

• CllrTBuxton

• CllrCondon-Simmonds

• CllrFreeman

• CllrDrHanham(VCh)

• CllrHealy

• CllrMingay

• CllrPalmer

• CllrPascall

• CllrWarrick


• CllrBCampbell

• CllrCollinson

• CllrDonaldson

• CllrGardner(Ch)

• CllrLamont(VCh)

• CllrMason

• CllrNeal

• CllrO’Neill

• CllrRutherford

• CllrMissWeatherhead

Housing, Environmental Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee

• CllrCaruana

• CllrDentCoad

• CllrHoier

• CllrHolt

• CllrMarshall(VCh)

• CllrPalmer

• CllrRead

• CllrRossi

• CllrWeale(Ch)

• CllrWilliams


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ThisreportandmoreinformationaboutallaspectsoftheworkofScrutinycanbefoundatwww.rbkc.gov.uk/scrutinyorbycontacting:

• Clair Bantin Scrutiny Manager Telephone: 02073612634Email:[email protected]

• Address for correspondence TheScrutinyManagerRoyalBoroughofKensingtonandChelseaPolicyandPartnershipUnitRoom248HorntonStreetLondonW87NX

Contacts

Cert no. TT-COC-2047

Documents

Scrutiny Report - Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea report 2009-10.pdf · 2010-10-01 · Scrutiny Committees have regularly reviewed and challenged the performance of the Council;