Agenda and minutes

The Committee noted the apologies of Catherine Hobbs, Councillor Coombs, Hannides, Morrell and T Thomas.  The Committee also noted that following receipt of the temporary resignation of Councillor Coombs from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, the Service Director, Legal and Governance, acting under delegated powers, had appointed Councillor Blatchford to replace her for the purposes of this meeting.

To approve and sign as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings held on 13^th July 2017 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED that the minutes for the meeting held on 13^th July, 2017 be approved and signed as correct record. 

Report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Adult Care providing the Committee with an update on the steps being taken to provide assurance that the Council’s 20 residential high-rise buildings are safe, following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower in London on 14 June 2017, attached. 

The Committee considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Adult Care providing an update on the steps being taken by the Council, with Hampshire Fire and Rescue and the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Resilience Forum, to provide assurance that the Council’s 20 residential high-rise buildings are safe, following the tragic events at Grenfell Tower in London on 14^th June, 2017. 

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Adult Care, representatives from Hampshire Fire and Rescue and local residents were present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting. 

RESOLVED:

(i)  That the timetable and milestones for the installation of sprinkler systems across the Council’s 20 high rise buildings are circulated to the Committee;

(ii)  That, factoring in the fire risks identified, the Committee are provided with the priority order for the installation of sprinkler systems within the Council’s high rise buildings;

(iii)  That the Committee are provided with information on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) borrowing cap and the existing level of borrowing for the HRA;

(iv)  That the Cabinet Member outlines to the Committee the funding options that the Administration are considering to enable the installation of sprinkler systems if no Government funding is forthcoming;

(v)  That the Cabinet Member write to the Communities and Local Government Secretary / Housing Minister requesting authorisation to extend the HRA borrowing cap to enable sprinkler systems to be installed in each of the Council’s high rise buildings as soon as possible;

(vi)  That the Administration adopts the policy position that it will go ahead with the installation of sprinkler systems in all Council owned high rise buildings regardless of the Government’s funding decision;

(vii)  That details are provided to the Committee on:

·  The number of flats within the Council’s high rise buildings that still have a gas supply

·  The timescales being worked to for the disconnection of the gas supply to these properties

(viii)  That the Committee are provided with:

·  A summary of the emergency planning scenarios and outcomes

·  Specific examples of emergency planning scenarios

(ix)  That the Service Lead, Council Housing and Neighbourhoods responds directly to the concerns of the tenants representative relating to the consultation with residents and the accessibility of the communications provided. 

Report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance enabling the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee to examine the content of the Forward Plan and to discuss issues of interest or concern with the Executive, attached. 

The Committee considered the report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance detailing the LATCo for Some Council Services decision on the current Forward Plan. 

The Leader of the Council was present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting. 

RESOLVED that the Leader circulates to the Committee the timescales and milestones for the establishment of the LATCo and when services would begin to trade commercially. 

Report of the Service Director - Legal and Governance requesting that the Committee agrees the terms of reference for a scrutiny inquiry examining how incidence of drug related litter in Southampton can be reduced, attached.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Legal and Democratic Services requesting that the Committee agree the terms of reference for a scrutiny inquiry examining reducing drug related litter in Southampton.

RESOLVED

(i)  that the draft terms of reference for the scrutiny inquiry be approved; and

(ii)  that authority be delegated to the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, in consultation with the Chair of the Scrutiny Inquiry Panel, to finalise the inquiry plan.

Report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance enabling the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee to monitor and track progress on recommendations made to the Executive at previous meetings, attached. 

The Committee received and noted the report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance detailing the actions of the Executive and monitoring progress of the recommendations of the Committee.