Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are required to note the confirmed appointments to the position ofChair and Vice Chair of the Corporate Committee, as agreed by Full Council at its Annual Meeting on 17 May 2023.

RESOLVED:

To note the appointment of Cllr Penny Wrout and Cllr Sarah Young as the Chair and Vice Chair of the Corporate Committee respectively for the municipal year 2023/24.

1.1  The Corporate Committee noted the appointment of Cllr Penny Wrout and Cllr Sarah Young as the Chair and Vice Chair of the Corporate Committee respectively for the municipal year 2023/24.

RESOLVED:

To note the appointment of Cllr Penny Wrout and Cllr Sarah Young as the Chair and Vice Chair of the Corporate Committee respectively for the municipal year 2023/24.

The Committee is required to note the terms of reference as set out in Part 3, paragraph 3.3.5 of the Council’s Constitution. The Committee is also to note that the Constitution, including the terms of reference for Committees is being reviewed by the Constitution Committee. Any changes to the terms of reference will be reported to a future Corporate Committee.

RESOLVED:

To note the Corporate Committee Terms of Reference for the municipal year 2023/2024.

2.1  Committee members noted the Corporate Committee Terms of Reference for the municipal year 2023/2024.

2.2  The Committee also noted that the Constitution, including the terms of reference for Committees was being reviewed by the Constitution Committee. Any changes to the terms of reference will be reported to a future Corporate Committee meeting.

2.3  The Chair briefly explained to members that two additional pieces of work would be added to Committee’s work programme for 2023/24; Strategic Plan and the Peer Review. The Chair had received an update on the former from the Council’s Head of Policy and Strategic Delivery who explained that work was progressing to align delivery of the strategic plan to manifesto commitments, service delivery plans, resourcing, financial planning, performance management, and risk management. The Council was embarking on a piece of work over summer to develop theories of change linked to the long term outcomes in the strategic plan.

2.4  The Chair was keen for the Corporate Committee to oversee the work on the Peer Review, however it was noted that might not be done until 2024.

RESOLVED:

To note the Corporate Committee Terms of Reference for the municipal year 2023/2024.

The Corporate Committee is to approve the establishment and membership of the Planning Sub-Committee and to note that any further changes to the Membership of the Planning  Sub-Committee during the Municipal Year 2023/24 will be reported to the Corporate Committee for consideration.

RESOLVED:

The establishment and the composition of the Planning Sub-Committee to be approved for the municipal year 2023/2024.

3.1  The Corporate Committee approved the establishment and the composition of the Planning Sub-Committee for the municipal year 2023/2024.

3.2  The Chair reminded those Planning Sub-Committee members that if they had not done so already to ensure that they had undertaken the compulsory planning training. Cllr Samatar confirmed that she had recently completed the training.

RESOLVED:

The establishment and the composition of the Planning Sub-Committee to be approved for the municipal year 2023/2024.

4.1  Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Desmond, Narcross, Cllr Race and Cllr Sadek.

4.2  It was noted that Cllr Potter and Cllr Premru had joined the meeting remotely. Councillors accessing the meeting remotely, were reminded that they were not counted as being ‘present’ for the purposes of the Local Government Act 1972 and may not vote on any item under consideration. At the discretion of the Chair, may however contribute to the discussion and participate in non-decision making capacity.

5.1   There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 14 March 2023, subject to amendments, be agreed as a true and accurate record of those meetings’ proceedings.

6.1  The Corporate Committee considered the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 14 March 2023, subject to the following amendments:

·  Cllr Maxwell was present at the meeting;

·  Page five Manor Park to be replaced by Manor House;

·  Cllr Potter agreed at the meeting to follow up on behalf of the Committee any updates on the Strategic Plan.

Matters Arising

6.2  The Chair notified the committee that the update on the Public Realm and policies for tables and chairs on pavements, as outlined on the draft work programme 2023/24 (see also agenda item 10) was expected at the next Committee meeting in September.

6.3  The Governance Officer agreed to seek updates Green Flag work, Chief Executive Pay report, data on Dalston enforcement and Equalities Demographic data and hire bikes on pavements since the last Committee meeting and notify the Committee members.

6.4  The Council’s Head of Community Safety, Enforcement and Business Regulation notified members that Dalston enforcement was included as part of item 9 on the agenda.

6.5  The Council’s Head of Community Safety, Enforcement and Business Regulation explained that currently were unable to breakdown the Temporary Event Notice (TEN) data by type. When the new database was operational then the Council should be able to provide that breakdown of data.

6.6  The Council’s Head of Community Safety, Enforcement and Business Regulation explained that they had asked Turning Point UK, the City of London and Hackney Substance Misuse Service, about the number of referrals to them. However, that data had not yet been provided because of General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) issues. The Council’s Street Population Coordinator was looking into the matter and The Council’s Head of Community Safety, Enforcement and Business Regulation would seek a further update from them and report back to the Committee.

6.7  The Corporate Committee noted that Cllr Potter, Cllr Turbet-Delof and Cllr Young had attended the Hackney Service Centre (HSC) 10 May 2023 as part of a Corporate Committee and Council Joint Committee joint visit with Cllr Williams, Cabinet Member for Employment, Human Resources and Equalities.

6.8  Cllr Suso-Runge suggested for future Corporate Committee meeting minutes if actions could be highlighted in bold with bullet points.

Action:

The Governance Officer to:

·  Seek updates from the relevant Council Officers on the Green Flag work, Chief Executive Pay report, Equalities Demographic data and higher bikes on pavements since the last Committee meeting; and

·  Update the Committee members on the latest developments in those areas.

Action:

The Council’s Head of Community Safety, Enforcement and Business Regulation would contact the Council’s Street Population Coordinator for an update on data on those people referred to Turning Point UK, the City of London and Hackney Substance Misuse Service.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 14 March 2023, subject to amendments, be agreed as a true and accurate record of proceedings.

RESOLVED:

To note the contents of the update report.

7.1  The Council’s Strategic Director Customer and Workplace gave an update on the future workplace and ways of working.

7.2   Following the update, Members of the Committee asked questions leading to the following points being raised: 

·  On the releasing of assets to generate alternative income, it was noted that  was part of a separate asset review process which the Strategic Property Services Team. That process carefully considered the different options. Workplace changes were separate to this process and would make available for the asset review process. It was emphasised that it was not just about income generation but also about the need for accommodation in the borough. Council buildings were not just being vacated and sold off;

·  On face to face services, it was highlighted that the HSC had re-opened in early 2021 and it was noticeable that though some Council services had returned to being face to face it was understood that some local residents were still prefer to have available other means to them to contact the Council;

·  Staff occupancy rates for Council buildings prior March 2020 was unavailable. It was noticeable that the peak days for occupancy for the HSC, for example, was Tuesdays to Thursday both pre and post pandemic;

·  A keep aspect of remote working was to ensure that it continued to be a benefit for staff, Councillors and local residents;

·  Cllr Potter briefly spoke about the recent visit to the HSC and recalled that her and her fellow Councillors had witnessed a productive, positive and dynamic workplace. The third floor of the HSC in particular was cited as significant example of good balance of flexible work spaces;

·  The Committee agreed it would be a good idea for the Committee undertake a follow up visit to Council buildings off campus;

·  On the issue of how Neighbourhood Offices was currently operating it was felt that Council’s Strategic Director Housing would be better placed to provide an assessment. However they were very conscious of the need to ensure officers were accessible and visible to leaseholders and local residents;

·  It was clarified that the reference to no Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) was only referring to the report to the wider service as a whole;

·  Equalities was at the core of workplace arrangements. There had been significant staff engagement both with staff and also the various staff equalities groups to make sure the Council is listening and understanding their needs and that this was reflected in the plans. There was also active dialogue with the Trade Unions both during and after the pandemic;

·  It was recognised that staff members’ individual working arrangements differed significantly with the Council’s flexible working policy. It provided a number of tools for managers and staff to manage family commitments and such alike, however, it was also recognised that it was about striking a balance and for managers to work with staff but the needs of the residents had to come first. It was felt that the flexible working policy was broad enough to provide  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

RESOLVED:

·  The Food Law Enforcement Service Plan for 2023/24 was reviewed and agreed.

·  The level and scope of the work being carried out to meet the requirements of the plan was considered and noted.

·  The level and scope of work being carried out to meet the requirements of the Health and Safety and Trading Standards Service Delivery Plans was noted.

8.1  The Council’s Head of Community Safety, Enforcement and Business Regulation updated the Committee on Business Regulation Service Delivery Plans 2023/24. The report relates to service delivery plans for three of these areas:

? Environmental Health Service: Food Safety

? Environmental Health Service: Occupational Health & Safety

? Trading Standards

8.2   Following the update, Members of the Committee asked questions leading to the following points being raised:

·  Committee members thanked all the Council staff for their hard work in food safety especially during the pandemic and it was good to see number of businesses with a rating of five stars with an increase from 52% to 56%;

·  It was noted from the risk matrix that extra resources was needed to address increased demand. An additional 800 registrations was expected in 2023 and in additional agency member of staff had been employed by the service and another agency member of staff role was currently being advertised. The situation would be reviewed quarterly with a review at the end of June and at the end of September 2023 and if it was found that additional resources was required then the Head of Community Safety, Enforcement and Business Regulation would submit a bid to the Group Director;

·  The Service already received notifications of food safety issues e.g. food poisoning through the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). The Council’s own service would also investigate itself suspected cases of food poisoning in the borough. The Head of Community Safety, Enforcement and Business Regulation would provide figures for the number of service requests received in relation to food poisoning by members of the public and how many infectious disease notifications the service dealt with in the borough. That information to the committee would be supplied through the Governance Officer;

·  It was commendable that no business in Hackney had a zero rating;

·  The Committee noted that the re-inspection charge would increase from £170.00 to £320.00 in 2023/24. Businesses would have pay for a re-inspection because they would not automatically receive one from the Council without three months passing. The Council also provided businesses would advice whilst an inspection was being undertaken. Normally a business would get a lower rating because they would wanted a food safety management system in place. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were less likely to have in place than national chain store. The Service would work with businesses to make sure they get a better rating. The Council would not write the food safety management system for businesses only guide to them resources they required to do so in order to allow them to do that;

·  A re-inspection would occur to give a business a better rating but as previously mentioned that could take place until three months after the previous inspection. However, that business could play to have re-inspection take place sooner;

·  The service could information and resources in various languages to assist those business owners for whom English was not their main language;

·  The Committee noted that the Service a full time member of staff  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

RESOLVED:

To note the annual performance report for the service.

9.1  The Council’s Head of Community Safety, Enforcement andBusiness Regulation updated the Committee on the Environmental Enforcement Annual Performance Report 2022/23. The published report set out the key areas relating to enforcement, the management arrangements and resources that had been allocated for this work by the local authority and the key targets.

9.2  The Chair reminded committee members that such was the nature of this type of work that the members’ comments would be influenced by casework. However, the committee members must not go into specific details.

9.3   Following the update, Members of the Committee asked questions where a number of points were raised including the following;

·  Head of Community Safety, Enforcement and Business Regulation agreed to provide for the committee an organogram of the Council’s Environmental Enforcement Service;

·  Normally the service would provide statistics for the past three years but the Head of Community Safety, Enforcement and Business Regulation would provide enforcement spend figures for 2019-20;

·  In terms of the financial spend for the Late Night Levy (LNL) those details would be discussed and examined at the Council’s Licensing Committee. It was recognised that a large number of projects were covered and funded by the LNL;

·  Regarding the priorisation of services and resourcing, commercial noise and the Night Time Economy (NTE) were covered by specific NTE meetings and how many reports the service received the previous week relating to all the businesses in the borough. The service also had access to Police data which would reveal the number of incidents that had taken place inside and outside certain premises. There was also ongoing casework by officers. Cases could be prioritised for a number of reasons;

·  On closure orders, Hackney had one of the highest in London and the Council was effective in managing cases of Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB);

·  Enforcement work was prioritised through a number of sources including enforcement officer patrols and noise reports. Case work was always ongoing and the work of the service was always intelligence-led;

·  The committee were reminded that the service had to adhere to a Council policy on enforcement which was a three stage process with communication being a key feature and then if an individual did not comply then the Council would take that person to court. It was a very small minority who would not comply;

·  The service had a good working relationship with police in undertaking closure orders and the police had supported the Council in court with evidence;

·  The committee noted that enforcement was achieved through multiple agencies working together and this was supported by an extensive 24/7 365 days a year Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) network across the borough;

·  Regarding ongoing specific issues in the borough, such as Manor House, there was the weekly Street Users Outreach meetings and through those meetings individuals would be identified who needed help. A Street Populist Coordinator had also been employed in which they work with individuals who have issues working with Turning Point UK. It was recognised that there were some  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

RESOLVED:

To note the latest draft of the Work Programme 2023/24.

10.1  The Committee noted the draft work programme for 2023/24.

10.2  An update on Public Realm would be provided at the next Committee meeting along with the Strategic Review. As previously mentioned, an update on the Peer Review was expected in early 2024.

RESOLVED:

There are no official recommendations arising from this report. This report is for

information purposes and for Corporate Committee to note.

11.1  There was no urgent business for consideration.