Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr Brar, no substitute

Apologies were received from Cllr Lakhmana substitute

Cllr June Nelson

Apologies were received from Cllr O’ Connor, no substitute

Councillor Peter Kemp declared a pecuniary interest as a governor on the Board of Directors of CNWL.

Cllr David Benson declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Lecturer in Further and Higher Education.

Were agreed as a correct record.

All items were considered in Public.

The Committee discussed several possible review topics for 2012/13. The suggested topics included:

• Housing – Service Delivery since the return of Housing from Hillingdon Homes
• Housing – Tenant Engagement
• Housing - Housing and Benefit Changes and the Impact on Hillingdon Residents
• Housing - The Procurement of Temporary Accommodation

·        Social Services – A Whole Systems Approach to Mental Health Issues

In discussing the above topics, the Committee agreed that Service Delivery since the return of Housing to Hillingdon Homes could be integrated within the Annual Complaints report which the Committee would consider in September 2012.

The Committee agreed that mental health was a very important area which the Committee had not previously investigated and requested a scoping report to be prepared on a Whole Systems Approach to Mental Health Services for 31 July meeting. The Committee also agreed to look at Housing and Benefit Changes and the Impact on Hillingdon Residents from January 2013 and requested a scoping report on this to the November 2012 meeting.

Officers introduced the report which summarised the findings from the review conducted between March and April 2012.

The Committee heard that at present, Housing Needs and Housing Benefits information had not indicated any signs of population movement. However, the Committee noted that there was anecdotal evidence to suggest limited population movement was occurring from inner London to outer London Boroughs.

In relation to school places and the fluctuations in reception class sizes, officers explained that this was a phenomenon seen across all London Boroughs and at present there was not a specific understanding about why this was occurring.

The Committee requested the report to be amended by including further information about school places and for the conclusions to underline that at this stage, the Committee were unable to identify an underlying cause for an increase in reception classes which made it difficult to predict future trends.

Resolved –

1. That officers be requested to amend the report as set out above and for this to be agreed by the Chairman and Labour Lead prior to being sent to the Cabinet Member for Social Services, Health and Housing

The Committee looked at the current Forward Plan and decided not make any comments to Cabinet.

Resolved –

1. That the Forward Plan be noted.

The timetable of meetings and draft work programme was discussed. At the request of the Chairman and with the agreement of the Committee the following dates were moved:

The 6 November 2012 meeting was changed to 7 November 2012

The 5 December 2012 meeting was moved to 4 December 2012

The 23 April 2013 meeting was moved to 24 April 2013

Resolved –

1. That the timetable of meetings and proposed draft work programme for 2012/13 be noted.
2. That the November and December 2012 and April 2013 meeting dates be moved as set out above.