Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr Judith Cooper and Cllr Paula Rodrigues, with Cllr Nicola Brightman substituting.

Apologies were also received from Cllr Tony Eginton, with Cllr John Morse substituting.

None.

RESOLVED: That the minutes from the meeting on 13 June 2018 be confirmed as an accurate record, subject to clarifying that there was a national fund of £30 million for rough sleeping.

It was confirmed that there were no Part II items and that all business would therefore be conducted in public.

Officers introduced the scoping report for the major review, entitled Universal Credit and other welfare benefit changes: likely favourable and adverse impacts, risks and local partnership response.

The Committee was informed that the roll out of Universal Credit in relation to the Housing Revenue Account through increased rent arrears, and of increased homelessness resulting from potential evictions and a reluctance of landlords to house benefit claimants. The review was concerned with understanding the current and likely impact of future of Universal Credit and other welfare reform changes on Hillingdon residents and organisations. It was hoped that some practical recommendations would be made from the review. The terms of reference were also highlighted to the Committee.

Members considered the scoping report to be a good start to the review. It was noted that mechanisms should be put in place before the changes went live in October/November 2018. Members were informed that mechanisms were actively being worked on and changes were introduce to ways of practice through as pilot scheme in HA5 and HA6.

Members were keen to hear from residents throughout the review as they were people most affected by the changes and the best experts. Members also welcomed hearing from DWP representatives and hearing from similar local authorities that had already rolled out the changes. Officers told the Committee that Hounslow and Oxford were good examples and similar to Hillingdon in many ways. Risks were managed and there was a good working group in place to try and negate any risks.

Members discussed the changes and agreed that training for Members would also be helpful in completing forms and the changes in Universal Credit. Members agreed that it would be useful to consider the review from the situation at the beginning, to where changes were made and to the current situation.

Members attention was drawn to two reports; the Department for Work and Pensions: Rolling Out Universal Credit and Carrying the debt from the National Federation of ALMOs. These reports were detailed and it was agreed that these would be sent to Members to read.  

RESOLVED: Members agreed the report titles, scoping report and witness that would be required to enable the Committee to conduct its review.

Officers introduced the 2019/20 Budget planning report and provided an overview of the key highlights. The report provided a strategic context in which the detailed proposals were to be discussed at POC meetings in January 2019. It provided a broader financial position of the Council.

Members questioned the cost of debt service and what the plans were in relation to interest rates. Officers confirmed that they would provide further information on this. In response to Member questions regarding ball point figure of anticipated savings, officers explained that they were always looking to the future and savings were attached in the initiatives such as the supported living programmes where investment in early intervention and other support could avoid more costly intervention at a later date.

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the financial context in which the 2019/20 budget setting process would take place in advance of detailed savings proposals being developed and approved at Cabinet in December 2018.

Officers introduced the report entitled “Tackling Child Sexual Exploitation in Hillingdon” and provided an overview of the key points.

The key points noted during discussions were that the position has strengthen since the 2015 strategy was introduced, focussing on prevention and support. There was a focus on the wider context of vulnerabilities and this had already been started in Hillingdon in comparison to other Boroughs.

In response to Member questions, officers confirmed that there had been an improvement since the operational changes in terms of police moving to three boroughs. It was helpful to have an overview of neighbouring boroughs.

Members thank officers for the report and acknowledged the current situation. Members commented that there was clearly an improvement in the services which was demonstrated in the report.

RESOLVED: That the Committee

(1)   Recognised the ongoing commitment of Children Social Care and its partners to effectively intervene into the lives of those children who are sexually exploited.

(2)   Continued to invest in Hillingdon’s children to successfully prevent and intervene in Child Sexual Exploitation and other contextual risk factors (gangs and youth violence, county lines, human trafficking, modern slavery, etcetera).

The Chairman commented that there had been an excellent Ofsted report for management, there had been a huge difference in performance and this was largely down to officers. The Council was serving children better and the detailed report was a reflection of the services.

Officers introduced the report and provided an overview. Officers added that the service was responding proactively to changes and were aware of areas of concern and what action needed to be undertaken. Honesty was key and there was a relation ship of trust around the table. It was noted that adults services were running homes for children. There was partnership working with adult services and this worked well.

In response to Member questions, further information would be provided in relation to the percentage of the total cost of Home Office grant and what the plans of actions were in relation to areas of improvement. It was also noted that in relation recruitment of foster carers, recruitment was hard due to a number of circumstances such as gender siblings, space and a competitive markets. A number of initiatives had be introduced to try to encourage new suitable people to sign up.

Members congratulated officers for their hard work and the improvements made. Members asked for the annual foster carer report to be included in the work programme.

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the contents of the report and the role the Committee and all Members have in championing the corporate parenting ethos across the Council.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Forward Plan be noted.

RESOLVED: That the work programme be noted.