The Overview and Scrutiny Committee of Barnet Council met on Wednesday 18 September 2024 to discuss a range of important issues, including the Council's financial forecast, the Life Chances Strategy, and the revised Statement of Licensing Policy. Key decisions were made regarding the Council Tax Support Scheme, with recommendations for further investigation into its structure and fairness. The committee also reviewed the findings of a Task and Finish Group on Youth Homelessness, endorsing its report for consideration by Cabinet.

Review of Council Tax Support Scheme

The committee reviewed the Council Tax Support Scheme, noting that expenditure had risen from approximately £21 million to £27 million. While initial increases were attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, councillors questioned the ongoing drivers for demand and how the Council was supporting residents. The Head of Finance – Exchequer explained that Barnet's scheme is based on earnings, unlike some other boroughs that consider broader income, and that individuals not working could receive the maximum award regardless of other assets. This led to a discussion about whether the scheme might be over-subsidising some individuals, and the committee resolved that officers should investigate this further. They also requested more information on how income bands were calculated, whether inflation and the living wage were considered, and for comparative data from other London boroughs to be included in future discussions.

Review of the Life Chances Strategy

Councillor Pauline Coakley Webb, Cabinet Member for Family Friendly Barnet, introduced the report on the Life Chances Strategy, highlighting the department's recent 'Good' Ofsted rating and the significant progress made in improving outcomes for children and young people. The committee discussed concerns about rising dental issues among children and the geographical concentration of child deprivation. The Assistant Director of Education, Strategy, and Partnerships provided an update on the strategy's implementation, noting that detailed action plans and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) exist, even if not fully detailed in the report. A significant portion of the discussion focused on vaccination rates, with updated figures showing Barnet's rates for MMR doses were now above the London average, contrary to older data in the report. The committee noted the report and requested an update following the Adults and Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee's consideration of vaccination data.

Revised Statement of Licensing Policy

The committee reviewed the revised Statement of Licensing Policy, a statutory document that requires review every five years. Ella Smallcomb, Head of Customer and Public Protection, and Ash Shah, Service Manager – Trading Standards and Licensing, presented the policy. The discussion touched upon the support for a safe late-night economy and the effectiveness of the Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) in Burnt Oak. It was confirmed that the CIZ, in operation since 2019, had not led to licence refusals and had not seen a significant increase in anti-social behaviour, leading to its consideration for renewal. The committee also requested an investigation into the possibility of including licensing and planning training for ward councillors within the Member Development programme.

Chief Finance Officer Report - 2024/25 Quarter 1 Financial Forecast and 2024/25 Budget Management

Councillor Ammar Naqvi, Cabinet Member for Financial Sustainability and Reducing Poverty, presented a serious outlook on the Council's financial position, forecasting a potential £20 million overspend. He detailed the national and local factors contributing to this, including reduced government funding and increased demand for services. The committee engaged in a lengthy debate about the scale of the challenge, with Councillor Peter Zinkin, Leader of the Conservative Group, questioning whether the administration was adequately explaining the situation to residents and highlighting the underlying deficit after one-off measures. The discussion also covered the significant pressures from temporary accommodation costs, the impact of past borrowing decisions, and the need for central government to recognise Barnet's demographic challenges. The committee noted the report and requested an investigation into improving debt recovery and overpayment processes, and that Equality Impact Assessments and public consultation responses be carefully considered for any proposed significant savings.

Youth Homelessness Task and Finish Group Report

Councillor Jennifer Grocock, Chair of the Youth Homelessness Task and Finish Group, presented the group's first report. The group had met with officers and young people to evaluate current support systems and identify areas for improvement. The report highlighted that while Barnet's homelessness levels were relatively low, proactive measures were crucial. Seven recommendations were made, focusing on a new approach to prevention and intervention, including revising Barnet Homes' homelessness process, providing longer-term funding for a Housing Mediator, creating informative leaflets for young people and their families, developing a Youth Homelessness Directory, and improving joint working between council services and the voluntary sector. The committee approved the report and agreed to refer it to Cabinet.

Task and Finish Group Updates

The Overview and Scrutiny Manager provided an update on ongoing Task and Finish Group activities. A new visual progress update was introduced, and the committee agreed to review topics such as food banks, fostering, sustainable travel, and allotment governance and management. Dog fouling was deferred to a later date.

Cabinet Forward Plan (Key Decision Schedule)

The Head of Governance presented the Cabinet Forward Plan, highlighting the Council's effort to develop a more comprehensive plan to allow for earlier pre-decision scrutiny. The committee noted that the Food Waste Service was scheduled to go to Cabinet on 5 December 2024 and agreed that this item should be added to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee's Work Programme for pre-decision scrutiny.

Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme

The committee reviewed its Work Programme for 2024-25. It was confirmed that the Food Waste Service would be added for pre-decision scrutiny. The Chair and Vice-Chair also indicated they would be reviewing the process for tracking and reporting on the committee's responses and recommendations.

The meeting concluded with the Chair thanking all participants for their contributions and patience.