The Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting on Monday 28 October 2024 focused on the review of Capita contracts and proposed changes to the council's fees and charges. Key discussions included the extension of the Capita IT contract to avoid disruption during local elections and a consultation on revised fees and charges across various council services.

Review of Capita Contracts

The committee discussed the ongoing process of bringing services back in-house from Capita. Councillor Ammar Naqvi, Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency, explained that the aim was to improve service delivery and value for money, citing concerns about Capita's performance. Councillor Paul Lemon, Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement, highlighted that bringing services in-house had significantly improved accountability and transparency, allowing for better identification and resolution of inefficiencies.

Councillor Cornelius Innocenti raised concerns about the slow pace of the transition and the IT contract specifically, noting that the proposed capital investment seemed insufficient given IT inflation. He also called for greater scrutiny of the process, particularly as it would span the upcoming local elections. Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of the Council, acknowledged the complexity of the Capita contracts, which involved extensive documentation. He explained that the IT contract extension was a pragmatic measure to prevent disruption during the election period and that the current IT investment was a negotiated cost.

The committee also discussed the potential for shared services with other boroughs, with Councillor Lemon suggesting that Barnet could be a leader in service delivery. However, he noted that securing partnerships with other councils had been challenging.

A request was made for further investigation into the council tax and business rate collection statistics before they were presented to the Cabinet. The committee agreed to establish an informal scrutiny session or reference group to continue discussions on these matters.

Review of Fees and Charges

The committee reviewed proposed amendments to the council's fees and charges for the upcoming year, which affect all residents. Councillor Ammar Naqvi, Cabinet Member for Financial Sustainability and Reducing Poverty, stated that the annual review ensures service quality and value for money, taking into account economic fluctuations.

Councillor Alex Prager questioned the comparison made in the report between parking charges and bus fares, arguing it was misleading due to the omission of other car ownership costs. He also pointed out that actual parking charges, particularly near the Town Hall, were significantly higher than stated. Councillor Ammar Naqvi clarified that the aim was to consult on more consistent parking charges across the borough and to encourage active travel.

Several councillors raised concerns about significant increases in specific charges, including visitor parking permits (88% and 94%), HMO pre-licences, and CCTV requests. Councillor Cohen questioned the rationale behind a 10% increase for wheelie bin charges compared to the general 4.5% inflation-linked increase, and also inquired about a new £50 dispensation to park one vehicle per day. Rebecca Eden, Head of Parking Enforcement, explained that the dispensation product was for specialist deliveries and installations where no parking bay was available.

Councillor Cornelius highlighted a substantial increase in adult social care charges for arranging a care package, from £300 to £2,000, and requested consideration for tapering this charge for those just over the capital limit. Councillor Ammar Naqvi assured the committee that this would be considered as part of the equality impact assessment.

The methodology for calculating inflation, specifically the use of the Retail Price Index (RPI) rather than the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was debated. Councillor Paul Lemon argued that RPI was a better reflection of local residents' costs, including housing and interest rates, while Councillor Ammar Naqvi noted that the Conservative government had used both RPI and CPI for different purposes.

Councillor Edith David raised concerns about parking income being below budget forecasts and questioned the impact of increasing charges when targets were not being met. It was clarified that parking tariffs are set based on reasonableness and compassion, and to encourage sustainable travel, rather than to meet specific income targets.

The committee also discussed EV charging points and the environmental impact of advertising on them, with assurances that green energy was used and that planning applications would address environmental considerations.

Other Matters

The committee noted updates on the Task and Finish Groups and reviewed the Cabinet Forward Plan, with a delay noted for the food waste service item. The agenda for the next meeting was discussed, with suggestions to prioritize time-sensitive items and reschedule others, including cybersecurity and Barnet Homes items, pending further review.