Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd September, 2014 were signed as a true record. There were no matters arising.

The following matter is reported to Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee, in accordance with Part 2D, paragraph 1.6 of the City Council’s Constitution, it being responsible for the overall management of the Scrutiny and Overview function and for dealing with call-ins.

Cabinet Member (Business, Enterprise and Employment) Item of Urgent Public Business

Draft Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) – Technical Evidence Paper

The Cabinet Member (Business, Enterprise and Employment) considered the above report at his meeting on 11^th September, 2014. Councillor Skipper, Chair of Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee, attended the meeting and agreed that the decision was urgent and call-in should not apply.

In accordance with Part 3E, paragraph 19.4 of the Council’s Constitution, the report is presented to Scrutiny Co-ordination Committeeto inform them of the reason for urgency. The reason for urgency was that the publication of the draft Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) update forms an integral part of the Local Plan public engagement process, which commenced on 12^th September, 2014. This is particularly in relation to the Duty to Cooperate and the Council’s on-going engagement with its neighbouring authorities in relation to housing need and supply. The SHLAA is also a technical evidence paper, which will help inform local communities and stakeholders about the Council’s housing land supply and allow for consultation feedback to be collected and used to help inform the final version of the document. As such, it was urgent that the draft SHLAA was made available alongside the Local Plan paper to support the public engagement process.

The Committee noted that a report of the Executive Director, Place headed ‘Draft Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) – Technical Evidence Paper’ had been considered by the Cabinet Member (Business, Enterprise and Employment) at his meeting on 11^th September, 2014. The Committee noted that Councillor Skipper, Chair of Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee had attended the meeting and agreed that the decision was urgent and that call-in should not apply.

In accordance with Part 3E, paragraph 19.4 of the Council’s Constitution, the report was presented to Scrutiny Co-ordination Committeeto inform them of the reason for urgency. The reason for urgency was that the publication of the draft Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) update formed an integral part of the Local Plan public engagement process, which commenced on 12^th September, 2014. This was particularly in relation to the Duty to Cooperate and the Council’s on-going engagement with its neighbouring authorities in relation to housing need and supply. The SHLAA was also a technical evidence paper, which would help inform local communities and stakeholders about the Council’s housing land supply and allowed for consultation feedback to be collected and used to help inform the final version of the document. As such, it was urgent that the draft SHLAA was made available alongside the Local Plan paper to support the public engagement process.

Briefing note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator and presentation from the Working Together on Welfare Reform Group

The following representatives have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this matter:

Sue Bent, Coventry Law Centre

Martin Buxcey, Department for Work and Pensions

Janet Gurney, Coventry Law Centre

Daksha Piparia, Citizens Advice Bureau

Gaynor Smith, Department for Work and Pensions

Mary-Ann Stephenson, Warwick University

The Committee considered a briefing note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator and two presentations concerning the impact of benefit sanctions on people in Coventry. Sue Bent and Janet Gurney, Coventry Law Centre, Martin Buxcey, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), Daksha Piparia, Citizens Advice Bureau and Mary-Ann Stephenson, Warwick University attended the meeting for the consideration of this matter.

The briefing note referred to the partnership working of the Working Together on Welfare Reform Group which continued to meet to discuss common issues, share knowledge and work together to tackle problems arising from the wide scale changes to the welfare system. Both Coventry Law Centre and the Citizen’s Advice Bureau had recently worked with Coventry Women’s Voices and the Centre for Human Rights in Practice at the University of Warwick on a research project looking at the impact of sanctions and how to address some of the issues. A copy of the report was attached at an appendix to the briefing note. The findings of the project strongly supported the findings of national research and research conducted locally elsewhere in the country.

Mary-Ann Stephenson, Warwick University gave a presentation which set out the background to the research project and highlighted the new sanctions. The methodology was explained and reference was made to two national studies undertaken by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Mathew Oakley. The problems with the sanctions process were explained along with the negative impacts including the impact on job seeking behaviour. The conclusions of the project were:

(a) The sanctions process did not meet standards set out in the Oakley review

(b) Sanctions were having a serious negative impact on individuals and families in Coventry

(c) Sanctions were making it harder to look for work.

Attention was drawn to the meeting of the ‘Working Together’ Group with Martin Buxcey, DWP, which had already agreed a number of actions as a result of these findings. These included working to develop a local protocol that could be used to escalate to DWP concerns about individual case; having a single point of contact at DWP; and joint training between DWP and partners to focus on early intervention and prevention so that consistent advice and support was provided. The two main recommendations of the report were (i) change was needed in the sanctions policy at a national level and (ii) even within the existing policy there was significant scope for improving practice.

Tim Savill, Head of Revenues and Benefits, gave a presentation on the work of the ‘Working Together’ Group which detailed the challenges to be faced; informed about the monthly meetings; the positive outcomes; and what this partnership working had achieved. Copies of the presentation slides and the Groups’ strategy and key priorities were set out at appendices 2 and 3 of the briefing note.

Members questioned the officers and representatives on a number of issues and responses were provided. Matters raised included:

·  The potential impact of the report

·  How the findings of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Report of the Cabinet Member (Health and Adult Services) who has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

Presentation by the Director of Public Health

The Committee considered a report and presentation from Councillor Gingell, Cabinet Member (Health and Adult Services) on the issue of Female Genital Mutilation (FMG) in Coventry. Daniel Conteh and Virginia Ringane, Celsetineceleste Community Organisation attended the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The report provided an outline of what Female Genital Mutilation was; the legislation in relation to FMG; the implications of the practice on women and the outcomes for survivors; the prevalence of FMG and details of local actions so far. It also informed of the national recommendations to eliminate the practice of FMG and set out the local recommendations which were to be submitted to the Health and Well-being Board.

The presentation highlighted the prevalence of FMG in Coventry. UHCW midwifery had reported 34 women affected by FMG between April and August 2014. Data from West Midlands Police indicated that for 2014 to date there had been 84 referrals, 48 of which were from Coventry. Attention was drawn to the FMG conference to be held in Coventry on 13^th November, 2014.

The representatives from the Celestine Community Organisation, a group who provided support and education to those who were victims of or were at risk of FMG, informed of their current work and the attitudes towards FMG from different communities. The Committee placed on record their appreciation for their attendance at the meeting and for the work they undertook.

The Committee questioned the Cabinet Member, the officers and the community representatives on a number of issues and responses were provided. Matters raised included:

·  Cultural acceptance

·  The different roles of men and women within the African communities where FMG was practiced, both in supporting and challenging the practice

·  The difference between a medical model and a cultural or social model that could be used to address the issue

·  The barriers to schools for providing education programmes

·  The positive role that UHCW plays in identifying and reporting cases of FMG

·  The view of the United Nations

The report set out the following proposals for action:

a.  A multi-faceted awareness campaign is implemented targeting health, education, social care, voluntary sector, practising communities and other relevant professionals.

b.  Further partnership work between the Council, Coventry University and the Voluntary Sector to effectively engage with communities to ensure the Female Genital Mutilation campaign is successful

c.  The implementation of training programmes across Coventry for professionals and communities.

d.  Coventry should strive to prevent Female Genital Mutilation through Law Enforcement. Professionals and Communities need to continue to support the Police to enforce the law against parents / guardians who permit Female Genital Mutilation and the practitioners who carry it out and prevent women and girls being taken out of UK legal jurisdiction with the intention of carrying out Female Genital Mutilation.

e.  All suspected cases should continue to be referred as part of existing child safeguarding obligations. Information and support should be given to families to protect girls at risk. Better awareness of Female Genital Mutilation and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

Briefing note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Committee considered a briefing note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator concerning the reporting arrangements for outside bodies to Scrutiny during 2014-15. Details of the proposed reporting routes were set out at an appendix attached to the note. A draft report template highlighting the content and requirements was set out at a second appendix.

The briefing note indicated that it was a constitutional requirement for the Committee to decide at the start of the municipal year which outside bodies it wished to receive reports from. The criteria currently applied to determine consideration was set out along with several proposed changes. In particular, the approach to secondary school governing bodies, trusts and foundations had been inconsistent and it was recommended that these did not report to Scrutiny unless requested by the Chair of Education and Children’s Scrutiny Board (2).

The Committee discussed whether it was good value to continue to receive such reports. There was an acknowledgment that if there was an issue with a particular organisation then the onus would be on the member to report back with their concerns.

RESOLVED that:

(1) The Committee to receive report backs from the eight organisations who receive financial assistance from the City Council.

(2) A letter be sent to all Councillor representatives on the other organisations part way through the year asking if there are any issues that require consideration by the Committee.

(3) The content and requirements of the report template be approved.

(4) Officers be requested to timetable the required outside bodies reports on the Committee’s work programme.  

Report of the Lord Mayor, Councillor Noonan

The Committee considered a report of the Lord Mayor, Councillor Hazel Noonan concerning her civic visit to Kiel, Germany from 20^th to 23^rd June, 2014 for 132^nd Kieler Woche.

The Lord Mayor took part in a programme of events hosted by Kiel City Council to mark the formal opening of Kieler Woche. This was the largest summer festival in northern Europe and the largest sailing sports event in the world. The report detailed both the costs and benefits of attendance.

RESOLVED that the report of the Lord Mayor’s civic visit to Kiel and associated Kieler Woche celebrations be endorsed.

All outstanding issues have been included in the work programme below

The Committee noted that all outstanding issues had been included in the work programme for the year.

Report of the Members and Elections Team Manager

The Committee considered a briefing note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator, appended to which was the 2014/15 work programme.

It was recommended that Child Sexual Exploitation to be considered at the meeting scheduled for 10^th December, 2014 and Welfare Reform ber considered at the 4^th February, 2015 meeting.

RESOLVED that the work programme be updated as indicated.

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of public business.