Agenda and minutes

To note any changes to the membership.

To elect a chairman.

1.1       RESOLVED: That Councillor Melvyn Caplan be elected as chairman.

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any personal or prejudicial interests in matters on this agenda.

2.2       No declarations were received.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2018.

3.1       RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2018 were approved as a correct record of proceedings.

Report of Stuart Love, Chief Executive.

4.1       Stuart Love (Deputy Chief Executive) provided an update on matters of corporate interest, which included (1) Oxford Street; (2) Planning Review; (3) CityWest Homes Review; (4) the Transition from Tri-Borough to Bi-Borough for the Shared Adult Social Care, Children’s and Public Health Services and (5) an Update on the Transfer of Managed Service’s Finance, Payroll and HR Services from BT to Hampshire Integrated Business Centre. 

4.2       The Chief Executive explained that an update on Health/Adult Social Care Integration had not been included in his report, contrary to its reference in the executive summary, as there had been little movement since the commission received an update on it at its last meeting.

4.3       With regards to the review of CityWest Homes (CWH), the Chief Executive informed members that a report from consultants Campbell Tickell was expected at the end of August which will inform a report to the Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services. The Chief Executive was informed that a task group of the Housing, Finance & Customer Services Policy and Scrutiny Committee into CWH had been established and he agreed to ensure that the decision report is not issued until the task group had reported its finding to the committee on 27 September. He suggested that the task group may wish to invite a representative of Campbell Tickell to one of its meetings to assist members in their considerations.

4.4       Members commented that concerns over air pollution has influenced to a greater degree than need to improve Oxford Street. A range of developments in transport practices and technology, both positive (freight consolidation, electric taxis) and negative (motorised pedicabs), were coming forward. Members sought reassurance that such issues would be taken into account when developing new solutions to improve and transform the Street. The Chief Executive commented that pedestrian safety is another important factor that has influenced the need for a new solution for the entire district. He explained that Crossrail stations at Tottenham Court Road and Bond Street will open in December 2018, however, the impact of the additional passenger numbers will not be evident until a year later. The Council will shortly be undertaking a safety audit on the measures that need to be put in place immediately when the stations begin operating and again in December 2019.

4.5       Members commented in relation to the Planning Review that whilst development requires a degree of regulation any changes to the service needed to be measured and not burdensome for applicants. The Chief Executive advised that any proposals will be widely consulted upon. The Council will ensure that its reputation of having a fair and user-friendly planning service is not jeopardised. He further stated that the Council’s planning, licensing and parking services generate significant income for the Council and any changes will need to take this into account.

4.6       The Chief Executive was asked whether the impact of the Grenfell Tower Fire on the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) was likely to have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Report of the Policy and Scrutiny Manager.

5.1       Aaron Hardy (Policy & Scrutiny Manager) presented a report on the Work Programme for 2018-19 and invited Members to review the list of suggested items at Appendix A to the report and decide which of these items or other topics it may wish to include on the work programme.

5.2       The Commission supported receiving reports and future meetings on emergency planning, staff survey, MyWestminster Programme and progress in implementing the Community Cohesion Programme.

5.3       RESOLVED: That the agenda for the meeting on 29 November 2018 should include a question and answer session with the Leader of the Council and a report on emergency planning and preparedness.

5.4       ACTIONS: To facilitate its responsibility for the management and coordination of the policy and scrutiny function, Members would like an overview of each policy and scrutiny committee’s work programme and a summary of their activities. (Action for: Aaron Hardy, Policy and Scrutiny Manager).