Decision Maker: Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Outcome: Item Deferred

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: May 21, 2025

Purpose:

Content: OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE   WEDNESDAY 21 MAY 2025   RESOLUTIONS   The following are the resolutions made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the above meeting.   Please note that these are not the full minutes, which will be published at a later date.   Date of resolutions: 21 May 2025   If you have any queries about any matters referred to in this notice, please contact: Artemis Kassi, Head of Scrutiny and Governance (artemis.kassi@newham.gov.uk).     Item 6: Call In of Officer Key Decision: Juniper Ventures   i)  That the Officer Key Decision on 15 April 2025 concerning Juniper Ventures be referred back to Cabinet for reconsideration.   ii)  That the reasons for the referral to Cabinet be noted, as follows:   1.  Business plans The Committee recommended that all business plans and budgets of all subsidiaries be approved by Cabinet before the main budget-setting Full Council. Business plans to include income, expenditure, cash-flow and balance sheets; 2.  Documentation The Committee recommended that all papers provided for scrutiny call in meetings be authorised by the relevant corporate director and, where appropriate, the Monitoring Officer; 3.  Planning for future risk The Committee recommended that appropriate consideration be given to accounting for any potential future risk in the Council’s accounts; 4.  School meals funding (A)  The Committee recommended that the Council write to the Mayor of London, London Councils and the Department of Education that, as part of the grant conditions and stipulations of Free School Meals, contractors pay the London Living Wage to their employees; (B)  The Committee also recommended that the Council write to the Mayor of London, London Councils and the Department of Education to ensure that funding for school meals be calculated on a full cost recovery basis, including the London Living Wage; 5.  Officer Key Decisions The Committee considered that this decision should not have been dealt with as an Officer Key Decision, given its sensitivity. The Committee therefore recommended that a review of Newham Council’s governing document to review the threshold and remit of officer key decisions be included in the work of the Constitutional Review Working Group; 6.  Commercial and Financial Review The Committee recommended that appropriate commercial and financial review of Juniper Ventures and all locally owned Council companies be undertaken to ensure that financial viability and best value considerations and all internal and external risks are managed; 7.  Partnership opportunities The Committee recommended that opportunities for going into partnership with neighbouring boroughs as a shareholder be explored; and 8.  Accountability and Transparency The Committee recommended referral of the Officer Key Decision back to Cabinet, in the interests of public accountability and transparency.