The Overview and Scrutiny Committee met on Thursday 14 December 2023 to discuss a range of important council matters, including emergency preparedness and the development of a night-time economy strategy. The committee also received updates on various policy and scrutiny committee activities and heard from the Leader of the Council on key regeneration and support initiatives.

Emergency Preparedness

The committee received an overview of the council's emergency preparedness measures, commending the work undertaken in this crucial area. Questions were raised regarding service development, including the recruitment and training of volunteers and minimum staffing levels. The importance of direct communication with residents during emergencies was highlighted, with a focus on equipping local councillors with the necessary information and tools. The frequency of reviews for emergency preparedness plans and the adequacy of the budget to ensure a robust response were also discussed. A notable point of discussion was the absence of an Equalities Impact Assessment for emergency preparedness, with the committee seeking clarification on this.

The committee recommended that emergency preparedness remain a biannual item on the Overview and Scrutiny work programme. They also advised that communication strategies should be refined for promptness, clarity, and consistency, with councillors being actively included in these strategies due to their vital role in disseminating information. The committee also noted that they would receive further information on the new Humanitarian Assistance Lead role in due course.

Westminster After Dark

An overview of the Westminster After Dark report was presented, focusing on the development of an evening and night-time strategy. The committee heard from a range of stakeholders, including representatives from the City of Sydney, the Night Time Industry Association, and the Mayor of London's Night Czar, Amy Lame. Discussions centred on the challenges of collaborating with diverse stakeholders and balancing their varied interests, particularly in fostering trust with residents. The importance of having honest brokers to convene meetings and ensure feedback from consultees was emphasised.

Key areas of discussion included ensuring inclusive and diverse stakeholder engagement, increasing the diversity of the evening offer, and avoiding assumptions about the homogeneity of the economy across Westminster. The committee stressed the need for evidence-based policy decisions, considering the balance between resident and non-resident views, and proactively engaging with marginalised voices, including the LGBTQ+ community. The role of CCTV monitoring and the importance of appropriate engagement with residents and key stakeholders were also debated.

The committee recommended that targeted outreach efforts should be made to sectors that may not have been adequately engaged, including marginalised voices, and that a wide range of stakeholders should be actively sought and involved. They also recommended that communication during the process should be considered in-depth. It was further recommended that the Westminster After Dark topic should be revisited after the consultation has ended, with a focus on hearing from a range of residents and other key stakeholders to ensure a balance of interests is considered in the development of an Evening and Night Time Plan. The committee will receive a list of channels and organisations the council is using for stakeholder consultation.

Leader's Update

Councillor Adam Hug, Leader of the Council, provided an update on several key council initiatives. Discussions included the importance of making short-term let owners responsible for waste dumping and lobbying for this to be included in a registration scheme. The progress of regeneration schemes, particularly housing developments, and the continuation of the pipeline of works were also discussed.

Specific projects mentioned included the Paddington Recreation development site and the ongoing formal consultation for The Gordon Hospital. The committee sought clarification on whether a meeting with local residents in the immediate area of The Gordon Hospital had been arranged and if the council could organise one if the Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust did not. The possibility of bringing back the out-patients facility at The Gordon Hospital, which stopped before COVID-19, was also raised.

The impact of the Middle East conflict on residents and the council's support measures were discussed, with a request for granular details on the support being provided. The committee also inquired about the council's spend on the Cost of Living compared to neighbouring authorities and how the impact of this spend is monitored. Finally, the importance of focusing on making housing repair systems more effective and efficient, reducing recurring repairs, and improving contractor performance was highlighted.

The committee will receive a briefing note on new regeneration schemes and information on the current stage of the Paddington Recreation development site. They will also receive granular details on the support the council is providing for those impacted by the Middle East conflict.

Policy and Scrutiny Committee Updates

The committee received verbal updates from the chairs of various Policy and Scrutiny Committees. The Climate Action, Environment and Highways Policy and Scrutiny Committee reported on a Call-In regarding the Parking Fee Structure Review, where the committee voted to take no further action. Their next meeting will cover CCTV policy and Highways contract procurement.

The Housing and Regeneration Policy and Scrutiny Committee discussed the Compensations Policy and Allocations Policy, noting the opportunities and risks associated with them. The Vulnerable Adults, Health and Communities Policy and Scrutiny Committee's next meeting was postponed, and they had also heard a Call-In regarding increasing home care workers' pay for a Fairer Westminster, voting to take no further action. The Chair of this committee also chairs the Inner West London Mental Health Services Reconfiguration Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which has several follow-up actions.

The Young People, Learning and Employment Policy and Scrutiny Committee examined the Early Help Strategy, making useful recommendations, and members visited Family Hubs, highlighting the good work being done while cautioning against complacency.