Agenda item

Councillor Andy Hull, Executive Member Finance, Performance and Community Safety was present for this item.

During consideration of the report the following man points were made –

·         Members were informed that a number of additional indicators had been added and that comparisons can now be made on a year by year basis and the Committee concurred with those amendments, as outlined by the Executive Member

·         A Member expressed concern at a recent incident that she was aware of where the Police response to such incident had been unacceptably slow, and that in her view this should be included in future reports. The Executive Member Finance, Performance and Community Safety stated that this was a Police issue. However,the Mayor of London has also raised this as an issue and the issue of communication is being looked at in terms of the recent merger of Islington and Camden Police forces

·         In relation to the average length of sickness per employee, a Member enquired whether the 7.5 day figure stated was a mean or median figure. The Executive Member Finance, Performance and Community Safety stated that he would ensure that both figures were included in the next report to the Committee

·         Reference was also made to the reporting of ASB and that residents were getting conflicting advice in relation to 101 calls. It was stated that there had been an increase in the calls to the Council’s ASB hotline which is putting additional pressure on the service. There is a need to manage expectations as to the level of service that the ASB team can provide

·         In response to a question, as to the reasons for the varying levels of sickness in departments, it was stated that manual work employees, because of the nature of the work, tended to have more sickness, however return to work interviews were conducted with staff returning from absence and various disciplinary measures could be introduced, if necessary

·         Reference was also made to the levels of sickness in Resources and that the reasons for this should be looked at and whether stress at work is a significant contributory factor in sickness absence levels. Details should be included in the update report on agency staff that is due to be considered by the Committee later in the year

·         A Member referred to a recent incident where she had had problems with getting assistance from the ASB hotline and also with housing staff that she had contacted. It was stated that the Assistant Director of Environment and Regeneration, Jan Hart, should attend a future meeting to discuss the issues raised and contact Councillor O’Halloran concerning the specific incident that she had raised

·         Concern was also expressed that no prosecutions had taken place in relation to incidents at the Finsbury Park Mosque and it was stated that there needed to be an improvement from the Police in this regard. The Committee expressed the view that the Chair should write to the Borough Commander to this effect

RESOLVED:

(a)  That sickness figures be reflected in mean and median formats in the next report to the Committee and details of sickness of staff relating to injuries at work also be provided

(b)  That figures be included for staff who are absent due to stress at work

(c)   That the Assistant Director of Environment and Regeneration be requested to contact Councillor O’Halloran about the specific incident that she referred to above, and this issue also be taken up with the Director of Housing and Adult Social Services in respect of the response from housing staff

(d)  That the Assistant Director of Environment and Regeneration be requested to attend a future meeting of the Committee to discuss issues raised on the ASB service and response that are of concern to Members, as referred to above

(e)  That the Chair be requested to write to the Borough Commander expressing the Committee’s concern at the lack of prosecutions in respect of incidents of Islamaphobia at the Finsbury Park Mosque

(f)    That the Executive Member Finance, Performance and Community Safety be requested to provide details of Domestic Violence sanction and detection rates to Councillor Russell and if these are to be subject of review

The Chair thanked the Executive Member for attending