Issue - items at meetings - Updates on Scrutiny Panels

Report 113 – draft scrutiny panel report on homelessness

Report 113a – draft scrutiny panel report on alcohol

113.1    Councillor Lizzie Deane presented the scrutiny panel report on alcohol to HWOSC and summarised the findings and recommendations that the panel had made. Councillor Deane had been Chair of the panel, along with Councillors Mo Marsh and Dee Simson.

113.2    Members queried how much sway scrutiny panels could have over altering licensing definitions. Councillor Deane said that the panel had made their recommendations as they felt that it was an important issue but that they would take guidance from the Licensing Team.

113.3    Members agreed and endorsed the scrutiny panel report without amendments. Councillor Deane thanked everyone who had taken part in the panel.

113.4    Councillor Andrew Wealls then presented the scrutiny panel report on homelessness to HWOSC, summarising the findings and recommendations that were made. Councillor Wealls had been Chair of the panel, along with Councillors Alan Robins and Ollie Sykes.

113.5    Councillor Wealls apologised for the time taken to complete the panel but said that members had wanted to talk to everyone who was involved rather than rushing the process. He paid particular tribute to the homeless service users who had contributed to the panel meetings, as well as the voluntary sector and the council staff.

There was a lot of excellent work taking place in Brighton and Hove regarding homelessness. It was hard to judge whether this made Brighton a more attractive place to be if you were homeless.

113.6    Councillor Robins said that he had found the panel process a very poignant one. He had had personal experiences which had led him close to becoming homelessness in the past; it was just a matter of luck. Councillor Sykes said that he too had gained a lot from the panel.

113.7    Councillor Wealls said that he would be interested to see the administration’s response to the report and recommendations.

113.8    Members agreed and endorsed the scrutiny panel report without amendments. Panel members thanked everyone who had taken part in the panel.