Minutes for Employing Disabled People Scrutiny Commission meeting, Jul 20 2009, 5.00PM official page

The Chair, Councillor Bourne, welcomed Members to the first meeting of the Employing Disabled People Scrutiny Commission.

Councillor Patricia Holland had given her apologies due to other Council business.

This is the time for Members to declare any interest they may have in any matter being considered at this meeting.  The Code of Conduct is set out in Part 5.1 of the Council's Constitution and advice is attached. (Enclosure).

There were none.

The Chair will agree with members the arrangement of the meeting, including the order of business and confirmation of agenda items.

The Chair agreed the arrangement of the meeting, including the order of business and confirmation of agenda items.

Members to agree a Deputy Chair for this Commission.

Members agreed to elect Councillor Lakmini Shah as Deputy Chair of the Employing Disabled People Scrutiny Commission.

Proposal for a scrutiny review of employing people with learning disabilities in Newham (Enclosure)

Members to consider and agree the scope for this Commission with terms of reference as outlined in paragraphs 3.3 – 3.5 and the timetable as outlined in paragraph 6.1.

The Chair informed the Commission of the proposed focus for its scrutiny review on employing disabled people. Members considered the draft scoping report and noted that the Council is the largest employer in the borough and that out of all the disabled people it employs, people with learning disabilities make up a small percentage. Members also noted that the Council has launched a new employment scheme, Bright Futures, to increase the number of people with learning disabilities employed by the Council.

The Commission was informed that a range of Council officers and partners have been consulted about the focus for the Commission’s review. The Commission heard that the Deputy Mayor and the Executive Member for Business Partnerships and Skills had made some suggestions of issues for the Commission to consider. The Chair would also speak to the Executive Member for Equalities and Social Inclusion and the Executive Member for Older People for their views. As stated in the scoping report, Executive Members would also be invited to contribute formally to the Commission’s review.

Councillor Shah emphasised that it would be important for the Commission to hear from people with learning disabilities themselves, and the barriers they had experienced in securing work and/or good practice. Councillor Ahmad suggested that the Commission could identify good practice in neighbouring boroughs. The Chair suggested that Members could speak to residents with learning disabilities in their ward and report their experiences to the Commission.

Members agreed that supporting children and young people with learning disabilities in school was important to ensure they were better placed to find work as adults. Members agreed that the Commission could acknowledge this but that, due to the tight timescales for the review, the review would focus on adults with learning disabilities.

Decision

The Commission agreed to carry out a review of employing people with learning disabilities in Newham with the following terms of reference:

·  To examine how the Council is removing barriers to employment for people with learning disabilities, with a particular focus on the Council’s Bright Futures employment scheme for people with learning disabilities

·  To look at the extent to which the Council is working together with partners and local employers to increase employment of local people with learning disabilities

·  To make recommendations to the Mayor for any further actions that could be taken to increase employment levels for people with learning disabilities in Newham.

The Commission agreed to the timetable for the review of employing people with learning disabilities in Newham as outlined in the scoping report for the scrutiny review, with the Commission considering its draft report and recommendations in December 2009.

Tuesday 1^st September 2009

Tuesday 6^th October 2009

Tuesday 3^rd November 2009

Tuesday 1^st December 2009

All meeting will commence at 7pm and be held at Newham Town Hall, East Ham, unless otherwise stated.

Members are asked to note these dates which will be added to the official engagements calendar.

Members noted the following dates for future meetings of the Commission:

Tuesday 1^st September 2009

Tuesday 6^th October 2009

Tuesday 3^rd November 2009

Tuesday 1^st December 2009

All meeting will commence at 7pm and be held at Newham Town Hall, East Ham, unless otherwise stated.