Reviews & challenge sessions 2008/09

Each year a number of reviews are undertaken by working groups made up of local councillors on issues of local concern or interest.

Some reviews take many months and can involve site visits and focus group sessions with local people and organisations. Others focus on an issue over a couple of meetings before producing a final report.

The recommendations which are made by working groups are reported to cabinet and often lead to changes being made in the way we, or other service providers, offer services to local people.

Reviews for this year:

Affordable homeownership
This review explores the Council and its partners' approach to affordable homeownership with a view to supporting local residents into appropriate affordable homes.

Child poverty
This review explores community leadership in the context of the One Tower Hamlets aspiration using child poverty as a case study.

East of Life Care Services
This year the Health Scrutiny Panel are looking at end of life care provision for local communities. The review is focused on the integration of health and social care at this important stage of life and the equity of access to services as well as how well services are meeting local needs.

Early Intervention
This review looks at early intervention services in children's social care, identify any gaps in existing provisions and to explore the case for extending the service to deliver greater value for money, improving access to services and a more effective service for users.

Parental Engagement in secondary Education
To review current policy and practice by the LA in supporting and encouraging parental engagement in secondary schools.

Scrutiny Review, Smashed, Alcohol misuse amongst young people
To identify the root cause and consequence of alcohol misuse amongst young people and to consider existing systems, procedures and initiatives intended to reduce alcohol misuse among young people in Tower Hamlets.