Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. View directions

Contact: Angela Brogden (0113) 24 74553  Email: angela.brogden@leeds.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Late Items

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

 

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

Minutes:

There were no late items.

 

2.

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared to the meeting.

 

3.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors A Garthwaite, P Grahame and G Wilkinson.  Notification had been received that Councillor R Grahame was to substitute for Councillor A Garthwaite.

 

4.

Minutes - 26 April 2016 pdf icon PDF 76 KB

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 26 April 2016.

Minutes:

In relation to minute number 92 ‘Waste Strategy Theme – update’, it was noted that whilst the directorate had not yet approached the LGA in helping to address the need for clearer recycling messages and marking on packaging, it continues to raise this matter at a ministerial level.

 

It was also confirmed that the directorate is working with the Environment Agency surrounding air quality management and monitoring arrangements relating to the Recycling and Energy Recovery Facility and the surrounding area.  As requested, a report on this matter will be brought back to Scrutiny.

 

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 26April 2016 be approved as a correct record.

 

5.

Scrutiny Board Terms of Reference pdf icon PDF 118 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the Board’s terms of reference.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the terms of reference for the Environment and Housing Scrutiny Board for Members’ information.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

 

 

6.

Crime and Disorder Scrutiny pdf icon PDF 98 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny role.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development informed the Board of its role as the Council’s Crime and Disorder Committee and included the Protocol between Scrutiny and the Community Safety Partnership in Leeds.

 

The report also made reference to the ‘Principles for Engagement’ document developed by the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel in liaison with the five local Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committees.  This was also attached for Members’ information.

 

In acknowledging the Board’s Crime and Disorder role, Members agreed to send an invitation to the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner to attend a future meeting of the Board.

 

RESOLVED

 

(a)  That the report be noted

(b)  That an invitation be sent to the Police and Crime Commissioner to attend a future meeting of the Scrutiny Board.

 

7.

Co-opted Members pdf icon PDF 101 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the appointment of co-opted members to Scrutiny Boards.

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development sought the Board’s formal consideration for the appointment of co-opted members.

 

The Board was informed that they could appoint the following:

 

·  Up to five non-voting co-opted members for a term of office that does not go beyond the next Annual Meeting of the Council; and/or

·  Up to two non-voting co-opted members for a term of office that relates to the duration of a particular and specific scrutiny inquiry.

 

RESOLVED – The Board agreed to consider the appointment of co-opted members once it had established its work programme for the forthcoming municipal year.

 

8.

Sources of work for the Scrutiny Board pdf icon PDF 104 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on potential sources of work for the Scrutiny Board.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development provided information and guidance on potential sources of work and areas of priority within the Board’s terms of reference.

 

The following were in attendance for this item and invited to share their views around potential areas of work for the Scrutiny Board this year:

 

·  Councillor Debra Coupar, Executive Member for Communities

·  Councillor Lucinda Yeadon, Executive Member for Environment and Sustainability

·  Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Housing

 

Members of the Scrutiny Board also shared their views on potential areas of work for the Scrutiny Board this year.

 

In acknowledging the themed approach adopted by the Scrutiny Board last year, Members agreed to continue this approach again.  As such, the Board agreed the following areas of work in line with the following ‘themes’:

 

Housing

 

Ø  Implications and progress surrounding the Housing and Planning Bill 2015

Ø  The quality of private rented sector housing in Leeds

Ø  Turnaround times for filling void council properties

 

Community Safety

 

Ø  Tackling begging across the city

Ø  The future provision of CCTV

Ø  Addressing anti-social behaviour

Ø  Addressing youth offending

 

Environment

 

Ø  Air Quality

Ø  Addressing areas of underperformance in recycling

Ø  Engaging communities in the recycling agenda

Ø  Reviewing existing recycling services and recyclates  

 

RESOLVED

(a)  That the report and discussion be noted.

(b)  That the areas of work listed above are taken forward by the Scrutiny Board during this municipal year.

 

9.

work schedule pdf icon PDF 84 KB

To consider the Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the draft work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year.  This included the traditional items of Scrutiny work which involves performance monitoring, recommendation tracking and Budget and Policy Framework Plans.

 

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser was requested to work with the Chair to incorporate the areas of work agreed by the Scrutiny Board into its work schedule for the forthcoming year.

 

In relation to Air Quality, the Board agreed to consider this matter as part of an in-depth inquiry and also acknowledged this as a piece of cross-cutting work potentially involving representation from other Scrutiny Boards. It was therefore agreed that terms of reference for this inquiry would be drawn up for the Board’s agreement.

 

The Chair also referred to a request for Scrutiny made by Councillor M Robinson in relation to the maintenance of gullies across the city.  In conclusion, the Board agreed to add this to the areas of interest as part of the Board’s environment themed meetings.

 

RESOLVED

 

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That the Principal Scrutiny Adviser works with the Chair to incorporate the areas of work agreed by the Scrutiny Board into its work schedule for the forthcoming year.

 

10.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Thursday, 7th July 2016 at 10 am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 am)

Minutes:

Thursday, 7 July 2016 at 10 am (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 am)

 

(The meeting concluded at 11.40 am)