Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the November meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods). 

To declare any personal / prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

The following personal interests were declared:-

·  Councillor B Anderson in his capacity as Chair of West North West Homes (Agenda Item 8 ) (Minute 55 refers)

·  Councillor A Blackburn in her capacity as a Director of West North West Homes (Agenda Item 8) (Minute 55 refers)

·  Councillor D Hollingsworth in his capacity as a Director of East North East Homes (Agenda Item 8) (Minute 55 refers)

·  Councillor G Hyde in his capacity as a Director of East North East Homes (Agenda Item 8) (Minute 55 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor D Coupar.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) meeting held on 13^th October 2008.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th October 2008 be confirmed as a correct record.

(a)  Apologies for Absence (Minute 38 refers)

  Councillor A Castle informed the meeting that she had conveyed her apologies to the Chair prior to the meeting on 13^th October 2008 which had not been reported to the Board.

  The Chair apologised for this omission

(b)  Miscellaneous Properties (Minute 44 refers)

  Councillor L Mulherin referred to the bullet point which referred to the need to bring returned properties up to the Decent Homes Standard. She reiterated the importance of ensuring that these properties were brought up to standard before being returned to the Council and that this should be the responsibility of the leaseholders.

  Councillor A Gabriel sought clarification on what was happening with properties not transferred to ALMOs and left derelict, especially properties in recreation areas, and the action being taken with the respective landlords in this regard.

  Andy Beattie, Deputy Chief Environmental Health Officer, who was in attendance, responded and explained that a report on miscellaneous properties would be considered by the Affordable Housing Board which addressed such issues.  Further clarification on this would also be sought from the Strategic Landlord Manager before the next meeting.

To receive the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 8^th October 2008.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 8^th October 2008 be received and noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting evidence in line with Session 1 of the Board’s Inquiry into Private Rented Sector Housing.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting evidence in line with Session 1 of the Board’s Inquiry into Private Rented Sector Housing.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

·  Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) – Inquiry into Private Rented Sector Housing – Terms of Reference (Appendix 1 refers)

·  Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) – Inquiry into Private Rented Sector Housing – Summary Report of the working group meeting held on 16^th October 2008 (Appendix 2 refers)

A copy of the Executive Board report entitled ‘Strategy for improving Leeds Private Sector Housing’, dated 5^th November 2008, the ‘Leeds Private Sector House Condition Survey 2007’ report and the ‘City Living in Leeds – 2007’ had been circulated to Board Members as background information which would also form part of the evidence base for this inquiry.

The following officers were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:-

Andy Beattie, Deputy Chief Environmental Health Officer

Jon Hough, Principal Housing Strategy Officer

Mike Brook, Private Rented Sector Housing Manager

Board Members received a presentation from Andy Beattie which provided an overview of the purpose and findings of the recent Leeds Private Sector Stock Condition survey.

During the presentation, a question and answer session ensued and Mr Beattie responded to Members’ queries and comments which were noted and recorded by the Principal Scrutiny Adviser as part of the Board’s Inquiry into Private Rented Sector Housing.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Board Members requested further information in relation to the following specific issues:-

·  the need to see the relevant English House Conditions Survey to compare Leeds with national trends in relation to category one hazards

·  to compare the data around non-decent private sector stock with that of public sector stock

·  to receive evidence of any costings work carried out in relation to the remodelling of back to back properties and how the Council should be addressing this matter with private landlords

·  the need for the Board to be supplied with a copy of the latest HECA report in relation to rising fuel costs and links with fuel poverty

·  the need for further information in relation to the ethnicity of landlords

The Deputy Chief Environmental Health Officer responded and agreed to follow up the information requested via the Principal Scrutiny Adviser.

The Chair then invited Board Members to put forward questions and points of clarification to Mr Beattie, Mr Hough and Mr Brook and the detailed comments were duly noted and recorded by the Principal Scrutiny Adviser as part of the Board’s Inquiry into Private Rented Sector Housing.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

·  clarification of a joint working initiative between Liverpool Council and their Primary Care Trust to address hazards within properties

·  clarification of how Private Rented Stock was monitored within the authority

·  clarification of the criteria around the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) for all houses in multiple occupation and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting a briefing on the enforcement of dog fouling in Leeds.

Referring to Minute 40(a) of the meeting held on 13^th October 2008, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting a briefing on the enforcement of dog fouling in Leeds.

Appended to the report was a copy of a document entitled ‘Health and Environmental Action Service – Briefing Note on Dog Fouling – 28^th October 2008’ for the information/comment of the meeting.

The following officers were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:-

Graham Wilson, Head of Environmental Action and Parking

Stacey Campbell, Services Manager

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues;-

·  the urgent need for identifiable action on dog fouling on the streets of Leeds

·  clarification as to why the figure of fixed penalty notices in relation to dog fouling had reduced over the last three years

(The Head of Environmental Action and Parking responded and explained that greater public awareness of this offence may have impacted on the numbers of offences being committed.  However, he also explained the difficulty of witnessing an offence as it happened and that the service does have a statutory duty to seize stray dogs, which takes priority over other aspects of the work. Fixed Penalty Notices were an opportunity for offenders to avoid going to Court for the offence. He added that witness statements from residents could be used to issue Fixed Penalty Notices/prosecutions)

·  clarification of the police’s role in relation to stray dogs

(The Head of Environmental Action and Parking responded and confirmed that the police were no longer responsible for taking in stray dogs. This responsibility had now transferred to the Council. The police still had responsibilities in relation to dangerous dogs)

·  clarification of the arrangements in place to train other enforcement staff for the issuing of fixed penalty notices in relation to dog fouling and the need for a more flexible service

(The Head of Environmental Action and Parking responded and advised of a pilot training programme for Neighbourhood Wardens in the North West Area and for Park Rangers. There were issues involved with this, but the roll out of this training to additional staff would be kept under review)

·  clarification of the maximum number of dogs that any one person could be physically in charge of at any given time, in particular to ensure that they cleared up after the dogs and whether it was possible to limit the number of dogs in ownership

(The Head of Environmental Action and Parking responded and confirmed that whilst this was very much dependant on the behaviour of the dogs,  five dogs under the control of one person was commonly seen as an acceptable number. The Board was informed of the Council’s ability to apply for Dog Control Orders which could be used to designate areas where dogs have to be kept on a lead and also to put in place restrictions on the number of dogs a single person could walk. The Dog Warden Service was to review options to extend  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting evidence in line with Session 1 of the Board’s Inquiry into Asylum Seeker Case Resolution.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting evidence in line with Session 1 of the Board’s Inquiry into Asylum Seeker Case Resolution.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

·  Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) – Inquiry into Asylum Seeker Case Resolution – Terms of Reference (Appendix 1 refers)

·  Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) –Summary  Report of the working group meeting held on 27^th October 2008 (Appendix 2 refers)

RESOLVED –That the contents of the report and appendices, together with the summary report of the working group be noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the Board’s current Work Programme for the remainder of the municipal year.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report on the Board’s current work programme.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

·  Current work programme (Appendix 1 refers)

·  Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st November 2008 to 28^th February 2009 (Appendix 2 refers)

RESOLVED –

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That a draft Statement of the Board around the enforcement of dog fouling be submitted to the December 2008 meeting for consideration and approval.

Monday 8^th December 2008 at 10.00am

(Pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30am)

Monday 8^th December 2008 at 1.00pm (Pre-meeting for Board Members at 12.30 pm)

(The meeting concluded at 12 noon)