Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance to the April 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.

Councillors Driver, G Hyde and R Grahame declared a personal interest in agenda item 8, Inquiry into Intelligence Gathering and Sharing (Safer Leeds), in their capacity as ALMO Directors.  Councillor Driver also declared a personal interest in his capacity as a Member of Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation (BITMO).  (Minute No. 118 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14^th March 2011.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th March 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

Minute No. 105 – Environment and Neighbourhoods Performance Report – Quarter 3 2010/11

The Principal Scrutiny Advisor, Richard Mills, reported that he had provided a response to Councillor R Grahame concerning blocked gullies on York Road, including the frequency of clean.

To consider a joint report of the Acting Director of City Development and the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods.

Further to Minute No. 93 of the meeting held on 14^th February 2011, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented the Scrutiny Board with the views of all the relevant Council Directorates on the trial of controlled clean advertising on designated areas of pavement in Leeds City Centre.

The following information was appended to the report for Members’ information:

• Map of designated areas in Leeds City Centre for the trial of pavement advertising
• List of Members consulted by a briefing note (Ward Members and City Centre Plans Panel)
• Advertising Content Guidance Notes.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Councillor Richard Lewis, Executive Member (Development and Regeneration), and the following officers to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments:

• Martin Farrington, Acting Director of City Development
• Graham Wilson, Head of Environment Action and Parking
• John Ebo, Deputy Head of Service, City Centre Management.

In brief summary, the key areas of discussion were:

• Concerns about the consultation process, particularly the timescales involved and the lack of engagement with Elected Members.  The Scrutiny Board was informed that no feedback had been received from members of the public.
• The need to ensure a co-ordinated response from Council departments, i.e. Planning, Highways, Streetscene, etc.
• Concern that pavement advertising sent out the wrong message that graffiti was acceptable.  The Executive Member (Development and Regeneration) pointed out that unlike graffiti, pavement advertising was inoffensive and disappeared after a short period of time.
• Confirmation that the trial of pavement advertising was restricted to specific parts of Leeds City Centre.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted.

(b)  That the Scrutiny Board notes the intention to continue with the trial to completion.  On completion of the trial a report which takes into account comments from the Scrutiny Board will be produced and submitted to the Executive Board, following discussion with the Executive Member (Development and Regeneration) and Ward Members on the outcome of the trial.

To consider a report of the Chief Officer (Community Safety).

Further to Minute No. 96 of the meeting held on 14^th February 2011, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented information as part of the Scrutiny Board’s inquiry into intelligence gathering and sharing.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting, Councillor Gruen, Executive Member (Neighbourhoods and Housing) and the following officers and police representative to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments:

• Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods
• Liz Jarmin, Head of Safety and Safeguarding
• Inspector Steve Lavelle, Area Community Safety.

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:

• The need to establish a more consistent approach to information sharing.
• Exploring options as part of locality based working.
• Issues around extending the use of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs), particularly in relation to graffiti and needle finds.
• The role of multi-agency quest teams and the impact on local communities.
• Concern about proposed efficiency savings as part of the intelligence review.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted

(b)  That the comments raised at the meeting be used to inform further scrutiny in the 2011/12 municipal year.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented the joint inspection report on burglary in Leeds.

The following Executive Member, officers and police representative attended the meeting and responded to Members’ questions and comments:

• Councillor Gruen, Executive Member (Neighbourhoods and Housing)
• Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods
• Liz Jarmin, Head of Safety and Safeguarding
• Inspector Steve Lavelle, Area Community Safety.

In brief summary, the key areas of discussion were:

·  Encouraging private sector landlords to extend their responsibilities to include matters involving health and security.

·  Raising awareness of the Landlord Accreditation Scheme and links with student unions.

·  Development of licensing arrangements in relation to Housing Management Organisations (HMO’s).

·  Challenges imposing responsibilities on non-registered landlords.

·  Supporting residents not eligible for grants, etc, to protect their home.

·  Concern about the large reduction in area based funding and the impact on local communities.

·  A suggestion that a representative of the Crown Prosecution Service could be invited to attend a future meeting of the Scrutiny Board.

·  One Member requested a copy of the Police Reform Bill be forwarded to the Scrutiny Board.

The Chair thanked officers and representatives for their attendance at the meeting, particularly Councillor Gruen, Executive Member (Neighbourhoods and Housing), for his overall contribution to the Scrutiny Board’s work during the year.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted

(b)  That the comments raised at the meeting be used to inform further scrutiny in the 2011/12 municipal year.

To consider a report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report which provided the Scrutiny Board with an update on the findings of the ongoing review into operational practices of HWSS.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting the following officers to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments:

• Andrew Mason, Chief Environmental Services Officer
• Susan Upton, Head of Waste Management Services.

In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:

• Concerns about the proposed revised opening hours at HWSS, particularly due to noise disturbance and the impact on traffic. The Board was advised that there was a need to ensure a consistent approach across the city.  The revised opening hours were in line with other core cities.  In response to concerns about noise disturbance, it was reported that levels of noise were being monitored and a noise barrier was being installed at the site referred to.
• Concerns that the increase in recycling facilities was not consistent across all sites.
• Issues associated with disposing of commercial waste and proposed trial of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR).  The Scrutiny Board discussed raising this issue with the Executive Member (Environmental Services).
• Confirmation that Trade Unions had been consulted on the proposals.
• Ongoing work in relation to behavioural attitudes to inform the city strategy.
• Future update report to include a focus on a textiles strategy.
• Greater support required for individuals that had no access to a car, especially students and those from deprived areas.
• Suggestion to extend the opening hours on bank holidays and weekends – Members were reminded of the need to ensure consistency across sites.
• Concerns about poor lighting on site due to the revised opening hours – discussions with officers and trade unions were already underway.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted

(b)  That the Scrutiny Board supports the changes required to operational staffing arrangements in order to implement amended opening hours across all sites which was in accordance with the Board’s recommendations on this matter following its inquiry on recycling.

(c)  That the Scrutiny Board supports the proposed Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) trial.

(Councillor G Hyde left the meeting at 12 noon at the conclusion of this item.)

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which requested Members to confirm the status of recommendations from previous scrutiny inquiries.

Appended to the report was the recommendation tracking flowchart and draft status of recommendations.

The Principal Scrutiny Advisor, Richard Mills, presented the report.

In brief summary, the main highlighted points were:

• Confirmation in relation to recommendation 3, that the Waste Resources Action Programme (WRAP) had completed its report on the collection of glass at the kerbside.  Susan Upton, Head of Waste Management Services, undertook to provide the Scrutiny Board with a copy of the report.
• Confirmation in relation to recommendation 19, that the business waste handbook was being promoted to all businesses in Leeds. 

RESOLVED –

(a) That the report and information appended to the report be noted; and

(b) That the Board agrees the status of recommendations, subject to recommendation 14 being given a status of 4, not achieved (progress made acceptable – continue monitoring, and recommendations 9 and 10 being given a status of 5, not achieved (progress made not acceptable – continue monitoring).

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented the Board’s contribution to the Annual Scrutiny Report 2010/11. 

The Principal Scrutiny Advisor, Richard Mills, presented the report.

In relation to the Board’s Inquiry into Gypsies and Travellers Site Provision within Leeds, it was agreed to include reference to attendance from different political groups.

RESOLVED – That the Board’s contribution to the Annual Scrutiny Report 2010/11 be approved, as amended.

(Councillor Wadsworth left the meeting at 12.12 pm during the consideration of this item.)

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

A report was submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which detailed the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the remainder of the current municipal year.

Appended to the report was the current version of the Board’s work programme, the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 9^th March 2011, and an extract from the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st April 2011 to 31^st July 2011.

The Principal Scrutiny Advisor, Richard Mills, presented the report.

It was advised that feedback on dog control orders was being reported back to the June Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods).

RESOLVED – That subject to the comment raised at the meeting, the work programme be approved.

(The meeting concluded at 12.14 pm.)