Agenda and minutes

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

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

In accordance with his powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local

Government Act 1972, the Chair agreed to accept the following

supplementary information:

·  Appendix 1 and 2 of the report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting draft terms of reference for forthcoming Scrutiny inquiries (Minute no. 28 refers)

The above documents were not available at the time of agenda despatch, but were subsequently made available on the Council’s website.

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.

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared to the meeting.  In relation to item 7 ‘Request for Scrutiny’, Councillor Harland brought it to the Board’s attention that she is Chair of the Peckfield Liaison Committee.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor J Jarosz, with Councillor E Taylor in attendance as substitute.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 28 July 2014.

Further to Minute no. 16 ‘Refreshed West Yorkshire Police and Crime Plan and draft Safer Leeds Strategy 2014-2015’, the Chair confirmed that the performance information requested from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner had been circulated to Board Members.  The Board agreed to invite the Commissioner back to the Scrutiny Board in February 2015.

Further to Minute no. 19 ‘Work Schedule’, the Chair explained that comments from Scrutiny on the Leeds Housing Standard had been agreed following the working group meeting on 28^th August 2014 and were incorporated into the Director’s report to the Executive Board for its meeting on 17^th September 2014.  A copy of this report had been circulated to Board Members for information.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 28^th July 2014 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting a request for Scrutiny from a member of the public.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented a request for Scrutiny from a member of the public, Mrs Carolyn Walker, in relation to the Peckfield Landfill Site near Micklefield.  Mrs Walker had requested that the Scrutiny Board considers the ongoing issues linked to the operation of this site and the role of the Council and Environment Agency in this regard.

Attached to the report was a briefing paper from the Environment Agency summarising the regulatory work undertaken at the Peckfield Landfill Site over the last 12 months.  Also attached was a copy of a community newsletter from the Environment Agency entitled ‘Keeping you informed’ and dated July 2014.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Carolyn Walker, Originator of request

·  Christine Boothroyd, Micklefield resident

·  Councillor Mark Dobson, Executive Member for Cleaner, Stronger and Safer Communities

·  Susan Upton, Chief Officer, Waste Management

·  Catherine Saxon, Area Environment Manager, Environment Agency

·  Robin Bispham, Regulatory Officer, Environment Agency

·  Max Rathmell, Minerals, Waste & Contaminated Land Manager

·  Louise White, Senior Minerals Planner

The Chair invited Mrs Walker to briefly outline the reasons for her request.  In doing so, Mrs Walker also introduced another local resident, Christine Boothroyd, who has been on the local landfill liaison group for over 10 years. 

The following key points were made by Mrs Walker:

·  The Peckfield Landfill Site is in close proximity to the village of Micklefield and has been operating since 1992.  Problems associated with the site have been ongoing for years, with a series of differently named operators being issued with licence breach notices on a regular basis.

·  Mrs Walker explained that many of the complaints have related to odour, litter escape from the site, leachate, insufficient cover on waste at close of business and failure to capture gas.  In relation to odour, it was also highlighted that residents have noticed high levels of odour at night and weekends when the site is not operating.

·  Reference was made to data requested by local residents in relation to the number of compliance assessment reports issued by the Environment Agency in relation to this site since 2008, with a high of 63 being issued in 2013.

·  Acknowledgement was given to the significant level of work undertaken by the Environment Agency, in conjunction with the Council, over the last 12 months, including a ‘Day of Action’ dedicated to addressing the issues linked to this site.

·  Whilst acknowledging that such rigorous monitoring had led to improvements with the site, concern was raised that this has begun to deteriorate again.

·  Reference was made to the Health Protection Agency document ‘Impact on Health of Emissions from Landfill Sites’ published in July 2011.  Whilst this document concluded there was little or no risk to health from well-managed sites, local residents had raised concerns with Public Health England about the potential health impacts surrounding this site.

·  In conclusion, Mrs Walker requested that the Scrutiny Board pursue this matter further, but also took the opportunity to thank the local Ward Councillors and neighbouring  ...  view the full minutes text for item 25.

To receive a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting a formal response to the recommendations arising from the Board’s previous inquiry into tackling domestic violence and abuse.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the formal response to the Scrutiny Board’s recommendations arising from its recent inquiry into tackling domestic violence and abuse.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Housing

·  Councillor Mark Dobson, Executive Member for Cleaner, Stronger and Safer Communities

·  Councillor Judith Blake, Executive Member for Children and Families

·  Bridget Emery, Chief Officer Strategy and Commissioning, Office of the Director of Public Health

·  Andrea Richardson, Head of Service Early Help

·  Gail Faulkner, Head of Children’s Social Work (South)

In response to Members comments and questions, the following key issues were raised:

·  Front Door scheme – Members welcomed the ongoing commitment to develop the existing Front Door scheme aimed at providing immediate risk assessment and appropriate intervention relating to all incidents of domestic violence.

·  Raising the profile of domestic violence locally – reference was made to a number of Community Committees that had identified domestic violence as a priority area within their work programmes, which was encouraged by the Board.

·  Domestic violence charter mark for cluster partnerships – Members welcomed the commitment and progress already made in taking forward this recommendation with all key partners.

·  Troubled Families Programme – Members were pleased to note that Leeds had beenincluded in the expanded Troubled Families programme and that early intervention surrounding domestic violence would be incorporated into this.

RESOLVED  - That the report be noted and a further update is scheduled into the Board’s work programme later in the year.

To receive a report of the Director of Environment and Housing and Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) setting out the position at Quarter 1 in relation to the performance areas relevant to the Board’s remit.

The report of the Director of Environment and Housing and Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) set out the position at quarter 1 in relation to the performance areas relevant to the Board’s remit.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Housing

·  Councillor Mark Dobson, Executive Member for Cleaner, Stronger and Safer Communities

·  Rory Barke, Area Leader (Corporate)

In consideration of the report, the following issues were raised by the Board:

·  Performance data – Members acknowledged that the report presented to the Board had detailed the performance position relating to the quarter 1 period.  However, a request was made for future reports to set out the current position based on the most recent performance data.

·  Street Cleanliness – Members sought clarification of the criteria used in monitoring street cleanliness.

·  Dog fouling – Members were pleased to learn that a pilot scheme was being developed based around the neighbourhood watch concept which encourages local residents to proactively report irresponsible dog owners.

·  Domestic Burglary – the Board were pleased to note that domestic burglary continues to show year on year improvement.  It was noted that performance data is also available on a Ward basis.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting draft terms of reference for forthcoming Scrutiny Board inquiries.

(Appendix 1 and 2 to follow)

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented draft terms of reference relating to the following forthcoming Scrutiny inquiries:

·  Area based delegations to Community Committees

·  The role of Police Community Support Officers linked to local integrated partnership working

In relation to the forthcoming inquiry into the role of PCSOs, the Board agreed to amend the terms of reference to include the Council’s West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel Members within the list of potential witnesses.

RESOLVED –

(a) That the terms of reference for the Board’s forthcoming inquiry on area based delegations to Community Committees be approved.

(b) That, subject to the above amendment, the terms of reference for the Board’s forthcoming inquiry into the role of PCSOs linked to local integrated partnership working be approved.

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

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the Board’s current work schedule.  The minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 16^th July 2014 were also appended to this report for Members’ information.

The Chair reported a change of date for the Scrutiny Board’s meeting in January.  This was now scheduled for Wednesday 28^th January 2015 at 9.30 am, with a pre-meeting at 9.00 am.

The Chair also informed the Board that the Sustainable Economy and Culture Scrutiny Board is considering a report in relation to the Council’s district heating proposals at its October meeting.  The SEC Scrutiny Board has therefore extended an invitation to the Safer and Stronger Communities Scrutiny Board to nominate a representative to contribute to this particular agenda item.

RESOLVED –

(a) That the Board’s work schedule and the Executive Board minutes be noted.

(b) That the Board’s January meeting is changed to Wednesday 28^th January 2015 at 9.30 am, with a pre-meeting at 9.00 am.

(c) That Councillor Barry Anderson attends the meeting of the Sustainable Economy and Culture Scrutiny Board on 21^st October 2014 to represent the Board in consideration of the Council’s district heating proposals.

Monday, 13 October 2014 at 10.00 am in the Civic Hall, Leeds

(Pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30 am)

Monday, 13^th October 2014 at 10.00 am. (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 am)

(The meeting concluded at 12.15 pm)