Agenda and minutes

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:

   No exempt items have been identified.

There were no exempt 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.)

The following supplementary information was submitted at the meeting:

·  Revised schedule for estate walkabouts (minute no. 26 refers)

·  Mobile working update (minute no. 27 refers)

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

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Sallie Bannatyne, Michael Healey and Roderic Morgan.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 2 September 2015.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2015 be approved as a correct record.

To receive an update from the Chair on scrutiny activity, not specifically included on this agenda, since the previous Board meeting.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which provided the Chair of Tenant Scrutiny Board with an opportunity to update Board Members on some of the areas of work and activity since the September meeting.

The Board was advised that Jim Fergusson was taking a break from tenant scrutiny activity due to recent health issues.  In addition, Jane Wilson had submitted her resignation, also due to recent health issues. 

It was reported that an article was being published in the next Housing Leeds newsletter to publicise the work of tenant scrutiny.

Board Members were informed that Housing Leeds had started to arrange quarterly meetings with the Environmental Estates Team (Locality Team) to review plans and review joint working processes.  It was suggested that a Board Member be invited to attend future meetings and report back to the Board.

The Chair provided a brief update on his attendance at Environment and Housing Scrutiny Board.  It was reported that the meeting included a discussion on estate management, locality working and keeping estates clean and tidy.

RESOLVED – That Peter Middleton be appointed as the Board’s representative to attend future quarterly meetings involving Housing Leeds and the Environmental Estates Team.

To consider a request for scrutiny received from a housing tenant and former Chair of Tenant Scrutiny Board, Mr Steve Ilee, regarding the treatment of older tenants during the upgrade of wiring, kitchens and bathrooms in their homes.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented a request for scrutiny which had been received from a housing tenant and former Chair of Tenant Scrutiny Board, Mr Steve Ilee.  The request related to the treatment of older tenants during the upgrade of wiring,

kitchens and bathrooms in their homes.

The following were in attendance for this item:

-  Sharon Guy, Housing Manager (Customer Relations, Tenant Scrutiny, Tenant Involvement and Equality).

Appended to the report was a copy of Mr Ilee’s request for scrutiny.

The Board considered the request for scrutiny and in doing so discussed forwarding the concerns directly to the Chief Officer (Housing Management) for immediate action. 

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the issues identified in the request for scrutiny be forwarded to the Chief Officer (Housing Management) for immediate action.

(b)  That an update report on the Director’s response to Mr Ilee be brought to a future meeting.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development regarding the Board’s Inquiry on the Environment of Estates.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented information as part of the Board’s inquiry on the Environment of Estates.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  A copy of the agreed terms of reference

-  Details of 6 estate walkabouts covering a variety of different

-  property types

-  Health and safety guidelines regarding estate inspections.

The following representatives were in attendance:

-  Sharon Guy, Housing Manager (Customer Relations, Tenant Scrutiny,

Tenant Involvement and Equality)

-  Sgt. Jon Glennon, Safer Leeds / West Yorkshire Police.

The Chair invited Sgt. Jon Glennon to provide the Board with an overview of the work undertaken by PCSOs, particularly in terms of their role regarding estate management. 

The main areas of discussion were:

·  The role of PCSOs as being the eyes and ears of the community.  There were 247 PCSOs across Leeds – 165 of these were part funded by LCC.  Other partners, e.g. METRO and White Rose also part funded PCSOs.

·  The deployment of PCSOs and the type of issues they get concerns with.

·  Potential development of a team focussed on social housing.  Further details to be provided in due course.

The Chair then invited questions from Board Members and the key areas of discussion were:

·  Confirmation that PCSOs had responsibility for specific areas and that information regarding PCSOs and the areas they covered could be accessed via the Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) website.

·  Whether PCSOs on estates were in place long enough to become familiar to tenants, or whether turnover of placements prevented that relationship being established.

·  A suggestion that the contact details of PCSOs be posted through residents’ letterboxes.  Sgt. Jon Glennon agreed to report back with a response regarding this.

·  Confirmation about reporting arrangements, attendance at PACT meetings and drop-in sessions.

·  Arrangements for forthcoming estate walkabouts.  Estate walkabouts planned for parts of Armley, Bramley, Moortown and Beeston and Holbeck, including a mix of property types, e.g. houses, multi storey flats, sheltered properties and bungalows.   

·  The potential involvement of PCSOs on estate walkabouts to identify any issues.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That further details be provided about the development of a team focussed on social housing.

(b)  That the arrangements for estate walkabouts be approved.

To consider a report from the Director of Environment and Housing presenting an update on the mobile working pilot.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented an update on the mobile working pilot as part of the Board’s inquiry on Annual Tenancy Visits (ATVs).

The following officers were in attendance:

-  Sharon Guy, Housing Manager (Customer Relations, Tenant Scrutiny,

-  Tenant Involvement and Equality)

-  Gerard Tinsdale, Area Manager, Environment and Housing.

The Board noted that the pilot was working well, demonstrating increased effectiveness for Housing Officers.  The Board was advised that some training needs had been identified to support Housing Officers make best use of the mobile devices and some minor IT issues remained.  The Board sought clarification regarding the potential roll-out of mobile devices to sheltered housing wardens. 

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Board receives clarification regarding the potential roll-out of mobile devices to sheltered housing wardens.

(b)  That a further update regarding mobile devices be provided in 6 months’ time.

Wednesday, 4 November 2015 at 1.30pm (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 1.00pm)

Wednesday, 4 November 2015 at 1.30pm (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 1.00pm)

(The meeting concluded at 3.10pm)