Agenda and minutes

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.

Councillor R Grahame declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8, Reform of Council Housing Finance – Comments from Scrutiny on the draft new HRA Business Plan and Agenda Item 9, Response to the Scrutiny Review of the ALMO Business Centre Leeds due to his position on the East North East Homes ALMO.

Councillor B Chastney declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8, Reform of Council Housing Finance – Comments from Scrutiny on the draft new HRA Business Plan and Agenda Item 9, Response to the Scrutiny Review of the ALMO Business Centre Leeds due to his position on the West North West Homes ALMO

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors J Hardy, C Townsley and N Walshaw.  Councillor B Chastney was in attendance as substitute for Councillor C Townsley.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2011

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 October be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the draft comments of the Scrutiny Board in relation to the proposed Dog Control Orders in line with the Phase 2 project – report to follow

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development included the Board’s comments for inclusion into the Executive Board report regarding the Review of the Phase 2 proposed Dog Control Orders.

The Chair welcomed Tom Smith, Locality Manager, Environment and Neighbourhoods to the meeting.

In response to a question regarding enforcement on park areas that schools used as playing fields, it was reported that these had not been selected as areas for exclusion of dogs.  It was felt that this would be too difficult to enforce and that exclusion areas and areas where dogs had to be kept on leads were based on issues of safety rather than to prevent fouling.  The review and consultation process for implementing the orders was discussed and the Board was informed that areas that had problems with fouling could be targeted by enforcement officers.  It was reported that approximately half of schools in Leeds had responded to the consultation on the Phase 2 Project and a reminder would be sent.

Further issues discussed included the following:

• Members received more complaints on fouling rather than safety issues.
• There were six Dog Wardens that covered the whole City, other enforcement staff could be used to issue fixed penalty notices in relation to breaches of Dog Control Orders and fouling.
• There would be a publicity campaign regarding the Phase 2 Project.
• Fixed penalty notices were currently £75.  Members discussed the possibility of raising this to act as more of a deterrent.  It was reported that sixt fixed penalty notices had been issued in the past year and that two of these had been prosecuted for non payment.  It was acknowledged that the Council needed to increase enforcement.
• Persistent offenders could be prosecuted in addition to the issue of fixed penalty notices.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted and the Comments for Inclusion to Executive Board be amended to reflect today’s discussion.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the draft comments of the Scrutiny Board in relation to the draft new Housing Revenue Account Business Plan – report to follow

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the draft report summarising the observations, conclusions and recommendations of the Board in relation to the draft Leeds Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan.

Councillor Gruen, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Housing and Regeneration  and John Statham,  Head of Housing Partnerships were in attendance for this item.

The following amendments to the report were suggested:

• Recommendation 6 – That the City Wide Investment Standard was aspirational.
• Recommendations 7 and 11 – that these pieces of work were already underway.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and amended as suggested.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the response to the Scrutiny review of the ALMO Business Centre Leeds.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented the response to the Scrutiny Review of the ALMO Business Centre Leeds .

Claire Warren, Chief Executive of West North West Homes ALMO and David Heels Director of Corporate Services, ALMO Business Centre Leeds joined Councillor Gruen and John Statham for this item.

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

• Merging of back office services – this would ensure that work was not duplicated and be more efficient and effective.
• Procurement savings – a procurement exercise was currently being looked at.
• Performance issues – it was reported that service delivery needed to be measured against promises and the ambition was to become an excellent performing organisation that measured risk well.
• Adoption of Local Letting Policies and changes to age restriction – these would be reviewed annually and the latest review took account of the Equality Act.  Age restrictions had been in place to make management of certain housing easier and improve quality of life for tenants.  It was not yet known what the financial impact would be and it was suggested that Local Letting Policies may be an issue that Scrutiny would like to look at.  Local Letting Policies would be made by delegated decision and would not be signed off until full consultation had taken place.
• People unable to get on the housing ladder and unable to get housed in the areas where they currently lived.
• Accommodation for the ALMO Business Centre – discussion was held regarding the decision to locate at Navigation House and questions were asked about the transparency behind the decision.  It was reported that the process had been done through the Asset Management Board.
• Reference was made to anticipated savings detailed in the report.  A schedule of how these would be achieved was requested.
• Staffing issues – Early Leavers Initiative, external recruitment freeze and staffing issues relating to reduced stock. 

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting an update on the Council review of third sector relationships.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development introduced an Update on the Council Review of Third Sector Relationships.

Kathy Kudelnitzky, Chief Officer, Leeds Initiative and Partnerships and Pat Fairfax, Community Issues Co-ordinator were in attendance for this item.

Concern was raised that the complete sector needed to be reviewed and more robust systems needed to be in place for monitoring as some of the work commissioned by the third sector was to address the needs of the most vulnerable across the City.  It was felt that a lot of money was used on buildings and employment of staff rather than provision of services.  It was reported that these issues were long standing and in terms of monitoring, strong arrangements were in place through the arrangements provided by the services that commissioned them.

Further issues discussed included the following:

• It was reported that the Review was currently a work in progress and input was sought from Elected Members.
• It was felt that there was not enough emphasis on commissioning in the report and Members requested further background information.
• Concern that smaller organisations were less equipped to go through the commissioning process but still had the ability to deliver services.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and a further more detailed report be brought to the Board.

Top consider the financial position of the Environment and Neighbourhoods Directorate after 6 months of the 2011/12 financial year.

The report of the Head of Member and Scrutiny Development informed the Board of the financial health of the Environment and Neighbourhoods Directorate after six months of the 2011/12 financial year.  Attached information had been included by the Directorate’s Head of Finance.

Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods and Richard Ellis, Head of Finance, Environment and Neighbourhoods were in attendance for this item.

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

• Vehicle repair costs – these were mainly associated with landfill damage and it was hoped that through using different landfill options this would be reduced.  Work was ongoing with Fleet Management to investigate the balance between vehicle renewal and repair.
• Income from parking, the possibility of discounted parking to attract more users over the Christmas period was discussed.
• Recycling – it was reported that prices for metals and textiles was currently increasing whilst paper was decreasing.
• Dog fouling and how to increase the issue of Fixed Penalty Notices.  Reference was made to the potential use of other officers such as Parks and Countryside Officers and Police Community Support Officers.
• Scrutiny involvement in the budget process.  An Outline Budget report was due to be submitted to Executive Board in December 2011.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

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

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development detailed the Board’s work schedule.  Also attached were copies of recent Executive Board Minutes and a copy of the Forward Plan relating to the Board’s portfolio.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

Monday, 12 December 2011 at 10.00 a.m.  Pre meeting at 9.30 a.m. for all Board Members

Monday, 12 December 2011@ 10.00 a.m. (Pre-meting for all Members at 9.30 a.m.)