Agenda and minutes

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25* of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(* In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, notice of an appeal must be received in writing by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting).

There were no appeals.

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.)

There were no formal late items.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

Further to Agenda Item 9 – Performance Monitoring, Councillor L Cunningham made the Board aware that she is a registered nurse employed by Forward Leeds, should the Board discuss drug and alcohol related contracts.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies were received on behalf of Councillor P Grahame and Councillor N Walshaw. Councillors J Lennox and K Renshaw attended the meeting as substitutes.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2022 and to consider the notes from the remote consultative meeting on 1 December 2022.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held Thursday, 10^th November 2022 be approved as an accurate record, as well as noting the notes of the meeting held on Thursday, 1^st December 2022.

Matters Arising

Further to the remote consultative meeting notes from the meeting held Thursday, 1^st December 22, it was noted that the request to establish a working group to consider the community committees has been discussed with senior officers and will be scheduled once preparatory work has been completed by the service.

To consider the latest Financial Health Monitoring report in the context of the Scrutiny Board’s wider discussions about the initial budget proposals.

The report of the Head of Democratic Services presented Financial Health Monitoring information, performance against strategic priorities that fall within the remit of the Board.

It was noted that it was presented by way of context to the Scrutiny Board’s consideration of the initial budget proposals elsewhere on the agenda.

The appended Executive Board report provides an update on financial performance against the 2022/23 budget, which targeted resources towards priorities set out in the Best City Ambition.

The report also sets out some of the specific risks facing the Council as a result of the current financial climate and notes that at the end of month 7 it is anticipated the Housing Revenue Account will be a balanced budget.

The following were in attendance for this item:

o  Councillor S Arif, Executive Member for Public Health and Active Lifestyles

o  Councillor M Harland, Executive Member for Communities

o  Councillor M Rafique, Executive Member for Environment and Housing

o  James Rogers, Director Communities, Housing and Environment

o  Kevin Mulvaney, Head of Finance

Further to a comment raised regarding budget pressures in terms of the cost of living, staff 2022/23 pay agreement and inflation, the Director of Communities explained that in terms of the financial health monitoring as set out in page 24 in the submitted report, this outlines a net saving for the service rather than an overspend.

The Scrutiny Board acknowledged the service commitment to work within the budget across communities and environment services.

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the submitted report and the projected financial position of the Authority at the end of Month 7.

To consider and comment upon the initial budget proposals so far as they pertain to the remit of the Scrutiny Board (Environment, Housing & Communities). The comments and recommendations of the Board will be reported to the Executive Board in February 2023 in line with the requirements of the Budget and Policy Framework.

The report of the Head of Democratic Services provided the proposed budget for 2023/24 and provisional budgets for 2024/25 and 2025/26. This report sets out the context for formal consultation on the initial budget proposals that fallwithin the remit of the Scrutiny Board (Environment, Housing & Communities).

The following were in attendance for this item:

o  Councillor S Arif, Executive Member for Public Health and Active Lifestyles

o  Councillor M Harland, Executive Member for Communities

o  Councillor M Rafique, Executive Member for Environment and Housing

o  James Rogers, Director Communities, Housing and Environment

o  Kevin Mulvaney, Head of Finance

It was noted that the Scrutiny Board will contribute to a composite statement, reflecting on the initial budget proposals, which will be submitted to the Executive Board in February. This will capture comments of Scrutiny Board members during this discussion as well as those made at an initial working group in December. 

The Director of Communities, Housing and Environment introduced the report and drew members attention to the significant saving proposals as detailed in the submitted report.

Further to questions from Board Members, the following information was confirmed:

·  Consultation around specific proposals will commence over the next fortnight and will be completed prior to the next financial year.

·  The capital cost for car parking charges is contained within the financial implications review paper members have been provided with. There are a large number of car parks across Leeds, and implementation will be over the course of 2023 and 2024. In terms of charges, it was confirmed this will be approximately 40 pence for 1-2 hours. However, this will form part of the consultation process. It was also confirmed that an option to purchase season tickets will be explored, as will the timeliness of car park improvements, subject to an individual assessment basis. Information regarding car parking numbers can be provided.

·  Discussions are on-going with voluntary groups regarding grants being cut by 10%.

Comments were raised regarding opportunities for the community to be encouraged to bid for funding for public events, i.e., bonfire events. It was acknowledged that more work can be done with local communities and local ward members.

It was noted that the Scrutiny Board had sought various assurances at its budget working group in December. This included assurances as to the progress with delivery of 2022/23 savings, the impact of current economic conditions on the proposals being presented and the way in which BAU productivity savings would be achieved.

RESOLVED – To:

a)  Consider aspects of the initial budget proposals for 2023/24 that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Board.

b)  That comments and recommendations raised by Board Members during the Budget Consultation will be included in a composite statement bringing together the views of all five scrutiny boards. In line with the requirements of the Budget and Policy Framework this is to be provided to Executive Board for its consideration before the final budget proposals are referred to Council.

To receive a summary of performance against strategic priorities and an update on other performance areas relevant to the Scrutiny Board (Environment, Housing & Communities).

The report of the Director of Communities, Environment and Housing provided a summary of performance against the strategic priorities for the council and city and other performance areas relevant to the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board.

Appended to the submitted report included:

o  Best City Ambition Performance Dashboard (Appendix 1)

o  Performance update (Appendix 2)

The following were in attendance for this item:

o  Councillor S Arif, Executive Member for Public Health

o  Councillor M Harland, Executive Member for Communities

o  Councillor M Rafique, Executive Member for Environment and Housing

o  James Rogers, Director Communities, Housing and Environment

o  Ian Strickland, Business Development Manager

o  Lee Hemsworth, Chief Officer Community Hubs, Welfare and Business Support

o  Paul Money, Chief Officer Safer, Stronger Leeds

o  Gerard Tinsdale, Chief Officer Housing

o  John Woolmer, Chief Officer Environmental Services

o  Adam Crampton, Head of Property Management

o  Tim Rollett, Intelligence and Policy Manager

The Business Development Manager introduced the report and explained that over time specific analytic information relevant to the Scrutiny Board can be provided in the next couple of months.

In responding to a question regarding accessing crime information, the Chief Officer Safer Stronger Leeds explained that elected members are able to access data sets from their Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs), and such information should be provided on a regular basis.

Board members raised the following key points:

Housing

Homelessness – further detail was sought about the differentiation of street homelessness and those without a home, or in temporary accommodation. To be provided with a breakdown and information on engagement. Officers confirmed that there are currently around 93 people in emergency accommodation, and 30 rough sleepers. It was confirmed that information can be broken down further. It was noted that the city’s performance on homelessness is significantly above with core city averages. It was acknowledged that there are a number of ‘ghost’ tenancies in the city but these can be difficult to identify. Where such contracts have been identified data can be shared with members.

Claims for disrepair – it was confirmed they are accurately recorded on a weekly basis, and it is possible to report back to the Scrutiny Board on the number of disrepair cases on a quarterly basis.

Environmental Services

Bin collections – the Executive Member for Environment and Housing noted several persistent challenges for service delivery including obstructive vehicles preventing access, vehicular breakdowns, roadworks, and staff illness. However, the position in 2022 for missed bins, was considered good. Further to a question regarding the use of new technologies, it was confirmed that there will be an opportunity for improved in-cab technology to enable crews to take photographs of offending vehicles, and CCTV will be upgraded across all wagons to enable 5G capability.

Members were informed that the end of day report provides reliable information, and the service are looking to improve communications around the importance of reporting missed bins.

Work is on-going to look at re-designing routes so that they are more co-terminus with Community Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2022/23 municipal year.

The report of the Head of Democratic Services presented the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2022/23 municipal year and therefore the latest iteration of the Board’s work schedule for the remainder of the year appended to the report, as well as the latest Executive Board minutes from the meeting held on 14 December 2022.

It was noted that an additional remote, consultative Board meeting has been scheduled for Friday, 20^th January 2023 at 10:30 a.m. to consider Reducing Gambling Harm.

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the report and work schedule.

The next meeting of the Scrutiny Board at the Civic Hall will take place on 2 February 2023 at 10.30am. There will be a pre-meeting for all members of the Scrutiny Board at 10am.

A remote, consultative meeting of the Scrutiny Board will take place on 20 January 2023 at 10.30am.

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next formal meeting as Thursday, 2^nd February 2023 at 10.30 a.m. There will be a remote consultative meeting held on 20^th January 2023 at 10.30 a.m.

The meeting concluded at 11:40 a.m.