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 late items.

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 declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies were received from Councillors M Dobson and C Gruen. Councillor D Ragan was in attendance as substitute.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2020.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held 9^th July 2020 be approved as an accurate record.

To receive an update from the Chief Officer (Safer Leeds) on the implementation of the recommendations of the recent Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team review.

The Chief Officer (Safer Leeds) submitted a report on the implementation of the recommendations of the recent Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team (LASBT) review.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Debra Coupar, Executive Member for Communities

-  Paul Money, Chief Officer, Safer Leeds

-  Harvinder Saimbhi, Head of Operational Delivery

-  Claire Smith, ASB Service Delivery Manager

The Chief Officer (Safer Leeds) introduced the report, providing an overview of the recently launched triage system for all incoming calls to the LASBT service, and highlighting the increase in the volume of referrals throughout the pandemic, particularly in relation to domestic noise. Members were also advised that an additional out-of-hours triage service, and a mediation programme, are currently in development.

Members discussed a number of matters, including:

·  Timeline for triage of referrals. In response to a query, Members were advised that the service level agreement for the triage service sets out that customers will be referred to the relevant service within two to five working days, depending on the level of risk for each individual case. To assist Members in their case work, officers suggested that monthly briefings for Members could be arranged to provide updates on high risk or delayed cases in their wards.

·  Domestic noise complaints. Members noted the increase in volume of calls relating to domestic noise due as a result of people spending more time at home, and were assured that officers are reassessing the current workforce and opportunities for further co-located settings to wrap the right level of resource around the issue. In addition, Members were advised that teams are working closely with universities and ward members to manage noise pollution in areas highly populated by students. Members wished for their thanks to be passed on to teams for their hard work throughout a period of unprecedented demand and challenges.

·  Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy. In response to a query, Members were advised that a launch date for the upcoming strategy had not been confirmed, however local action plans are in development with the relevant teams, and further updates will be provided to the Board in due course.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report, along with Members comments, be noted.

To receive an update from the Director of Communities and Environment about the progress made in relation to the recommendations of the 2018 scrutiny inquiry into waste management services

The Director of Communities and Environment submitted a report that set out further progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the Scrutiny Board’s earlier inquiry into Waste Management Services.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor M Rafique, Executive Member for Environment and Active Lifestyles

-  James Rogers, Director of Communities and Environment

-  John Woolmer, Chief Officer for Environmental Services

Members discussed the following matters in relation to the recommendations as set out in the report:

·  Missed bins. In discussion of recommendation 6, Members suggested that the service could be more proactive in their approach to identifying missed bins and managing relevant data. Related to this, Members reported cases of missed assisted bin collections, a service that supports some of the most vulnerable residents of Leeds, due to the current software not facilitating automatic renewal of assisted collection arrangements. Members were assured that the issues raised would be looked into further and addressed accordingly. Members also noted their thanks to the teams for their key work throughout the pandemic.

·  Provision of brown bins. In discussion of recommendation 9, Members asked for an update on the responsibility for payment of brown bins for new housing developments, following previous inconsistencies between developments. It was confirmed that developers will now pay for all brown bins to be provided to homes within new developments.

·  Fleet Replacement Programme.In discussion of recommendation 10, Members commented that the whole fleet had not yet been replaced to low emission vehicles and therefore questioned whether the recommendation had been achieved as suggested in the report. Members were advised that the recommendation was given the suggested status of achieved within the report because the service is now up to date with Fleet Replacement Programme, and future upgrades are ongoing in line with the timescales of the broader programme.

The status of each recommendation was agreed as follows:

Recommendation 1 – 4 (Continue monitoring)

Recommendation 2 – 4 (Continue monitoring)

Recommendation 3 – 4 (Continue monitoring)

Recommendation 4 – 4 (Continue monitoring)

Recommendation 5 – 4 (Continue monitoring)

Recommendation 6 – 4 (Continue monitoring)

Recommendation 7 – 4 (Continue monitoring)

Recommendation 8 – 4 (Continue monitoring)

Recommendation 9 – 4 (Continue monitoring)

Recommendation 10 – 2 (Achieved)

Recommendation 11 – 2 (Achieved)

Recommendation 12 – 4 (Continue monitoring)

Recommendation 13 – 4 (Continue monitoring)

Recommendation 14 – 4 (Continue monitoring)

Recommendation 15 – 4 (Continue monitoring)

RESOLVED –

a)  That the responses to the recommendations as set out above be noted;

b)  That the report, along with Members comments, be noted.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2020/21 municipal year.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that invited Members to consider the Board’s Work Schedule for the remainder of the current municipal year.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser introduced the report and also highlighted that arrangements had been made to hold a remote working group meeting linked to the Board’s work surrounding budget saving proposals.

RESOLVED – That the work schedule for the remainder of the municipal year be noted.

The next public meeting of the Board will take place on 15 October 2020 at 10.30am (there will be a pre-meeting for all Board members at 10am).

The next public meeting of the Board will take place on 15 October 2020 at 10.30am (there will be a pre-meeting for all Board members at 10am).