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 was no exempt information.

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 of business.

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 interests rasied at the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were received of behalf of Councillor C Howley, Councillor M Dobson, Councillor R Finnigan Councillor A Blackburn and M Midgley.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 25 March 2021 and to also note the summary of the consultative meeting held on 15 July 2021.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held 25^th March 2021 and the Summary Note of the meeting held 15^th July 2021, be approved as accurate records.

In line with the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework formal consultation on the draft Safer, Strong Communities City Plan 2021-24 is required with the Scrutiny Board. The Board is asked to provide its concluding recommendation(s) to Executive Board.

The remote consultative meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Environment, Housing and Communities) on the 15 July 2021, provided members with the priorities in the draft Safer, Stronger Communities City Plan 2021-24.

The report of the Chief Officer Safer Stronger Communities introduces the start of a formal consultation with the Scrutiny Board and seeks members concluding recommendations on the draft strategy to Executive Board. It was noted that a final version will be brought back after the public consultation, for the Scrutiny Board’s information.

The Head of Community Safety Services was in attendance and informed the Board that the City Plan has been widely supported from elected members and has been released for public consultation.

The Board acknowledged the importance of the City Plan aligning with the priorities of the West Yorkshire Mayor. It was noted that the Deputy West Yorkshire Mayor has been invited to the Board meeting in November 2021 to seek broader views on policing to feed into the Plan.

Members were informed further updates will be provided on governance arrangements as part of the Forward Plan.

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the report together with comments raised during discussion of this item.

b)  To note that the Scrutiny Board (Environment, Housing and Communities) collectively endorse the draft Safer, Stronger Communities City Plan 2021-24, and support the release of the Plan to Full Council.

To consider the three yearly review of the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy in order to provide comments or recommendations to Executive Board in line with the Budget and Policy Framework.

The report of the Director of Communities, Housing and Environment presented the revised Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy and requests that this matter is considered and referred back to Executive Board, for onward referral for adoption to Council under the Budgetary and Policy Framework.

Appended to the submitted report contained the draft policy at Appendix 1 and the Statement of Licensing Policy and the consultation process at Appendix 2.

The Principal Licensing Officer was in attendance and provided members with an update on the public consultation and provided an overview of the responses received. It was confirmed that no substantial changes have been made.

Clarity was sought on the process for consulting interested parties.

RESOLVED –

a)  To note the contents of the report

b)   To note that the Scrutiny Board (Environment, Housing and Communities) collectively endorse the revised Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Policy and support the formal release of the Policy to Full Council.

To receive, comment and feedback on proposed Terms of Reference for a joint scrutiny board inquiry with the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Board.

The report of the Head of Democratic Services set out the Terms of Reference following a proposal for a joint inquiry to be conducted by the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board, together with the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Board. The Terms of Reference reflect requests from members of both Boards to consider in detail issues associated with the strategic direction of waste services, and specifically ways in which recycling rates can be improved and at what cost.

Appended to the submitted report included a copy of the Terms of Reference.

The following were in attendance for this item:

o  Councillor M Rafique, Executive Member for Environment and Housing

o  Councillor A Scopes, Scrutiny Chair for Strategy and Resources

o  John Woolmer, Chief Officer Environmental Services

o  Mandy Snaith, Head of Catering Services

The Chief Officer Environmental Services set out some key considerations for the current Waste Strategy for Leeds, and the implications for Leeds as a result of the current consultation by Government through DEFRA on dealing with consistency with how waste is managed and also the action Local Authorities are required to take in terms of kerbside food and glass collections. It was noted that further clarity is expected around TEEP regulations, and resourcing implications remain a critical component of the National Waste Strategy and the impact this will have on the Leeds model.

Councillor Scopes outlined the role of the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Board and acknowledged the number of challenges in terms of budgetary implications and confirmed a joint approach to this work will provide a better outcome for Leeds and will provide an opportunity to understand reducing the overall impact on the climate emergency. 

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

·  To consider whether Leeds will partake in an app-based initiative being developed for household waste to be converted to jet fuel. Additional suggestions were put forward in terms of biologic processes to break down organic materials, and options in terms of the refuse fleet. Members heard future meetings will establish implications relating to infrastructure and finances and whether such proposals are viable.

·  A member requested that a breakdown of the city’s waste be converted to a percentage figure instead of tonnage.

·  Considerations around providing additional cardboard recycling points and bottle banks across the city.

·  Members were informed of a potential comingled option where food and garden waste will be collected together, and the possibility for this service to be offered all year round. In response to this, members expressed their concerns in terms of brown bin infrastructure across the city and the need to address solutions for densely populated areas with no provision for brown bins. Additional considerations will focus on the size of bins, and clarity from the Government is awaited on high rise properties.

·  The need for a detailed analysis to identify the percentage of glass in black bins at the RERF facility.

·  To ensure that missed bin collections are reflected accurately and include all households across the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2021/22 municipal year.

The report of the Head of Democratic Services presented the Board’s work schedule for the 2021/22 municipal year, as well as the Executive Board minutes from the meeting held 21 July 2021.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser present the report, and outlined some of the ongoing priorities that members recommended the successor board to scrutinise and is appended to the submitted report for the Board’s consideration.

Members discussed upcoming items on the schedule for future meetings.

RESOLVED – To note the items on the work schedule for the 2021/22 municipal year, together with the minutes from the Executive Board meeting held 21 July 2021.

The next meeting of the Scrutiny Board will take place on 21 October 2021 at 10.30am. There will be a pre-meeting for all members of the Board at 10.00am.

RESOLVED – To note that date and time of the next meeting as 21^st October 2021 at 10.30 am (a pre-meeting for all members of the Board will commence at 10 am)

The meeting concluded at 11.20 am