Agenda and minutes

Scrutiny Board (Environment, Housing and Communities) - Thursday, 6th February, 2020 10.30 am

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. View directions

Contact: Becky Atherton (0113 37 88642)  Email: becky.atherton@leeds.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

78.

Appeals Against Refusal of Inspection of Documents

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).

Minutes:

There were no appeals against refusal.

 

79.

Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

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.

Minutes:

There was no exempt information.

 

 

80.

Late 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.)

Minutes:

There were no formal late items.

 

81.

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

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.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

 

82.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

 

 

 

83.

Minutes - 9 January 2020 pdf icon PDF 353 KB

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held 9th January 2020, be approved as an accurate record, subject to a minor change to minute 67 to read:

 

·  Councillor Jenkins attended as a substitute for Councillor P Gruen.

 

Matters Arising

 

Minute 71 – Referral to Scrutiny: River Cleanliness. Members heard that an update would be provided at the Scrutiny Board meeting (Environment, Housing and Communities) to be held 5th March 2020, on the outcome of the multi-partner session. Additionally, the Board were informed that the Scrutiny Advisor would be providing Members with a copy of the response to the previous deputation.

 

84.

Fuel Poverty Update pdf icon PDF 193 KB

To receive an update from the Sustainable Energy and Air Quality Team regarding the approach taken in Leeds to alleviate fuel poverty and promote affordable warmth.  

Minutes:

Agenda items 7 – Fuel Poverty Update, 8 – Energy Efficiency in Council Housing Stock and 9 - Carbon Reduction in the Private Rented Sector (PRS), were considered together by the Scrutiny Board (Environment, Housing and Communities).

 

The reports of the Sustainable Energy and Air Quality Team, and the Director of Resources and Housing, provided Members with information regarding the approach taken in Leeds to alleviate fuel poverty and promote affordable warmth, the energy efficiency activity undertaken with council housing stock, and the Council’s approach in supporting carbon reduction in the private rented sector.

 

In attendance at the meeting were:

o  Cllr Coupar, Executive Member for Communities

o  Neil Evans, Director Resources and Housing

o  Jill Wildman, Chief Officer Housing

o  Rob Curtis, Programme Officer, Resources and Housing

o  George Munson, Senior Project Manager, Resources and Housing

o  Nahim Ruhi-Khan, Head of Strategy and Investment

o  Mark Ireland, Service Manager, Private Sector Housing

 

The officers in attendance each provided Members with a presentation highlighting the following:

Energy and Fuel Poverty

·  An overview of the Leeds housing stock, with specific mention to homes being predominantly D rated, and the ambition for stock to be As and Bs

·  Key fuel poverty statistics in Leeds and England

·  Switching homes from natural gas by 2030, with the possibility of moving to hydrogen or retrofitting heat pumps

·  Leeds Affordable Warmth Strategy 2017 – 2030 (city wide projects, targeted areas and interventions)

·  Area Renewal mixed tenure whole house retrofit and the benefits

·  Historic domestic energy work

Private Rented Sector

·  The issues facing the city, on-going work with landlords to improve energy efficiency, and the need to educate landlords about the changing regulatory environment associated with energy efficiency measures

·  Transformational Insulation for Back to Backs (TIBB) - the 3m planned investment with priority areas Beeston and Holbeck, after the successful pilot scheme with Harehills in 2018/19.

·  85% have SAP rating D or below

·  Investment in the group repair scheme, including obtaining monies as part of the Leeds Neighbourhood Approach in the Nowell’s.

·  Continuing to lobby Government to provide financial incentives such as the Private Sector Renewal Grant, along with tax changes and legislation changes in regard to public money (housing benefits to housing conditions including the SAP rating)

Council Housing

·  Council Housing Investment including replacement of heating systems and boilers, installation of district heating systems into high rise blocks, installation of solar PV panels, loft and cavity wall installation and the replacement of single glazing to double glazing.

·  District Heating & Leeds Pipes – 690 homes to be completed by September 2021.

·  The reduction of carbon emissions by 11,000 tonnes per year and improved air quality.

·  Tenant Support - Green Doctor in partnership with Leeds City Council

·  The Shakespeare Court, Grange and Towers programme – external wall insulation in high rise blocks had been undertaken, and will be completed in due course.

·  The exploration of various new innovative projects such as Air Source Heat Pumps, Fitting the Future and Priority Neighbourhoods

·  Ground Source Heat Pumps.

·  The upcoming challenges  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

85.

Energy Efficiency In Council Housing Stock pdf icon PDF 608 KB

To provide an update on the energy efficiency activity undertaken within council housing stock.

Minutes:

The item was considered alongside agenda item 7 – Fuel Poverty Update, and agenda item 9 – Carbon Reduction in the Private Rented Sector. Minute No. 84 refers.

 

86.

Carbon Reduction in the Private Rented Sector pdf icon PDF 457 KB

To receive a report from the Director of Resources and Housing detailing the Council’s approach to supporting carbon reduction in the private rented sector.

Minutes:

The item was considered alongside agenda item 7 – Fuel Poverty Update, and agenda item 8 – Energy Efficiency in Council Housing Stock. Minute No. 84 refers.

 

87.

Work Schedule pdf icon PDF 241 KB

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2019/20 municipal year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Democratic Services submitted a report which invited Members to consider the Board’s schedule for the remainder of the 2019/20 municipal year. Copies of the Board’s work schedule and the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held 7th January 2020 were appended to the submitted report.

 

Members discussed the items on the upcoming work schedule, regarding working groups on the following:

·  Disposal of Green Spaces 27th January – Members were informed that an update following the meeting would be provided in due course;

·  Car Parking Policy 17th February 12:30 – 14:00;

·  Community Impact of Nuisance Fireworks 9th March 10am – 12:pm. Additionally, Members were informed that the working group had received an interest to attend from various partners.

 

RESOLVED – The Scrutiny Board (Environment, Housing and Communities):

a)  Noted the matters outlined in the report

b)  Noted the Executive Board minutes

c)  Agreed the overall work schedule

 

88.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

The next meeting will take place on 5 March at 10.30am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10am).

Minutes:

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Thursday 5th March 2020 at 10.00 p.m.

 

(The meeting closed at 12:05)