Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the first meeting of Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) for the new municipal year 2007/2008.

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.

The following personal interests were declared:-

• Councillor B Anderson in his capacity as a Council Board Member on West/North West Homes (Agenda Item 9) (Minute 6 refers)
• Councillor D Coupar in her capacity as a Member on Belle Isle North Estate Management Board (Agenda Item 9) (Minute 6 refers)
• Councillor D Hollingsworth in his capacity as a Council Board Member on East/North East Homes (Agenda Item 9) (Minute 6 refers)
• Councillor G Hyde in his capacity as a Council Board Member on East/North East Homes (Agenda Item 9) (Minute 6 refers)

To receive the minutes of the Scrutiny Board (Neighbourhoods and Housing) meeting held on 16^th April 2007.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Scrutiny Board (Neighbourhoods and Housing) meeting held on 16^th April 2007 be received and noted.

To receive the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 16^th May 2007.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 16^th May 2007 be received and noted.

To receive the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings held on 2^nd April 2007 and 16^th May 2007.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings held on 2^nd April 2007 and 16^th May 2007 be received and noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the Scrutiny Board (Environment & Neighbourhoods) Terms of Reference.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report on the terms of reference relevant to the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods).

Appended to the report was a copy of the Terms of Reference for the information/comment of the meeting.

In addition to the above report, the following officers were in attendance to answer Members’ questions:-

Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods

John Kearsley, Chief Support and Facilities Officer, City Services

Stephen Smith, Head of Environmental Services, City Services

Pippa Milne, Recycling and Waste Manager, City Services

Tom Smith, Head of Performance and Communications Team, City Services

The Chair invited the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods to make a brief presentation on an overview of services undertaken in his area, together with specific reference to those key issues for the coming year.

The Board noted that Councillor L Carter, Executive Member, Neighbourhoods and Housing and Councillor S Smith, Executive Member, Environmental Services would be invited to attend future Board meetings to outline their respective portfolios.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report and appendices, together with the presentation and the arrangements for scrutiny be noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on Performance Management Information.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report on key performance information as at 31^st March 2007, together with relevant detail in relation to a predicted Corporate Priority Assessment (CPA) score for 2007/08 for the information/comment of the meeting.

In addition to the above report, the following officers were in attendance to answer Members’ questions:-

Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods

John Kearsley, Chief Support and Facilities Officer, City Services

Stephen Smith, Head of Environmental Services, City Services

Pippa Milne, Recycling and Waste Manager, City Services

Tom Smith, Head of Performance and Communications Team, City Services

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

• clarification of the procedure adopted in Leeds for dealing with contamination in recycled waste
• clarification of the inspection arrangements in relation to contaminated waste being deposited in black/green bins
• concerns expressed that the public perception in some areas was that recycled waste was being mixed with landfill waste

(Officers explained that there had been a specific project to deal with waste collection for back to back properties)

• the need to improve recycling rates, especially around organic waste collection and that the department should be aiming for much more ambitious recycling targets
• clarification of the Council’s Change Programme reporting structure for Environment and Neighbourhoods and the Directors’ responsibilities in this area
• clarification of the role of Job Centre Plus in dealing with worklessness
• clarification of domestic burglary performance information and the views of the Director towards combating people’s fear of crime
• clarification of the Director’s approach to enforcement and how requests for additional CCTV facilities were being dealt with
• clarification of the current position in relation to bin yard cleansing
• the need for the Director to review those estates which were not ‘car friendly’
• clarification of the timescale in relation to the strategy for Jobs and Skills and the need for the Board to have an input

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

(b)  That the Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser be requested to consult with the Performance Management Team in relation to the presentation of the performance indicators for future meetings.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the Board’s work programme.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report on proposed guidelines for the development of a work programme for the Environment and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:-

(a)  Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) Work Programme (June 2007)

(b)  Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st June 2007 to 30^th September 2007

In addition to the above report, the following officers were in attendance to answer Members’ questions:-

Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods

John Kearsley, Chief Support and Facilities Officer, City Services

Stephen Smith, Head of Environmental Services, City Services

Pippa Milne, Recycling and Waste Manager, City Services

Tom Smith, Head of Performance and Communications Team, City Services

Detailed discussion ensued on the contents of the report and appendices.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

(b)  That, in consultation with the Chair, the Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser be requested to prioritise the following issues to be investigated within the Board’s work programme for 2007/8:-

·  Affordable housing (with specific reference to supply and demand)

·  Lettings Policy (with specific reference to Local/Choice Based Lettings)

·  Bulky Waste Strategy

·  Recycling (with specific reference to improving recycling waste within the City)

·  Environmental Management around Council estates

·  Anti Social Behaviour

·  Jobs and Skills (with specific reference to addressing the levels of employment throughout the city and training opportunities)

·  Britain’s Cleanest City, together with revisiting the Action Plan

·  Rat and mice problems within the city

·  Climate change

(c)  That in relation to an outstanding report on housing needs in the city referred to at a previous Neighbourhoods and Housing Scrutiny Board, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods be requested to forward a copy of the report to Board Member for their retention.

(d)  That the Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser be requested to email Board Members with a list of those key areas which are relevant to this Scrutiny Board.

Wednesday 25^th July 2007 at 10.00 a.m.

(Pre-Meeting for Board Members at 9.30 a.m.)

Wednesday 25^th July 2007 at 10.00 am.  (Pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30 am).

All meetings to commence at 10.00 a.m. (Pre Meetings at 9.30 a.m.)

25^th July 2007

19^th September 2007

24^th October 2007

21^st November 2007

19^th December 2007

30^th January 2008

27^th February 2008

26^th March 2008

23^rd April 2008

25^th July 2007

19^th September 2007

24^th October 2007

21^st November 2007

19^th December 2007

30^th January 2008

27^th February 2008

26^th March 2008

23^rd April 2008

N.B. All meetings to commence at 10.00 am (Pre-Meetings at 9.30 am)

(The meeting concluded at 11.40 am).