Agenda and minutes

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.

No declarations of interest were made.

To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence from the meeting were received.

To confirm as a correct record the attached minutes of the meeting held on 17^th May 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 17^th May 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

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, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Chief Democratic Services Officer at least 24 hours before the meeting)

Review of the Housing Lettings Process (Minute No.129 refers)

Further to Minute No. 129, 17^th May 2010, in response to a Member’s query, the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods reported that the Board’s views and recommendations would be taken into consideration when the matter went back before the Executive Board in the autumn.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report outlining recent procedural changes to the Council’s Constitution in respect of the scrutiny process.

In response to a query regarding substitute arrangements for Scrutiny Board meetings, it was clarified that these arrangements applied to a whole meeting, not part of a meeting, and that Board Members were responsible for notifying their group office of their intended absence which, in turn, was responsible for arranging and notifying substitute Members.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

RESOLVED – That the proposed Joint Protocol between the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) and the local Community Safety Partnership be approved, in accordance with the report now submitted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report regarding scrutiny issues highlighted in the May 2009 Audit and Inspection Plan prepared by the Council’s external auditors, KPMG, and drew particular attention to the comments contained in the Plan relating to the use of co?optees by Scrutiny Boards.

Members discussed and debated the options for possibly appointing co?optees onto the Board, either on a semi-permanent or on an ad hoc basis.

During the course of the discussion, a Member raised an issue regarding the current composition of the statutory representatives appointed annually to the Scrutiny Board (Children’s Services) and it was agreed to refer this matter for consideration by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

RESOLVED – That the Board agrees to appoint co-optees on an ad hoc basis, as and when considered necessary to assist with particular matters or inquiries, and the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development, in consultation with the Chair, consider how, in practice, this might work given the Board’s work programme.

(NB:    Councillor R Grahame joined the meeting at 10.10 am, during the consideration of this item.)

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report seeking Members’ input on the Board’s proposed 2010/11 work programme.

In attendance at the meeting and responding to Members’ queries and comments were:-

-  Councillor Tom Murray, Executive Member (Environmental Services).

-  Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods.

It was reported that Councillor P Gruen, Executive Member (Neighbourhoods and Housing) would be in attendance at the July meeting.

In brief summary, the main areas discussed were:-

·  The more austere financial situation now facing local authorities.  The Director of Resources would be reporting to the Executive Board on 22^nd June regarding Government instructions for current year budget savings, and the likely impact on the Environment and Neighbourhoods Directorate was in-year savings in the region of £1.5m.

Members requested the Director to report to the Board when the cuts/savings had been identified.

·  The success of the food waste recycling pilot scheme in the Rothwell area, and the possibility of a similar scheme being rolled out across the City.

Members requested that an analysis of the Rothwell pilot project be circulated to Board Members.

·  The development of the proposed Residual Waste Plant.  The possible commissioning of an anaerobic digester as part of a wider food waste strategy would have to be the subject of a separate procurement exercise.

·  The introduction of revised domestic waste collection routes across the City, possible teething problems and how these would be tackled.  The collection frequency of black, brown, green and food waste bins was also a live issue.

·  More localised input and control of street cleansing services via local Members and Area Committees.  Members expressed some reservations regarding this proposed initiative, unless sufficient resources were to be devolved at the same time.

·  Illegal rubbish dumping and environmental enforcement issues.

·  Missed refuse collections and how these were followed up.

·  The frequency of street gully cleansing.  Members requested that more detailed information be circulated to Board Members.

RESOLVED – That Councillor Murray and the Director be thanked for their input, which will be taken into account when the Board is finalising its work programme for 2010/11.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

The Board considered the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development regarding establishing the Board’s work programme for 2010/11.

The Board identified the following areas/issues under the Environment portfolio for further consideration at the July Board meeting, when issues would also be identified under the Neighbourhoods and Housing portfolio and priority issues identified for inclusion in the 2010/11 work programme:-

·  Localised street cleansing service.

·  Food waste recycling and the possible commissioning or an anaerobic digester.

·  Partnership working, and what the Council’s partners were doing to assist the Council to meet its environmental targets/ambitions;

·  Travellers and associated issues across the City.

·  Procurement of new Grounds Maintenance Contract 2011.

Members made reference to the following issues under the Neighbourhoods and Housing portfolio, which would be discussed at the next meeting :-

·  Law and order issues, including anti-social behaviour, and how local people could be involved in the system.

·  Affordable housing in Leeds and future options for Council housing.

·  Local youth unemployment and what could be done about it.

·  ALMO inspection results.

·  Following up the outcome of previous Inquiries/investigations, including the review of the Housing Lettings Process referred to in Minute No. 4.

RESOLVED – That the Principal Scrutiny Advisor, in consultation with the Chair, prepare a draft work programme 2010/11 for submission to the next meeting.

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:-

Abigail Sandham, Dog Warden Service, updated Members on progress on the consultation exercise regarding dog control orders.

It was reported that an item on dog control orders would be submitted to the first cycle of Area Committee meetings in June/July.

A Member requested that details of the number of cases of toxocariasis across the City be circulated to Board Members.

Tuesday 13^th July 2010

Monday 13^th September 2010

Monday 11^th October 2010

Monday 8^th November 2010

Monday 13^th December 2010

Monday 17^th January 2011

Monday 14^th February 2011

Monday 14^th March 2011

Monday 11^th April 2011

All at 10am (Pre-Meetings 9.30am).

Tuesday, 13^th July 2010

Monday, 13^th September 2010

Monday, 11^th October 2010

Monday, 08^th November 2010

Monday, 13^th December 2010

Monday, 17^th January 2011

Monday, 14^th February 2011

Monday, 14^th March 2011

Monday, 11^th April 2011

All at 10.00 am (pre-meetings at 9.30 am).