Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds

Contact: Andy Booth (0113) 247 4325  Email: andy.booth@leeds.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

26.

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:

The following late items of information were submitted:

 

  • Minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2011
  • Item 8 – Financial Health Monitoring
  • Item 10 – Draft Terms of Reference

 

27.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

 

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor E Taylor.  Councillor J Hardy was in attendance as substitute.

 

28.

Minutes - 7 July and 18 July 2011 pdf icon PDF 68 KB

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meetings held on 7 July and 18 July 2011.

 

(N.B. Please note that the minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2011 are to follow)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings held on 7 July and 18 July 2011 be confirmed as correct records.

 

29.

Presentation on the Leeds Burglary Reduction Strategy pdf icon PDF 49 KB

To receive a presentation from the Chief Officer Community Safety on the Leeds Burglary Reduction Strategy.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development referred to the Board’s terms of reference and that reducing burglary was a key area of review for the Board to undertake this year.  The Chair had requested a presentation on the Leeds Burglary Reduction Strategy (2011-2015) and a copy of the report presented to Executive Board on Reducing Reported Burglary in Leeds was attached to the agenda.

 

The following were in attendance for this item:

 

  • Simon Whitehead -  Chief Officer, Community Safety
  • Ian Whitehouse – Chief Superintendent, West Yorkshire Police
  • Martyn Stenton, Head of Localities and Safeguarding
  • Liz Jarmin, Head of Community Safety Partnerships (Safer Leeds)

 

The Board was given a presentation on the Leeds Burglary Strategy 2011-15 which focussed on the following 6 key themes:

 

  • The Nature of the Burglary Problem in Leeds
  • Our Vision for Tackling Burglary
  • Six Key Strands of the Strategy
  • Burglary Reduction Programme
  • Work in Localities
  • The Role of Local Members

 

Issues highlighted during the presentation included the following:

 

  • Leeds had a large number of both opportunistic and career burglars and a high level of persistent offenders.
  • The City had a high number of rental properties, Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and a large student population which were all targeted by burglars.
  • There had been a rise in burglaries in recent years but this was now starting to decline.
  • Targets to reduce burglary within the Leeds Burglary Strategy 2011-12.
  • Offender management – tagging offenders and close working relationships with the Crown Prosecution Service, Probation Services and Prison Services.
  • Co-ordinated approach to crime prevention – target hardening, targeting prolific offenders, use of tracking devices and work with the ALMOs and landlords.
  • Burglary Reduction Programme 2011-13 – this had £1.3 million of funding from the Safer Leeds Partnership with £800 thousand of match funding from partners.  5 main projects were ongoing with partners.
  • Work in localities and priority areas and the development of local action plans.
  • Principles of Crime Reduction

 

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

 

  • Intelligence gathering – engaging communities and Neighbourhood Watch
  • Seasonal increases in burglary – September and October saw rises with the returning student population.
  • The role of Elected Members – Publicise through Area Committees and Community Forums.
  • The role of Police Community Support Officers
  • Metal theft.
  • Stolen goods market.
  • Insurance mapping – this was not carried out.

 

RESOLVED  -

 

(a)  That the report and presentation be noted.

(b)  That a further report be brought in the following municipal year.

 

 

(Councillor Hamilton joined the meeting at 10.20 a.m. during the discussion on this item).

 

(Councillor Jarosz declared a personal interest in this item due to her employment with the Probation Service.)

 

30.

Financial Health Monitoring 2011/12 - Environment and Neighbourhoods Directorate pdf icon PDF 50 KB

To consider the financial position of the Environment and Neighbourhoods Directorate after four months of the financial year 2011/12

 

(Report to follow)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development informed the Board of the financial health of the Environment and Neighbourhoods Directorate after the first four months of the 2011/12 financial year.  An briefing note was attached which outlined the current position.

 

The following were in attendance for this item:

 

  • Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods
  • Richard Ellis, Head of Finance, Environment and Neighbourhoods

 

Members expressed concern that entire budget figures were being considered by the Scrutiny Board and not the individual Board’s this year.  The Chair was due to meet with the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development regarding this and Neil Evans reported that budget figures could still be reported to this Board.

 

Members sought clarity on figures detailed in the briefing note and it was reported that they were based on current trends and not actual positions.  The directorate had saved approximately £9 million over the past year.

 

In response to Members’ comments and questions, the following issues were discussed:

 

  • Transfer Payments – reference was made to supporting those in sheltered housing through housing benefit.
  • Car Parking Income – figures were based on assumptions based on City Centre parking.
  • Performance related pay – this was pensionable.  Further information was requested on attendance.
  • Money received from recycling – this was currently nil due to price variables.
  • Costs relating to the refuse vehicles fleet.
  • Members requested future information in the form of a balance sheet.

 

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

 

 

(Councillor Townsley left the meeting during the discussion on this item at 11.30 a.m.)

 

 

31.

Recommendation Tracking pdf icon PDF 119 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the previous Scrutiny review of Gypsies and Travellers Site Provision within Leeds.

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development set out the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the previous Scrutiny review of Gypsies and Travellers Site Provision in Leeds.  Members agreed the current position with all the recommendations outlined in the report with further information to be sent regarding Recommendation 10.

 

Further issues discussed included the following:

 

  • Regional involvement and provision within neighbouring authorities.
  • Consideration was being given to latest Government guidelines – City Development would be taking the lead on this.
  • Non designated stopping zones – these were not supported by Executive Board.  There were legislative concerns that enforcement would be difficult and there was a lack of a regional or national strategy.

 

RESOLVED – That those recommendations that no longer require monitoring be agreed.

 

32.

Forthcoming Scrutiny Inquiries - Draft Terms of Reference pdf icon PDF 57 KB

To consider the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting draft terms of reference for the Board’s forthcoming inquiries into Private Rented Sector Housing and Fuel Poverty.

 

(Report to follow)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented draft terms of reference for the following inquiries:

 

  • Private Rented Sector Housing
  • Fuel Poverty

 

Members were asked to agree the terms of reference.

 

RESOLVED – That the terms of reference for the forthcoming Scrutiny Inquiries into Private Rented Sector Housing and Fuel Poverty be agreed.

 

33.

Work Schedule pdf icon PDF 52 KB

To consider the Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming Municipal Year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development detailed the Board’s work schedule.  Also attached were copies of recent Executive Board Minutes and a copy of the Forward Plan relating to the Board’s portfolio.

 

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

 

34.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Monday, 10th October 2011 at 10.00 a.m. (Pre-meeting for all Members at 9.30 a.m.)

Minutes:

Monday, 10th October at 10.00 a.m. (pre-meeting for all Members at 9.30 a.m.)