Agenda and minutes

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

Members received a Supplementary Agenda which detailed confidential appendices to Agenda Item 10, Car Parking Update.

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.

Councillor G Hyde declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8, Recommendation Tracking due to his position as a Director with the East North East Home ALMO.

Councillor J Hardy declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8, Recommendation Tracking due to his position as a Director with the West North West Homes ALMO.

Councillor R Graham declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8, Recommendation Tracking due to his position as a Director with the East North East Home ALMO and also Agenda Item 9, Recycling Strategy Update due to his Membership of GMB.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Townsley.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 22 November and 12 December 2011

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meetings held on 22 November and 12 December 2011 be confirmed as correct records.

To receive an update report on the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the previous Scrutiny review of the Council’s Housing Letting Policies

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development provided an update on the progress made in responding to the recommendations arising from the previous Scrutiny review of the Council’s Housing Letting Policies.

The following were in attendance for this item:

• Councillor P Gruen, Executive Member for Neighbourhoods, Housing and Regeneration
• Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods
• John Statham, Head of Housing Partnerships
• Rob McCartney, Head of Housing Support

Prior to the meeting, the Chair had met with officers to discuss the progress on the recommendations outlined in the report.  Members had been issued with a revised Appendix which detailed the progress status.  Each of the recommendations was given one of the following categories:

1. Stop Monitoring

2. Achieved

3. Not achieved (Obstacle)

4. Not achieved (Progress made acceptable. Continue monitoring)

5. Not achieved (Progress made not acceptable.  Continue monitoring)

6. Not for review this session

Additional information in the revised appendix was highlighted and Members were asked to consider changes made to the status of progress on the recommendations.

In, summary, the following was discussed:

• Recommendation 1 – The Board was informed of IT assessments/testing, the production of a user manual and work within the ALMOs to support new tenancies.  It was suggested that this Recommendation be moved from Category 5 to Category 4.
• Recommendation 2 – It was suggested that this be moved from Category 5 to Category 4.  The Board was informed of joint working with West Yorkshire Police for the development of an information sharing protocol.  Pilot schemes were underway and new powers would be available under the Localism Act.
• Recommendation 3 – It was suggested that this be moved from Category 5 to Category 4.  Further information reported including the adaptation of policies by the ALMOs to reflect legal guidance and changes from the Pinnock Case and closer working between the ALMOs and Leeds Anti-Social Behaviour Team (LASBT).
• Recommendation 4 – Further reference was made to joint working between the ALMOs and the LASBT and also the ALMOs adherence to LASBT service standards.  It was suggested that the recommendation be changed from Category 4 to Category 2.
• Recommendation 5 – Issues discussed included assessment of eligibility for foreign nationals,  repatriation services, support for homeless and potential homeless.  Further discussion focussed on welfare reform and the capping of benefits – the Board was informed of support being provided to tenants and private landlords for direct payments.  There was also a working group with private landlords and additional funds had been received from government.  Leeds would be taking a lead role across West Yorkshire authorities on the reduction of homelessness.
• Recommendation 6 – It was suggested that this be moved from Category 4 to Category 2.  Additional information submitted informed the Board of the case conferencing approach being a good practice model and how this was used.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted and that the recommendation monitoring progress be amended as suggested.

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

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development informed Members of the financial health of the Environment and Neighbourhoods Directorate after eight months of the financial year 2011/12.

The following were in attendance for this item:

Councillor P Gruen, Executive Board Member for Neighbourhoods, Housing and Regeneration

Councillor M Dobson, Executive Board Member for Environmental Services

Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods

Richard Ellis, Head of Finance, Environment and Neighbourhoods

It was reported that there had been a recent working group meeting where suggested changes to the budget had been made.  Issues raised included work between departments and welfare reform.  A number of funding streams had been arranged since the working group meeting and there was a need to look at grant funding and how this was used within the budget.  Further issues highlighted included payments to third sector organisations and work in connection to the Council’s fleet of refuse vehicles.

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

• Increase in overspending – this was principally affected by Waste Services – higher than expected landfill and increased refuse service costs.  Revised routes were due to be implemented for refuse collection.  Members requested further budgetary information for the Refuse Service.
• Increased fuel costs – allowances had been made for increased fuel costs but these had risen more than expected over the past year.
• Comprehensive work was being carried out regarding the Council’s fleet of vehicles and cost of repair against replacement would be considered.
• There was a commitment to look at the viability of using anaerobic digestion, this would be done with assistance from the PFI team.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

To receive an update report on the Council’s Recycling Strategy

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development referred to a report that Executive Board had received on 14 December 2011 which gave an update on progress against the Recycling Strategy.  The Executive Board report was appended to the Agenda and included a number of proposals that related to future service development opportunities and had been approved at the meeting on 14 December 2011.

The following were in attendance for this item:

• Councillor M Dobson, Executive Member for Environmental Services
• Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods
• Andrew Lingham, Waste Strategy and Policy Manager
• Liz Behrens, Strategy and Development Manager, Waste Management

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

• Collection of glass for recycling – there were several issues to consider including the move to fortnightly green waste collection, should it be collected with other dry recyclables and current market value.  There were also issues regarding the cost of processing and whether it could be recycled or just used as aggregate.
• Recycling of energy efficient light bulbs – there was currently facility to do this at Household Waste Centres.
• Landfill costs were currently £56 per tonne with a gate fee of £24 per tonne.  On a national comparison, landfill was charged at a low rate in Leeds.
• Recycling of food waste – the pilot carried out in Rothwell had been successful.  It was reported that over ten percent of waste sent to landfill was food waste.  The recycling pilot took cooked as well as uncooked waste.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussion be noted.

To receive an update report on the Council’s car parking charges and provision within the City. 

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development provided Members with an update in relation to the Council’s car parking charges and provision as requested by the Board.

The following were in attendance for this item:

• Councillor M Dobson, Executive Member for Environmental Services
• Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods
• Graham Wilson, Environmental Health Manager
• Mark Jefford, Parking Manager
• Robin Coghlan, Team Leader (Policy), City Development

Members were informed that the Scrutiny Board (Sustainable Economy and Culture) was undertaking an Inquiry into travel movements within the City and whilst this did not make reference to car parking there would be opportunity to dovetail the findings of any separate review around car parking into this Inquiry.

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

• Approximately one third of Woodhouse Lane Car Park was closed for repair and improvements.
• Price was not the main determining factor in influencing people where to park.  National research showed location and security were considered to be more important.
• It was felt to be cost prohibitive to install ticket machines that accepted card payment.
• The Council owned twenty six percent of car parks in Leeds and aimed to set prices slightly lower than privately owned car parks.
• The long term policy of the Council was to develop distinct short stay and long stay car parks in the City. 
• Regulation of private car parks on undeveloped land to ensure physical and qualitative improvements.
• Impact of the New Generation Transport and other major transport scemes.
• Park and Ride schemes.
• It was anticipated that the Car Parking Strategy would be taken to Executive Board around the middle of the year.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the report and discussion be noted.

(2)  That a Working Group meeting be established to discuss Car Parking.

To consider the Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year

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.

Members were informed that there would be a meeting of the Fuel Poverty Working Group on Wednesday, 1 February at 10.00 a.m.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted

Monday, 16 January 2012 at 10.00 a.m. (pre-meeting for all Members at 9.30 a.m.)

Monday, 13 February 2012 at 10.00 a.m. (pre-meeting for all Members at 9.30 a.m.)