Agenda and minutes

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.

None.

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

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

The Chair admitted a late item around the working group and asked that this group look at the way the Board decides on future inquiries but keeping within the current terms of reference, using best practice models as a guide.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Colin Halliwell, Maddy Hunter, Rita Ighade, Roderic Morgan

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 17^th August 2018.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 17 August 2018 be approved as a correct record.

This report summarises suggestions received from Chair of Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board and the Chief Officer (Housing Management) and from VITAL (Voice of Involved Tenants Across Leeds) for the Board to have a discussion around the future inquiry topic.

In explaining the process for this item, the Chair explained that he will go through each topic which has been suggested for inquiry, and hold a brief discussion on the topic. The Board would then adjourn for ten minutes. The Chair also noted he would make a suggestion at the end as an alternative approach prior to voting on the suggestions which have been made.

Refuse Collection

It was noted that all areas are treated the same for the collection of kerbside bins. But it was noted and shown as an issue when walkabouts were carried out as part of the Estate Environment inquiry, due to narrow roads and the way estates were built. A previous recommendation was to introduce the best waste collection solution for individual estates, even if that resulted in variations across the city.

Members noted the situation in multi storey blocks of flats and how there are ongoing issues around recycling and also chute use.

Council Housing Growth Programme

The Chair noted this could be a difficult subject to work through as the example given relating to the time one tenant had taken to be rehoused would have been influenced by the current system of awarding priority to housing applications, based on need and that any changes to this system would be a matter for the Executive Board to consider.

Review of Housing Advisory Panels (HAP) & Tenant Involvement

The Chair explained that because no members of the Board can be Housing Advisory Panel members, he had attended a HAP meeting this week as an observer, so that he could have an understanding of what happens in a HAP meeting. The chair also noted from his attendance that there has been a recent review of Housing Advisory Panels and that the findings from this are currently being rolled out.

It was noted there is a current shortage of members on the panel he attended which is something which is also an issue with this Board, and that any inquiry on this subject or Tenant Involvement, should include considerations being given to how we can recruit more tenants onto Boards and local forums.

The Chair reported that he had found it difficult to find information about the HAPS via the internet and when he had, that minutes of meeting were not always the most up to date. He felt that members not already involved with Housing Leeds may struggle to become involved and this would `also make it more difficult for a new person looking to join to have a fuller understanding of what goes on in a meeting.

A discussion was held around whether there was a concern that with fewer members there was a possibility of bids being approved within their own areas, at the detriment of other areas, and that this could be one of the driving forces for recruiting more members.

Older Persons Service

In introducing this item the Chair noted that this inquiry could touch on areas which the Scrutiny Board cannot make  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

The Board agreed to enclose a copy of the work programme in each agenda pack.

The work programme includes actions which require follow up, such as recommendations from the previous municipal years inquiry. It is noted that as an inquiry progresses, further items may be included as required.

The Chair noted to Board Members that all future agenda packs would contain a copy of the work programme. This work programme is a live document as the year progresses and is therefore subject to change.

Friday 19^th October 2018 at 1:15pm (pre meeting for all Board Members at 1:00pm)

Friday 19th October 2018 at 1:15pm

(Pre meeting for all Board members at 1:00pm)

THE MEETING CLOSED AT 2:50 PM