Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR

Contact: Sandra Pentelow (0113 37 88655)  Email: Sandra.Pentelow@leeds.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Appeals Against Refusal of Inspection of Documents

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, notice of an appeal must be received in writing by the Head of Governance Services at least 24 hours before the meeting).

Minutes:

There were no appeals against the refusal of inspection of documents.

 

2.

Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

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.

Minutes:

The agenda contained no exempt information.

 

3.

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:

No formal late items of business were added to the agenda. However the Board was in receipt of a letter from Councillor K Ritchie, Chair of the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee, seeking to refer the use of powers by the Authority under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 in respect of work undertaken by Environmental Action as a matter for the Board to consider for scrutiny (Minute 10 refers).

 

4.

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

No declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests were made.

 

5.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Knight, Ragan and Wilkinson. Councillors Lennox, R Grahame and Stephenson attended the meeting as their substitutes.

 

6.

Minutes - 12 March 2018 pdf icon PDF 68 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 12 March 2018.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held 12th March 2018 be agreed as a correct record.

 

7.

Scrutiny Board Terms of Reference pdf icon PDF 91 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presenting the Board’s terms of reference.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presented the terms of reference for the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board for Members’ information.

 

RESOLVED – To note the contents of the report and Terms of Reference.

 

8.

Crime and Disorder Scrutiny pdf icon PDF 101 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support on the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny role.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support informed the Board of its role as the Council’s Crime and Disorder Committee and included the Protocol between Scrutiny and the Community Safety Partnership in Leeds.

 

The report also included the ‘Principles for Engagement’ document developed by the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel in liaison with the five local Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committees.

 

During discussions, the Board noted two key issues – an overall strategy to tackle drug abuse on the city’s estates and traffic policing resources – as matters to consider for further scrutiny.

 

RESOLVED –

(a)  To note the joint protocol between Scrutiny and the local Community Safety Partnership

(b)  To note the Principles for Engagement document in relation to West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel and the Local Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Committees

 

9.

Co-opted Members pdf icon PDF 107 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support on the appointment of co-opted members to Scrutiny Boards.

 

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support sought the Board’s formal consideration for the appointment of co-opted members.

 

The Board was informed that they could appoint the following:

·  Up to five non-voting co-opted members for a term of office that does not go beyond the next Annual Meeting of the Council; and/or

·  Up to two non-voting co-opted members for a term of office that relates to the duration of a particular and specific scrutiny inquiry.

 

RESOLVED – The Board agreed to consider the appointment of co-opted members on an ad-hoc basis for any inquiries where it was deemed appropriate.

 

10.

Sources of Work for the Scrutiny Board pdf icon PDF 124 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support on potential sources of work for the Scrutiny Board.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support provided information and guidance on potential sources of work and areas of priority within the Board’s terms of reference.

 

The following documents were appended to the report:

 

·  Vision for Scrutiny at Leeds

·  Best Council Plan 2018/19 – 2020/21

·  Draft Inclusive Growth Strategy

·  Request for scrutiny signed by Councillors M Dobson, P Wadsworth and M Robinson regarding Refuse Collection

·  Request for scrutiny from the Chair of the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee in respect of the Authority’s use of powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for Environmental Protection.

 

The following were in attendance for this item and were invited to share their views around potential areas of work for the Scrutiny Board this year:

 

·  Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Executive Member for Environment and Active Lifestyles

·  Councillor Debra Coupar, Executive Member for Communities

·  Neil Evans, Director of Resources and Housing

·  Jill Wildman, Chief Officer, Housing Management

·  Nehim Mehmood-Khan – Head of responsive Repairs, Voids & Property Management

·  Lee Hemsworth, Chief Officer, Customer Access & Welfare

·  Shaid Mahmood, Chief Officer, Communities

·  Helen Freeman, Chief Officer, Environmental Action

·  John Woolmer, Deputy Chief Officer, Waste Management

·  Supt. Sam Millar, Safer Leeds Partnership

·  John Mulcahy, Head of Elections, Licensing & Registration

·  Neil Charlesworth, Principal Asset Management Officer

 

In summary the following key areas were identified for the Boards consideration:

-  Addressing poor quality housing in the Private Rented Sector in Leeds and Selective Licensing.

-  Delivery of Council House Growth

-  Priority Neighbourhoods

-  Update on migration and in particular citizens’ rights in the future

-  Early assessment of the work of the Street Intervention Team

-  Anti-Social Behaviour, including an update from the Tenant Scrutiny Board into their recent Anti-Social Behaviour inquiry. Anti-Social behaviour due to Drug and Alcohol abuse.

-  Road safety and the impact of the centralised WYP road traffic function

-  Scrutiny of the refreshed Safer Leeds Strategy

-  Scrutiny of the waste management to support the emerging strategy (including the environmental enforcement policies)

-  A review of service from housing repairs providers

-  Air Quality and the Clean Air Zone

-  The Councils response to benefit system changes and the implementation of Universal Credit

-  Food Poverty and the provision of free food across Leeds

-  The provision of information and specialist advice across the city

-  An update on the Managed Zone in early 2019

 

In addition to identifying matters for scrutiny, it was agreed that information on the following matters would be sent directly to Members of the Board:

-  Temporary accommodation – the location and number of units in the city and management details

-  Miscellaneous properties and proposals for their maintenance, to identify the number and location in the city and provide management details

 

Finally, in response to a Councillor Call-For-Action request from Councillor R Grahame for support to ensure responsible authorities and partners tackle rising crime and disorder and anti-social behaviour issues in the East End Park area of the city; it was noted that the Executive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

11.

Performance Report pdf icon PDF 385 KB

To receive a report from the Director of Resources and Housing and the Director of Communities and Environment which provides a summary of performance against the strategic priorities for the Council and the City.

 

Minutes:

The joint report of the Directors of Resources & Housing and Communities & Environment provided Members with a summary of performance against the strategic priorities for the Council and city and other performance areas relevant to the work of the Board.

 

The following were in attendance for this item to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Board:

 

·  Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Executive Member for Environment and Active Lifestyles

·  Councillor Debra Coupar, Executive Member for Communities

·  Jill Wildman, Chief Officer, Housing Management

·  Nehim Mehmood-Khan – Head of responsive Repairs, Voids & Property Management

·  Lee Hemsworth, Chief Officer, Customer Access & Welfare

·  Shaid Mahmood, Chief Officer, Communities

·  Helen Freeman, Chief Officer, Environmental Action

·  John Woolmer, Deputy Chief Officer, Waste Management

·  Supt. Sam Millar, Safer Leeds Partnership

·  John Mulcahy, Head of Elections, Licensing & Registration

·  Neil Charlesworth, Principal Asset Management Officer

 

The following was discussed:

-  The intention for an update on Welfare Rights to be presented to the Board early 2019 dependant on roll out.

-  Community Safety performance and the potential for more detailed information in the next performance report.

 

RESOLVED -

a)  To note the most recent performance information contained within the report and Appendices 1 – 3 and the issues which have been highlighted.

b)  To note that Appendix 1 contained a new dashboard format for Housing indicators which was still in development.

 

12.

Financial Health pdf icon PDF 87 KB

To receive the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and the appended Financial Health monitoring reports, including the outturn report 2017/18 and update for 2018/19.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support provided information with regard to the financial health for areas aligned with the Boards terms of reference. The report included the Financial Performance –Outturn Financial year ended 31st March 2018 and the Financial Monitoring Report 2018/19 Month 2 (May 2018) reports which had been considered by Executive Board on 27th June 2018.

 

The Board noted the information related to budget provision and actual spend, and that Appendix 1 was amended to reflect information relevant to this Scrutiny Board only.

 

The following representatives from financial management attended the meeting to present the budget reports and address any queries from the Board:

 

  • Michael Everitt, Head of Finance
  • Bhupinder Chana, Head of Finance, Technical.

 

The Board noted comments made regarding staffing savings made within the Communities and Environment Directorate during 2017/18 and a concern was raised regarding the impact of this in the Community Safety service area.

 

RESOLVED - To note the financial report for 2018/19 and the outturn summary for the financial year 2017/18.

 

13.

Work Schedule pdf icon PDF 98 KB

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2018/19 municipal year.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support presented the draft work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year. This included the traditional items of Scrutiny work which involves performance monitoring, recommendation tracking and Budget and Policy Framework Plans.

 

RESOLVED –

a)  To note and approve the work items already identified within the work schedule

b)  Having reflected on the information presented at the meeting where the Board identified potential areas for Scrutiny for the forthcoming municipal year, it was noted that the Principal Scrutiny Adviser would work with the Chair to incorporate those areas of work into the Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming year.

 

14.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

Thursday, 26 July 2018 at 10:30am (pre meeting for all Board Members at 10:00am)

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED – To note the date and time of the next meeting as Thursday 26th July 2018 at 10.30 am (with a pre-meeting for all Board members at 10.00 am)