Agenda item

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

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 Member, Communities, would facilitate discussions between local ward Councillors and all relevant agencies.

RESOLVED – That the report and discussions be noted and used to help inform the Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year.