Agenda item

To receive a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the opportunity to raise questions and issues with the Executive Board Member with responsibility for Neighbourhoods and Housing and the Executive Board Member with responsibility for Environmental Services, together with representatives from the Department of Environment and Neighbourhoods.

(Report attached)

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which afforded Scrutiny Board Members the opportunity to put questions to the Executive Member with responsibility for Neighbourhoods and Housing portfolio.

Opening the session the Chair welcomed Councillor J L Carter and Mr Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods to the meeting and he asked the Executive Board Member to briefly outline the current issues, pressures and opportunities facing his portfolio in the coming year.

The following issues were raised:

Housing  -  There is an ongoing priority to obtain decency and the need to secure sufficient funding. 

PFISwarcliffe and Holbeck Improvement Work  -  The recognition that such contracts were difficult to manage and the need to learn from this and past contracts, particularly in relation to tenant management. 

Gateway Review – Little London and Beeston Hill  -  The works for this scheme have gone well and it is anticipated that the scheme will be completed in October 2007. 

EASEL  -  Progress on this project was discussed. 

Affordable Housing  -  The Government’s green paper and the proposals therein in relation to affordable housing was discussed.  Particular issues discussed were land usage, definitions of affordability, the different schemes available to help house owners purchase properties.

The Executive Member suggested that this Scrutiny Board might like to consider further proposals within the Green Paper.

Community Safety – a broad ranging discussion was held around the Executive Member’s responsibilities in relation to community safety, particularly the following issues:

-  ‘Champion Operation’

-  Drugs and Rehabilitation.

-  PCSOs.

-  Tagging and the Early release of prisoners .

Choice Based Lettings -  A full debate took place on the current system of choice based lettings, other available means of letting and the relationship between letting policies and housing supply.  Members raised a number of concerns in relation to the current system.  The Executive Board member stated that he would welcome Scrutiny Board undertaking a full inquiry on this matter. 

Gypsies and Travellers -  The Executive Board Member informed the meeting that there is to be an independent review on this matter in the autumn.

Capital Receipts – A debate took place on the use and allocation of capital receipts.  The debate particularly focused on support for capital receipts being treated as ‘city receipts’ and the view that capital receipts in part or whole should stay within the ward in which they were generated.  Whilst not coming to any conclusions it was acknowledged that any review would require a review of all capital receipts generated and their contribution to capital developments as a whole.

Concluding the debate, the Chair thanked the Executive Board Member and the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods for attending today’s meeting and commented on the fact that such an open and wide ranging discussion was good for the scrutiny function and transparent decision making.

RESOLVED - 

(a)  That all Members of Scrutiny Board (Environment and   Neighbourhoods) be supplied with a copy of the former boards inquiry   into Gypsy and Travellers sites.

(b )  That Councillor Steve Smith,  Executive Board Member for   Environmental Services be invited to a future meeting of this Scrutiny   Board to discuss his portfolio.

(c)  That the Scrutiny Board undertake an inquiry into Choice Based

  Lettings.