Agenda item

To receive a joint report from the Director of Communities, Housing and Environment and Director of Resources which presents a summary of performance against the strategic priorities for the council and city and other performance areas relevant to the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board.

The Director of Communities, Housing & Environment and Director of Resources submitted a joint report which provided a summary of performance against the strategic priorities for the council and city and other performance areas relevant to the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Councillor S Arif, Executive Member for Public Health and Active Lifestyles

·  Councillor M Harland, Executive Member for Communities

·  Councillor H Hayden, Executive Member for Infrastructure and Climate

·  Councillor M Rafique, Executive Member for Environment and Housing

·  Councillor D Coupar, Executive Member for Resources

·  Polly Cook, Chief Officer Sustainable Energy and Air Quality

·  Lee Hemsworth, Chief Officer Community Hubs, Welfare & Business Support

·  Sean Flesher, Chief Officer Parks and Countryside

·  Paul Money, Chief Officer Safer Stronger Communities

·  John Mulcahy, Chief Officer Elections and Regulatory

·  John Woolmer, Chief Officer Environmental Services

·  Mandy Sawyer, Head of Housing and Homelessness

·  Adam Crampton, Head of Property Management

·  Tim Rollett, Intelligence and Policy Manager

In consideration of the report, the Board discussed the following issues:

Ø  Void properties – With regard to the increased numbers of void properties recorded in 2021/22, Board Members discussed the key issues that had impacted the service’s ability to recover to the pre-covid position as well as anticipated improvements moving forward.

Ø  Healthy Holidays scheme – Board Members praised the success of the Healthy Holidays scheme which is run in partnership with Leeds Community Foundation, Active Leeds, Catering Leeds and others.

Ø  Recycling rates – The Board discussed current performance in relation to recycling rates and in doing so had requested that actual figures, as well as percentage rates, are reflected in future performance reports.

Ø  Refuse Service Review – In anticipation of this review being concluded this summer, it was noted that the Scrutiny Board would be given the opportunity to consider the review findings once available.

Ø  Woodland Creation – Board Members discussed tree planting activity linked to the council’s plan to plant 50 hectares each year on council land to help mitigate the effects of climate change, benefit pollinators and wildlife and enabling people to connect with nature.  Linked to this, it was suggested that Board Members may wish to visit ‘The Arium’ to see first-hand the positive work being undertaken.

Ø  Grounds maintenance – The Board discussed the current initiative to encourage the formation of native wildflower species seed stock within the verge and noted that interpretive signs are being introduced across the city to help communicate the benefits to biodiversity from this approach.

The Board was advised that this would be the last report that presents

performance relating to the Best Council Plan priorities. Future reports will be

based on the Three Pillars contained in the Best City Ambition.

The Intelligence and Policy Manager explained that a review of performance reporting is currently taking place in light of the recent adoption of the Best City Ambition and that the initial outcomes of this performance review (revised KPIs and proposed changes to the report format) would be discussed with Scrutiny Board Chairs in due course.

RESOLVED – That the contents of the report, along with Members comments, be noted.