Minutes of the Meeting of the

Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Commission

Held: Thursday, 9 September 2021 at 5:30 pm

P R E S E N T :

Councillor Solanki (Chair)

In Attendance:

Councillor Nangreave	Councillor O’Donnell

Councillor Waddington

Also Present:

Deputy City Mayor Councillor Piara Singh Clair

* * * * * * * *

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from the Councillor Thalukdar and Councillor Westley.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
There were no declarations of interest.

CHAIR'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.

MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING
Agreed: That the minutes of the meeting of the Neighbourhoods Services Scrutiny Commission on 1 July 2021 be confirmed as a correct record.

PETITIONS
The Monitoring Officer noted that none had been received.

QUESTIONS, REPRESENTATIONS AND STATEMENTS OF CASE
The Monitoring Officer noted that none had been received.

EXECUTIVE RESPONSE TO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD SERVICES SCRUTINY COMMISSION FINDINGS INTO 'THE VIABILITY AND APPROPRIATENESS OF A COMMUNITY LOTTERY'
The Director of Finance provided the Commission with an overview of the Executive response for the Commissions recommendations of not to persue a Community Lottery. It was noted that the Overview Select Committee had endorsed the recommendations. The Deputy City Mayor for Culture, Leisure, Sport and Regulatory Services paid tribute to the Late Councillor Jean Khote who chaired the Committee and noted that her input into the viability of a community lottery was dearly missed and thanked the Chair of the Commission for seeing the review through. Members of the Commission supported the recommendations and suggested that the developing strategy on anti-poverty be considered as an agenda item to be added to the work programme for a future date. AGREED: That the Members of the Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Commission and Officers be thanked for their contributions to the scrutiny review, and That, the Commission note and accept the position adopted by the Executive in response to the scrutiny review.

DEALING WITH COMPLEX AND HIGH RISK ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR REPORT
The Deputy City Mayor for Culture, Leisure, Sport and Regulatory Services introduced the item. The Director for Neighbourhood Services introduced the supporting Officers who delivered a presentation updating and informing Members of the Commission. As part of the discussions it was noted that: The CrASBU Team had undertaken work in the New Parks area, including community meetings where interaction with the public allowed for ideas to be communicated with local residents Members of the Commission welcomed the Officer attendance at local community meetings and suggested that participation at regular community meetings allowed for a better understanding of resident concerns The Housing Scrutiny Commission were also looking in more detail at the role of the Tenancy Management service in dealing with cases of anti-social behaviour, and that officers will be providing some evidence to that group given the relationship that CrASBU has with housing Officers were working with the Police and CrASBU to deliver a working group Community Safety Task Groups allowed for targeted work, currently work was being undertaken in high risk areas which were identified through the data that was collected Joint action groups were in place to allow for work to be undertaken across the city and working with multiple groups allowed for good working practices to be implemented across the city Members of the Commission shared their concerns with dangerous cannabis production factories in residential properties across the city, with the highest number in the Fosse Ward. It was noted that the fist point of contact would be the police and that if it was within a council owned property then the CrASBU Team would alert the police and the council would always support the police to tackle criminal activity. It was noted that the Fosse Police would support the councils approach for selective licensing. Enquiries that are received by the team are usually responded to within 10 days, but all enquiries are risk assessed on the day they are received and the serious cases are responded to sooner. It was suggested that this was a joint system shared with the police and this was an area that could be improved AGREED: That the Commission note the update outlining the work of CrASBU Team; Members of the Commission thank officers and Executive Members for all of their work and for bringing this report to scrutiny and; That Officers be requested to provide a further report on the work of CrASBU Team to the Commission within 12 months.

CROWDFUND LEICESTER PRESENTATION
The Head of the City Mayors team delivered a presentation providing an overview to Members of the Commission on CrowdFund Leicester and the projects that CrowdFund Leicester have been able to support. As part of the discussions it was noted that: Members of the Commission queried what could be done to engage with more working-class communities to deliver more projects across the more deprived areas of the city Officers be requested to bring back the item to the Commission with a supporting report that details accountability and contractual governance The Director of Neighbourhood Services suggested that the conversation on CrowdFund should continue as this was the new innovative approach to raise funding. AGREED: That Officers be requested that a report be provided to the Neighbourhood Services for the Commission meeting in December

VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR ENGAGEMENT PRESENTATION
AGREED: That the item on Voluntary and Community Sector Engagement be deferred to a future meeting

DRAFT WORK PROGRAMME
That an item on Serious Knife Crime launch be added to the work programme for a meeting in the new year That the anti-poverty strategy be added to the work programme

ANY OTHER URGENT BUSINESS
Members of the Commission thanked Councillor Solanki for stepping into the Chair’s position. There being no items of urgent business, the meeting closed at 7:37pm