Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of Heritage, Culture, Leisure and Tourism Scrutiny Commission held on 28 February 2023 are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.  

The minutes of Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Commission held on 12 January 2023 are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.  

AGREED:

1.     That the minutes of Heritage, Culture, Leisure and Tourism Scrutiny Commission held on 28 February 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

2.     That the minutes of Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Commission held on 12 January 2023 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Membership of the Culture and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Commission is as follows:

Councillor Dawood (Chair)

Councillor Mohammed (Vice-Chair)

Councillor Agath

Councillor Aldred

Councillor Chauhan

Councillor Halford

Councillor Karavadra

Councillor Singh Johal

Members of the Commission are asked to note the Membership of the Commission.

The Membership of the Committee for 2023/24 was noted.

The dates of the Culture and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Commission are as follows:

Wednesday 16^th August 2023

Thursday 7^th September 2023

Tuesday 24^th October 2023

Tuesday 5^th December 2023

Monday 29^th January 2024

Monday 25^th March 2024

Members of the Commission are asked to note the dates of the Commission.

The dates of meetings for 2023/24 were noted.

The Monitoring Officer to report on any questions, representations and statements of case received in accordance with Council procedures.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no questions, representations and statements of case had been submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Monitoring Officer to report on any petitions received in accordance with Council procedures.

The Monitoring Officer noted that none had been received.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submits a presentation, providing the Commission with an overview of the portfolio.

Members of the Commission are asked to note the presentation and forward any questions and queries to the Directors.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services, Sean Atterbury delivered a presentation to provide an overview of the key areas and services relating to the Neighbourhood and Environmental Services portfolio.

Members noted the presentation on the introduction in to Neighbourhood and Environmental Services portfolio and thanked officers. The work areas were noted, which would support the Commission’s Work Programme for the forthcoming year.

Members discussed the presentation and the following points were noted:

·       Work had been completed over the last 12 months looking at the Burial Policy and advance purchases of graves. This has helped extend the space within the city by two further years from 2028 to 2030. The current cemetery space in Leicester  would need to be reviewed and a decision on a new cemetery location would need to be made by 2030.

·        The Better Mental Health Funding is used for engagement sessions within libraries and community spaces to bring communities together.

·       Trees in Leicester City are maintained on a 3-5 year cycle, depending on the species and size. When tree nuisance reports are received, each case is assessed in its own merit. The Councils Tree Strategy and Tree Policy is available on the website and can be viewed here - https://www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council/city-mayor-peter-soulsby/my-vision/sustainable-leicester/tree-strategy/

·       Part of the Councils Tree Strategy is for every tree that has fell, 19 new trees have been planted.

·       All CCTV installations were in line with regulations. 10 new cameras had been installed in Leicester East in the last 3 months.

·       CCTV installation costs vary and range between £3 and £10 thousand pounds.

·       Leicester City currently has one Taxi testing centre and they were meeting requirements in line with the Councils Taxi Strategy, with no cause for concern.

·       Work would begin on the new Waste Strategy in 2024, before the current strategy would end in 2028 and the National Governments new requirements would have to be implemented by 2030.

·       The Council currently have a public engagement consultation on Leicester’s community services and libraries needs, more information can be found on the link below:

https://consultations.leicester.gov.uk/libraries/cslna/?utm_campaign=2351826_Face%20-%205%20July%202023&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Leicester%20City%20Council&dm_i=36CU,1EEOI,2JVML1,5IOW5,1

·       The Council maintain visibility displays to ensure the roads are safe for users. We now have a Grassland Strategy, where mowing regimes are relaxed to encourage biodiversity in the city and evidence has shown that this has a significant effect in helping us become a green biodiverse city and creates green highways for wildlife in the city.

·       An active scheme is in place, where the roads were being signposted, where the mowing has been consciously relaxed mowing by putting a Bee Road Sign. They can be spotted all over the city and risk assessments have taken place to ensure safety for road users.

AGREED:

1.     Members note the reports

2.     Officers to look into seed and produce exchange in harvest season.

3.     Officers to bring a report on CCTV to a future commission meeting.

4.     Officers to circulate a list of the Councils current strategy and policy documents and when they would be up for renewal.

The Director of Tourism, Culture and Inward Investment submits a presentation, providing the Commission with an overview of the portfolios.

Members of the Commission are asked to note the presentation and forward any questions and queries to the Directors.

The Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance submits a presentation, providing the Commission with an overview of the portfolios.

Members of the Commission are asked to note the presentation and forward any questions and queries to the Directors.

Members of the Commission will be asked to consider items for the future work programme.