Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dawood, Joel, Khote and Westley.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed.

No declarations of interest were made.

The Chair reminded Members that, as the pre-election period had started, (in relation to the forthcoming General Election), the key restrictions to be noted were:

·           Publicity could not be given to individuals involved directly in the election as either candidates or agents; and

·           Care needed to be taken to remain objective and avoid the appearance of political bias.

The minutes of the meeting of the Overview Select Committee held on 19 September 2019 are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

AGREED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Overview Select Committee held on 19 September 2019 be confirmed as a correct record.

To note progress on actions agreed at the previous meeting and not reported elsewhere on the agenda (if any).

The Chair referred to the discussion under minute 27, “Progress on Actions Agreed at the Last Meeting”, regarding whether the five properties in Market Square that were due to be demolished could be offered on short-term leases for start-up businesses. 

He reported that the three units with the red shutters were still in use for trader storage, but it should be possible to move items out of the ground floor after Christmas and at that point it could be possible to look at other uses.  The other two units were the ones intended for demolition.  Confirming the timescale for that would inform whether short term use was viable in the interim.

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any questions, representations and statements of case submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no questions, representations or statements of case had been received.

The Monitoring Officer to report on any petitions received.

The Monitoring Officer advised that there were no petitions to report.

The Monitoring Officer submits a report that updates Members on the monitoring of outstanding petitions. The Committee is asked to note the current outstanding petitions and agree to remove those petitions marked ‘Petitions Process Complete’ from the report.

Members considered the Tracking of Petitions Monitoring Report.

AGREED:

That the petitions marked ‘petition complete’, namely 29/05/2019 and 10/05/2019, be removed from the Monitoring Report

Councillor Kitterick arrived at the meeting during consideration of this item

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submits a report and presentation outlining the main strategies and policies of the draft local plan for public consultation in January/February 2020. The Committee is recommended to note the key local plan strategies and policies, and provisions for consultation, and pass any comments to the Director for consideration.

The Director of Planning, Development and Transportation submitted a report outlining the main strategies and policies of the draft local plan for public consultation in January / February 2020.

The Team Leader (Generic Planning) introduced the report and gave a presentation on the draft local plan, (a copy of which had been circulated with the agenda papers), explaining that:

·           The detail of the strategies and policies would be available for the public consultation;

·           The city’s boundaries were very tight, so the Council worked closely with neighbouring authorities.  There also were a number of cross-boundary issues that needed to be addressed;

·           Housing need had been calculated on the basis of a national methodology taking account of factors such as projected births, deaths and migration;

·           Housing was a key issue for the city and neighbouring districts, particularly as it was unlikely to be possible to deliver the full extent of housing needed in the city.  At present, it was anticipated that there would be a shortfall of 7,742, which would be redistributed through agreement with neighbouring district councils;

·           The Council projected around 150 “windfall” dwellings each year that could be used for housing, (for example, at the backs of existing houses).  Private landowners also had put forward sites for inclusion in the housing allocations;

·           It was important to get the right balance between public open space and the need for housing.  Under current proposals, some green space and green wedge would be lost, (for example, through development on part of a site while having open space on the rest of it), but the details of this would not be released until the final local plan was agreed;

·           At present, there were five proposed new school allocations in the draft local plan; and

·           Through the public consultation, suggestions would be invited of things to be included in Character Area Detailed Guidance.

Some concern was expressed about the amount of green field sites that could be lost, as there did not appear to be a specific target to encourage new house building on brownfield sites.  It also was suggested that use of greenfield sites by neighbouring authorities could result in more traffic coming in to the city, with resultant increases in congestion and pollution.  To reduce the potential impact of this, it was suggested that increasing the height of good quality developments could be considered, particularly in central locations, although using brownfield sites would be preferable.

In reply, the City Mayor explained that priority was being given to development on brownfield sites.  However, Leicester was different to many other former industrial cities in that it had very tight boundaries and had already used many of its brownfield sites.  Growth would be cross-boundary, so this Council needed to continue to work very closely with the neighbouring district councils.  Suggested brownfield sites would be put forward in the draft local plan as suitable for development, but in the meantime any suggestions from Members for sites that could be used would be welcomed.

Members queried whether it  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

The City Mayor will answer questions raised by members of the Overview Select Committee on issues not covered elsewhere on the agenda.

The Chair took this item out of the order set out on the agenda, as the City Mayor had to leave the meeting to attend an engagement.

The following questions were put to the City Mayor at the meeting.

a)     London Road Bus Lane

Councillor Porter noted that the Council’s bus lane policy stated that it was not a contravention of a bus lane to allow anyone to enter or travel along a bus lane for boarding, or alighting from, a bus and suggested that this meant it would not be an offence for anyone to drop people off or pick them up in the bus lane outside the train station on London Road.

The City Mayor explained that the bus lane in question was part of a Red Route, so had additional restrictions to bus lanes.  These prevented access in the way suggested by Councillor Porter.  Officers would be asked to contact Councillor Porter to explain the situation in more detail.

b)     Bus Shelter outside Train Station

Councillor Waddington asked when a shelter would be erected for the bus stop outside the train station.

The City Mayor advised that he had said that he wanted it done by Christmas.  It was possible that this could not be achieved, but he did not want it to be delayed much beyond that.  A supplier had been identified.

c)     “Lying Figure No. 1” Painting

Councillor Porter asked whether, in view of a recent spate of attempted art robberies internationally, the Francis Bacon painting “Lying Figure No.1”, currently held at the New Walk Museum and Art Gallery, was adequately insured.

Councillor Porter then suggested that, as this was a valuable asset, but not aesthetically pleasing, the painting could be sold and the money raised used to provide affordable housing.  Councillor Porter asked whether a consultation could be held on whether the painting should be sold.

In reply, the City Mayor advised that the accreditation and registration of the city’s galleries and museums was dependent on their collections being maintained.  Assets should not be sold for short-term gain or to meet running costs.

The Director of Finance submits a report forecasting expected performance against the budget for the year.  The Committee is recommended to consider the overall position presented within this report and make any observations it sees fit.

The Director of Finance submitted a report forecasting expected performance against the budget for the year.  In introducing the report, the Director noted that an underspend was forecast through planned spending reviews and difficulties in recruiting to some posts.  This was exacerbated by service uncertainties caused by the delay in the government’s Green Paper on Adult Social Care.

An additional difficulty was that funding to deal with winter pressures was not released until January, which was too late to assist local authorities in their financial forecasts.  Improved national forecasting therefore was needed to help local authorities work with the health sector.

The Committee noted that reports were being received of pressures on adult social care in relation to older people blocking beds in hospitals, their discharge being delayed due to appropriate care not being available.  It was concerning that the people not being recruited could help to alleviate this pressure, but at the same time as there were vacancies, less was being spent on social work agency staff.  The Director of Finance assured Members that budgets were not being reduced as a result of this.

AGREED:

1)    That the position presented in the report be noted; and

2)    That the Strategic Director Social Care and Education be asked to provide Committee members with more detailed information on the nature of the vacancies being experienced in adult social care.

The Director of Finance submits a report showing the position of the capital programme for 2019/20 as at the end of September 2019 (Period 6).  The Committee is recommended to consider the overall position presented within this report and make any observations it sees fit.

The Director of Finance submitted a report showing the position of the capital programme for 2019/20 as at the end of September 2019 (Period 6).

The Committee questioned when the Jewry Wall Museum Improvements would be completed, the forecast completion date having changed from March 2019 to February 2022.  In reply, the Director of Finance explained that it had proved difficult to ensure that the improvements were sympathetic to the wall and the other archaeology of the site.  The next stage of the scheme was being prepared, but the Director of Culture and Inward Investment could be asked to provide more information on the reasons for the delay.

Members also queried whether the St George’s Churchyard scheme was continuing, due to recent use of funding from that budget for highway and public realm improvements on Orton Square and Rutland Street.  The Director of Finance confirmed that alternative options for the Churchyard were being considered and suggested that the Director of Planning, Development and Transportation could be asked to provide members of the Committee with further information on this.

AGREED:

1)    That the overall position presented in the report be noted;

2)    That the Director of Culture and Inward Investment be asked to provide Committee members with the reasons for the delay in the Jewry Wall Improvements project; and

3)    That the Director of Planning, Development and Transportation be asked to supply information on the alternatives being considered for the St George’s Churchyard scheme to members of the Committee.

The Director of Finance submits a report detailing progress made in collecting debts raised by the Council during the first six months of 2019-20, together with debts outstanding and brought forward from the previous year.  The Committee is recommended to consider the overall position presented in this report and make any observations it sees fit.

The Director of Finance submitted a report detailing progress made in collecting debts raised by the Council during the first six months of 2019-20, together with debts outstanding and brought forward from the previous year.

The Director reminded Members that not all debt raised in a particular year was collected in that year.  For example, deferred payments were classed as debt, such as when people went in to care and the Council covered the fees, with the debt secured on a property.  The debt would be repaid when the property was sold.  In addition to this, a lot of people paid Council Tax in instalments and at this stage of the year this accounted for the largest element of outstanding debt. 

Some debts were harder to collect than others, (such as overpaid housing benefit), but the Council continued to pursue these.  This was becoming increasingly difficult though, as the Council did not administer benefits for people on Universal Credit, making it harder to help.  However, the Council continued to collect debt at the same level as it had done for the last five years.

Debt from people on benefits often was repaid in small instalments over a long period of time, as they were on low incomes, the rate of repayment being decided by the courts.  People’s financial vulnerability had to be considered, so debt was not written off easily.  As a result, debt written off could have been accumulated over many years. 

Members noted that parking fines and fines occurring through bus lane enforcement appeared to be written off more quickly than debts from other service areas.  Further information on this was requested, along with information on issues that could arise when the vehicles concerned were incorrectly registered and/or licensed.

In response to a query, the Director of Finance advised the Committee that a pilot study was being undertaken on how third-party private organisations that could be interest in acquiring Council debts performed.

AGREED:

1)    That the overall position presented in this report be noted; and

2)    That the Director of Planning, Development and Transportation be requested to present a report to this Committee detailing procedures used to write-off parking fines and fines occurring through bus lane enforcement, this report to include issues that could arise when the vehicles involved were not correctly licensed.

Councillor Kitterick left the meeting at the conclusion of this item

The Director of Finance submits a report reviewing how the Council conducted its borrowing and investments during the first six months of 2019/20.  The Committee is recommended to note the report and pass comments to the Director of Finance and the Executive for consideration.

The Director of Finance submitted a report reviewing how the Council conducted its borrowing and investments during the first six months of 2019/20.

It was noted that the Council had not borrowed money for some time and there were no plans to change this position.  In addition, security was put before investment, as a result of which the Council was slightly below national averages for investments.  However, the Public Sector Borrowing Requirement had increased recently, as some local authorities were borrowing in order to buy commercial properties.

The Committee asked why the Council was not borrowing while rates of interest were low.  The Director of Finance explained that the Council often had income before it was needed, (for example, direct debit payments were received at the start of the month, but staff were paid at the end of the month).  Along with this, the Council currently was sitting on cash balances from the requirement to set aside money to repay debt, but was unable to do this early due to the penalties involved.  This meant that the Council did not need to borrow money, as it had funds available.  In addition, when a scheme was undertaken, a rate of interest was applied to the scheme equivalent to what would be paid if borrowing from the cheapest lender.  This interest was then saved. 

Members asked why the Council did not borrow money at current rates of interest in order to buy property, when the expected rate of return on property was higher than the rates of interest.  In reply, the Director of Finance reminded Members that, under the Council’s Investment Strategy agreed earlier this year, the Council would undertake investments, but it would not be core business.  At present, the Council could afford to buy property without a loan, but the Council would only invest if the right scheme was identified.  Members also were reminded that the Strategy did not include agreement to buy out of area.

AGREED:

That the report be noted and the prudence of the Council welcomed.

a)    To receive and endorse the Scoping Document for the review of “Economic Development at Local Level” (Economic Development, Transport and Tourism Scrutiny Commission) (Appendix H1);

a)     To receive and endorse the Scoping Document for the review of “Adult Social Care Workforce Planning: Looking to the future” (Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission) (Appendix H2); and

b)     To receive and endorse the report of the review “The Underachievement of ‘Black Caribbean’ and ‘White British Working-Class’ pupils of secondary school age in Leicester” (Children, Young People & Schools Scrutiny Commission) (Appendix H3).

a)     Economic Development at Local Level

The Chair of the Economic Development, Transport and Tourism Scrutiny Commission reminded Members that the scoping document for a review of economic development at local level had been supported in principle at the last meeting of this Committee.  (Minute 35(b), “Scrutiny Commissions’ Work Programmes – Economic Development at Local Level”, 19 September 2019 referred.)  Since that meeting, the task group undertaking the review had started collecting data.

AGREED:

That the Scoping Document for a review to consider economic development at local level be endorsed.

b)     Adult Social Care Workforce Planning: Looking to the Future

The Chair of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Commission presented a Scoping Document for a review to consider adult social care workforce planning looking to the future on behalf of the Vice-Chair of that Commission, who was leading the review.

AGREED:

That the Scoping Document for a review to consider adult social care workforce planning looking to the future be endorsed.

c)     The underachievement of ‘Black Caribbean’ and ‘White British Working-Class’ pupils of secondary school age in Leicester

The Committee was asked to receive and endorse the report of the review of “The underachievement of ‘Black Caribbean’ and ‘White British Working-Class’ pupils of secondary school age in Leicester” undertaken through the Children, Young People and Schools Scrutiny Commission.

AGREED:

That, as the Chair of the Children, Young People and Schools Scrutiny Commission is unavailable to present the report at this meeting, he be asked to resubmit the report of the review of “The underachievement of “Black Caribbean” and “White British Working-Class” pupils of secondary school age in Leicester” to this Committee for consideration after the report’s recommendations have received Executive endorsement and been discussed by the Children, Young People and Schools Scrutiny Commission.

The current work programme for the Committee is attached.  The Committee is asked to consider this and make comments and/or amendments as it considers necessary.

AGREED:

That the Committee’s work programme be received and noted.

The meeting closed at 7.22 pm