Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Cutkelvin.

Apologies for absence also were received from Councillor Waddington, Assistant City Mayor with responsibility for Jobs and Skills, who although not a member of the Commission would usually attend its meetings.

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

Although not a member of the Commission, Councillor Sood, Assistant City Mayor with responsibility for Communities and Equalities, declared an Other Disclosable Interest in the general business of the meeting, in that she was Chair of the Leicester Council of Faiths.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, this interest was not considered so significant that it was likely to prejudice Councillor Sood’s judgement of the public interest.  She was not, therefore, required to withdraw from the meeting.

The minutes of the meeting of the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission held on 9 March 2015 are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

AGREED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission held on 9 March 2015 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any petitions received.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no petitions had been received.

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any questions, representations or statements of case received.

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

Members are asked to note the Terms of Reference for the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission, (attached).

NOTED:

The Terms of Reference for the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission.

Members are asked to note the membership of the Commission for 2015/16:-

Councillor Dawood (Chair)

Councillor Gugnani (Vice-Chair)

Councillor Corrall

Councillor Cutkelvin

Councillor Halford

Councillor Hunter

Councillor Khote

The Chair reminded the Commission that, in addition to the listed members, there also was a vacancy for a non-grouped Member on the Commission.

NOTED:

The membership of the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission for 2015/16.

Members are asked to note the meeting dates of the Commission for the 2015/16 municipal year:-

Thursday 13 August 2015

Thursday 1 October 2015

Tuesday 17 November 2015

Thursday 7 January 2016

Tuesday 3 March 2016

Thursday 21 April 2016

NOTED:

The dates of meetings for the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission for the 2015/16 municipal year.

The following decision has been called-in, and is referred to the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission for consideration under Council Procedure Rule 12(f), Part 4D of the Council’s Constitution:

Decision by the City Mayor:-

(1)    To make no  retrospective payment to the HCA in relation to 2014/15 on the basis that agreement on funding could not be reached; and

(2)    To cease engagement with HCA in respect of Neighbourhood Services funding

The following decision had been called-in and was referred to this Commission for consideration under Council Procedure Rule 12(f), Part 4D of the Council’s Constitution:

Decision by the City Mayor:-

1)    To make no  retrospective payment to the HCA in relation to 2014/15 on the basis that agreement on funding could not be reached; and

2)    To cease engagement with HCA in respect of Neighbourhood Services funding.

The Chair welcomed all present to the meeting and thanked them for attending.

The Chair noted that the meeting was being filmed from the public gallery, so in accordance with Council policy, he invited anyone who did not wish to be filmed to so indicate.  No objections were made.

The Director of Culture and Neighbourhood Services introduced the decision that had been called in.  It was noted that, as indicated in the report setting out the reasons for the decision, it was felt that events since 2014 had resulted in an irretrievable breakdown in the working relationship between the two organisations.

The building used by the HCA and the staff employed by it had been transferred to the HCA in 2010, in response to pressure from the HCA to do so.  This was an unprecedented action by the Council, which involved a substantial physical asset, a staff team and a three-year funding agreement. 

This funding agreement had ended in December 2013.  Discussions were held on how the HCA could become financially self-sustainable, in accordance with the original agreement, but it was considered that the initial business plan provided by the HCA was not robust enough to enable this to happen.  As such, three months’ transitional funding was provided in December 2013 and in the spring of 2014 a further one year’s funding was offered on condition that the HCA strengthened its business case.

By January 2015, the HCA had not agreed terms and conditions for the funding, which the Council considered to be standard to funding agreements, (for example, in relation to safeguarding and the right of the Council to visit the premises).  Serious concerns also had arisen by this time about the action taken by the HCA on the pensions of the staff transferred to the Association.  As a result of these various concerns, the decision was taken to make no retrospective payment and cease engagement with the HCA regarding Neighbourhood Services funding.

At the invitation of the Chair, Priya Thamotheram, the Head of the Highfields Centre, addressed the Commission.  He also tabled some notes on his comments, a copy of which is attached at the end of these minutes for information. 

Mr Thamotheram drew particular attention to the following points:-

·           Records of the meetings with senior officers referred to under paragraph 1.3 of the notes were available;

·           There was no formal agreement that the HCA would be financially independent within three years.  The HCA had challenged the Council to provide a record of this, but none had been produced;

·           A business plan had been prepared by the HCA with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The Director of Local Services and Enforcement submits information on three current licensing consultations.

Further information on these consultations can be found on the Council’s website via the following links:-

i)       Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing

https://consultations.leicester.gov.uk/city-development-and-neighbourhoods/prtivate-hire-and-hackney-carriage-driver-licensin/consult_view

ii)     Licensing Act Policy

https://consultations.leicester.gov.uk/city-development-and-neighbourhoods/licensing-policy-for-2016-2021/consult_view

iii)    Gambling Act Policy

https://consultations.leicester.gov.uk/city-development-and-neighbourhoods/gambling-policy-2016-2019/consult_view

The Director of Local Services and Enforcement submitted information on three current licensing consultations.  The Head of Licensing and Pollution Control advised the Commission that all three consultations ended on 16 August 2015.

a)     Taxi Licensing

The Head of Licensing and Pollution Control introduced this consultation, drawing attention to the four areas of taxi licensing that were being consulted on, namely:-

i)       The introduction of longer duration driver licences of up to three years;

ii)     The introduction of a Penalty Points scheme for driver misconduct;

iii)    Proposed awareness training in relation to Child Sexual Exploitation; and

iv)    A review of the existing vehicle age policy for taxis.

It was noted that it was proposed that one of the criteria for issuing a three year taxi driver licence would be that the driver had no serious criminal convictions.  Members asked what constituted “serious” criminal convictions and expressed concern that someone could commit a serious offence very soon after receiving a three year licence and the Council could be unaware of this. 

The Head of Licensing and Pollution Control explained that a serious conviction would be for offences such as assault, violence or dishonesty.  Each driver had to have a criminal records check every three years, but it was hoped that the Council would be advised of any serious offences as they arose.  However, there currently was no system that guaranteed that this would happen.  Under the proposed Penalty Points scheme for driver misconduct, a driver would receive three Penalty Points for failing to notify the licensing authority of a conviction.

It was suggested that, rather than having variable length licences, they all should be for the same length, for example either one or three years, but the Head of Licensing and Pollution Control Current explained that current legislation required the Council to extend licences beyond one year unless there was good reason not to.  By varying the length of licences, drivers could be seen more regularly if the Council had any concerns about their conduct.

Members queried whether any other licensing authorities used the Penalty Points scheme for driver misconduct and, if they did, how successful they found it.  It was acknowledged that the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency already operated a penalty points system for drivers committing driving offences and asked whether this would be a sufficient means by which to assess drivers’ suitability for a three year licence.

The recommendation that all drivers should be provided with Child Sexual Exploitation awareness training had been made as the Council wanted the drivers to be the “ears and eyes” of the city and report concerns they had.  This was fully supported by the Commission.

Councillor Clair, Assistant City Mayor – Culture, Leisure and Sport, addressed the Commission at the invitation of the Chair, explaining that:

·           The Council had regular dialogue with the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, so its members were aware of the changes being proposed in these consultations;

·           It was proposed that the Penalty Points scheme  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

The Director of Culture and Neighbourhood Services,            Director of Finance and Director of Local Services and Enforcement submit a report providing an overview of the key areas and services related to the Neighbourhoods element of this Scrutiny Commission.  The Commission is recommended to note the report and use the information contained in it to inform the Commission’s work for the coming municipal year.

The Director of Culture and Neighbourhood Services,            Director of Finance and Director of Local Services and Enforcement submitted a report providing an overview of the key areas and services relating to the Neighbourhoods element of this Scrutiny Commission’s work.

The Director of Culture and Neighbourhood Services introduced the report, explaining that it aimed to illustrate the wide extent of the portfolio and help Members decide what they wished to scrutinise.

AGREED:

1)    That the report be noted; and

2)    That all directors be asked to ensure that all reports submitted to the Commission contain recommendations on the action being sought from the Commission.

The Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance submits a report providing an overview of the key areas and services related to the Community Involvement element of this Scrutiny Commission.  The Commission is recommended to note the report and use the information contained in it to inform the Commission’s work for the coming municipal year.

The Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance submitted a report providing an overview of the key areas and services relating to the Community Involvement element of this Scrutiny Commission’s work.

The Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance introduced the report, drawing Members’ attention to the wide range of services involved in Community Involvement.

AGREED:

1)    That the report be noted; and

2)    That all directors be asked to ensure that all reports submitted to the Commission contain recommendations on the action being sought from the Commission.

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

Members are also invited to suggest other items for inclusion in the Programme.

The Commission received the draft Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission Work Programme for 2015/16.

The Chair explained that this would evolve over the coming year, so members of the Commission were welcome to suggest areas of work that could be scrutinised.  It was anticipated that no more than two major reviews would be done each year, which could be led by members of the commission other than the Chair if wished.

AGREED:

That members of the Commission e-mail the Chair to suggest areas of work to be scrutinised over the coming year.

The meeting closed at 7.18 pm