Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Halford.

Although not a member of the Commission, Councillor Master (Assistant City Mayor – Neighbourhood Services) submitted an apology for absence, as he usually attended meetings of this Commission.

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

No declarations of interest were made.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission held on 28 March 2018 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 28 March 2018 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 reported verbally that there were no actions from the last meeting of the Commission, (held on 28 March 2018), to be reported to this meeting.

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

AGREED:

That the Terms of Reference for the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission be noted.

Members are asked to note the membership of the Commission for 2018/19:

Councillor Gugnani (Chair)

Councillor Thalukdar (Vice-Chair)

Councillor Aqbany

Councillor Govind

Councillor Halford

Councillor Hunter

Councillor Waddington

(1 non-grouped place currently unallocated)

AGREED:

That the membership of the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission for 2018/19 be noted.

Members are asked to note that meetings of the Commission for the 2018/19 municipal year are scheduled to be held on:-

Wednesday 4 July 2018

Wednesday 5 September 2018

Wednesday 17 October 2018

Wednesday 5 December 2018

Wednesday 23 January 2019

Wednesday 20 March 2019

AGREED:

That the dates of meetings of the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission for 2018/19 be noted.

The Chair welcomed the new members of the Commission to their first meeting since appointment and expressed his pleasure at continuing as Chair.

Members of the Commission were reminded of the proposed visit to the City’s recycling facilities and asked them to advise the Scrutiny Policy Officer of their availability during the week beginning 16 July 2018.

The Chair advised the Commission that he had been working with officers on the preparation of a draft scoping document for a review of the policy on Community Asset Transfers.  If the Assistant City Mayor – Neighbourhood Services agreed the draft scoping document, it would be reported to the next meeting of this Commission.

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any petitions submitted in accordance with the Council’s procedures.

The Monitoring Officer reported that no petitions had been received.

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 Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services, Director of Finance and Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance submit a report providing an overview of the key areas and services related to the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission.  The Commission is recommended to note the report and use the information to help inform its work programme for the coming municipal year.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services, Director of Finance and Director of Delivery, Communications and Political Governance submitted a report providing an overview of the key areas and services related to the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission. 

The Head of Neighbourhood Services drew the Commission’s attention to the following points:

·           This service area was responsible for the Transforming Neighbourhood Services programme and had been working with other organisations and groups on the future use of neighbourhood buildings.  All six areas of the city had now been reviewed under this programme; and

·           Neighbourhood Services had high levels of customer contact, with over 2 million usages of facilities each year.  Officers also provided support for ward community funding and meetings.

Members raised some concerns that applicants for ward community funding were unable to save their on-line application form, so did not have a record of what they had submitted.  Other issues about this funding also had been raised with Members, so it was suggested that the Head of Neighbourhood Services meet with interested Members to identify these issues and assess how they could be addressed.

The Assistant City Mayor – Communities and Equalities advised the Commission that the bidding process for ward community funding was followed carefully and was kept under review, as it was recognised that even small amounts of funding could make a significant difference to the applicants.

The Head of Standards and Development advised the Commission that:

o    One priority for Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services was to continue with enforcement campaigns where needed.  This included a programme of visits to businesses to ensure they had appropriate waste disposal arrangements as one of the actions being taken to reduce fly-tipping;

o    A large number of CCTV cameras were being replaced across the city with digital CCTV cameras.  These would be managed through the new control room at the Council’s data centre, which was a new, fit-for-purpose modern facility.  The replacement programme was likely to be completed in the late summer of 2018;

o    A Single Smoke Control Order had been introduced across the city; and

o    The Noise and Pollution Control teams continued to undertake programmed and ad hoc inspections.

During discussion on this part of the report, officers confirmed that this was the first full review of CCTV in the city.  During the CCTV camera replacement programme, only a few locations of cameras would change.  It was suggested that cameras should be installed at all pedestrian crossings, but officers advised that cameras were positioned where it was felt there was a need.  They were unlikely to be moved once in position, unless this was triggered by information received from the Police or the public, or something seen by an operator.  Live and retrospective viewings were possible with the cameras.

Strict regulations governed how CCTV could be used and the Council was very aware of data protection issues, but a key element was work being done with the Police.  If camera operators witnessed incidents they were able  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submits a report providing an overview of waste services provided by the City Council’s Waste Management Services and highlights some of the challenges facing those services.  The Commission is recommended to comment on the services provided, noting the challenges facing the service.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report providing an overview of services provided by the City Council’s Waste Management Services and highlighting some of the challenges facing those services.

The Waste Services Manager gave a presentation providing an overview of Waste Management Services, a copy of which is attached at the end of these minutes for information.  The following points were made during this presentation:

·           The Council had approximately 60 recycling banks throughout the city;

·           Biffa, the Council’s contractor, owned and sold the materials recovered from the waste collected, so was able to sell them to the markets from which  it would gain the best price;

·           As part of the service’s education and promotion work, a trial was underway in conjunction with the British Heart Foundation charity to provide bring banks in student areas, to encourage students moving out of their accommodation at the end of the university year to donate unwanted goods, rather than throw them away;

·           Two breakdowns at the Biffa plants last year meant that the recycling and composting rate was likely to be approximately 35%, instead of the usual 40%.  This was below the rate required by the contract (38%), so would result in a penalty being payable by Biffa.  This penalty was the cost in landfill tax on the difference between the rate achieved and the target.  This rate was applied, as the items not recycled were sent to landfill instead;

·           Although Biffa was complying with the permit to operate the Bursom Ball Mill plant, complaints were still being received from residents about odour from the plant; and

·           Under a European agreement, a 65% recycling rate needed to be achieved by 2030.  This would not be achievable through the Council’s current waste management contracts, so a review of those services would have to be undertaken.

The following points were then made in discussion:

o    Under the terms of the current waste management contract, the main risk of recycling rates reducing was a risk to the contractor (Biffa), not the Council, but the Council would be liable for any increase in landfill tax that resulted;

o    The government was considering a waste resources plan that could include ideas such as refunds being given for recycling drinks cans;

o    Although the Council did not want to encourage food wastage, it wanted food waste for digesters, from which electricity could be produced;

o    The Waste Services team worked with the City Wardens to reduce fly tipping.  This included leafleting targeted areas about the Council’s bulky waste collection service when incidences of fly tipping were discovered.  The Deputy City Mayor with responsibility for Environment, Public Health and Health Integration reminded Members that consideration had been given in the past to the potential to charge for the bulky waste collection service, but it had been decided that it should remain free for most collections;

o    Some of the black refuse bins did not contain much waste when they were emptied, which showed the success of the orange  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submits a report introducing the draft Food Service Plan 2018/19 and providing information including the food sector from a food law regulatory perspective, proposed food law regulatory interventions for 2018/19 and key issues in the development of the national framework in response to the growth and diversity of the food industry and reduced local authority budgets. 

The Commission is recommended to note the work undertaken by Leicester City Council’s Food Safety Team and comment on issues raised and the proposed work programme.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services submitted a report introducing the draft Food Service Plan 2018/19 and providing information including the food sector from a food law regulatory perspective, proposed food law regulatory interventions for 2018/19 and key issues in the development of the national framework in response to the growth and diversity of the food industry and reduced local authority budgets.

The Deputy City Mayor with responsibility for Culture, Leisure, Sport and Regulatory Services reminded the Commission that the food sector in the city had changed over recent years, reflecting the changes in the city’s population.  The challenges this raised for the Council included how these businesses would be monitored, due to the variety of businesses that ranged from international brands to very small businesses, and the number of businesses opening, closing and changing ownership each year.  As there were approximately 3,000 food businesses requiring inspection and monitoring, this created a heavy workload for the officers involved.

The Team Manager – Regulatory Services Management gave a presentation on present and future challenges in the regulation of Leicester’s food business sector, a copy of which is attached at the end of these minutes for information.  During this, Members noted the following points:

·           Although the number of registered food businesses remained fairly constant at approximately 3,000, each year approximately 1 in every 6 were new establishments.  These were balanced by an equivalent number ceasing to operate;

·           There had been a 14% increase in broadly compliant food businesses since 2013.  84% now were broadly compliant with food law requirements;

·           There were 18 “Approved Establishments” handling, preparing or producing food products of animal origin.  These required formal approval from the Council before they could start trading.  This was a European Union (EU) requirement;

·           Imports of food products of animal origin from outside the EU also had to be from an equivalent “Approved Establishment” and enhanced checks also were carried out at the port of entry in to this country;

·           Testing of sweet mart products was undertaken in 2017/18.  Good results had been obtained.  Visits to establishments had been undertaken and advice issued where appropriate;

·           96 business inspections had been carried over in to 2017/18.  This was not unusual.  There were a number of reasons, such as the registered business not yet operating (43 out of the 96), or being closed for refurbishment when scheduled for inspection, or operating on a seasonal basis;

·           It was anticipated that the proposed compliance project for 2018/19 on allergens would be done in conjunction with the testing of the nutritional content of food; and

·           An intervention was planned to minimise acrylamide when starchy food was fried or cooked at high temperatures.  New regulations were in place to control this geno-toxic (cancer-causing) compound.  It was accepted that there would always be some in food.  The intention was to encourage food producers to minimise its production by using safer cooking methods, (such as cooking at lower temperatures where possible).

The Commission congratulated the team on its work  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

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.

The Commission received its current work programme.

AGREED:

1)    That the Scrutiny Policy Officer be asked to amend the Commission’s work programme to include the following:

a)    Subject to the appropriate agreements being received, consideration at the meeting to be held on 5 September 2018 of a draft scoping document for a review of the Council’s Community Asset Transfer policy (see minute 8, “Chair’s Announcements”, above); and

b)    A report to the meeting to be held on 5 December 2018 on progress with the development of an action plan for community cohesion, including combatting hate crime and Islamophobia, as agreed following consideration at the Council meeting held on 14 June 2018 of a motion on Community Cohesion and Hate Crime, (minute 20, “Notices of Motion”, refers);

c)    A on a date to be decided, on the use of CCTV cameras in the city, this report to include information on how decisions are taken on where to site CCTV cameras, (minute 11, “Portfolio Overview July 2018”, refers);

d)    A report to the next meeting of the Commission on ward community funding procedures, this report to include reasons for weaknesses in applications bids and how potential applicants can get support before making an application, (minute 11, “Portfolio Overview July 2018”, refers); and

e)    A on a date to be decided, on how consistently well performing food businesses scoring highly on hygiene ratings scores can be supported to better promote this achievement and the quality of their service,  (minute 13, “Regulation of Leicester’s Food Business Sector – The Service Plan 2018/19”, refers); and

2)    That the Scrutiny Policy Officer be asked to invite all members of this Commission to submit additional ideas for inclusion in the Commission’s work programme.

The meeting closed at 8.24 pm