Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

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

Members were asked to declare any interest they may have in the business to be discussed.

Councillor Solanki declared that she worked in a food and retail environment but would be participating in the discussions with an open mind.

The minutes of the meeting of the Neighbourhood Services and Community Involvement Scrutiny Commission held on 20 March 2019 are attached and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

The Commission received the minutes of the meeting held on 20 March 2019.

It was requested that Minute 60. Apologies for Absence be amended to record Councillor Aqbany’s apologies as those were passed to the Vice Chair prior to the meeting.

AGREED:

That the minutes of the meeting held 20 March 2019 be agreed as a correct record subject to the above amendment.

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

NOTED:

The Terms of Reference of the Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Commission be noted.

Members are asked to note the membership of the Commission for 2019/20:

Councillor Khote (Chair)

Councillor Thalukdar (Vice-Chair)

Councillor Aqbany

Councillor Ali

Councillor Govind

Councillor Joshi

Councillor Solanki

NOTED:

The Membership of the Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Commission for the 2019/20 municipal year as follows:

              Councillor Khote (Chair)

              Councillor Thalakdur (Vice Chair)

              Councillor Ali

              Councillor Aqbany

              Councillor Govind

              Councillor Joshi

              Councillor Solanki

              (1 unallocated non-grouped place).

Members are asked to note that meetings of the Commission for the 2019/20 municipal year are scheduled to be held on:

Wednesday 3 July 2019

Wednesday 4 September 2019

Wednesday 30 October 2019

Wednesday 15 January 2020

Wednesday 4 March 2020

Wednesday 22 April 2020

NOTED:

The dates of the Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Commission for the     2019/20 municipal year as follows:

Wednesday 3 July 2019

Wednesday 4 September 2019

Wednesday 30 October 2019

Wednesday 15 January 2020

Wednesday 4 March 2020

Wednesday 22 April 2020

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 there were no questions, representations or statements of case received.

The Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services and the Director of Finance will make a presentation providing an overview of the key areas and services related to the Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Commission.  The Commission is recommended to receive the presentation and use the information to help inform its work programme for the coming municipal year.

The Director of Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services and the Director of Finance delivered an overview of the key areas and services relating to the Neighbourhood Services Scrutiny Commission portfolio.

Members noted the presentation on Neighborhood and Environmental Services and verbal update on the aspects of the Finance Division which related to this Commission. The work areas were noted, which would help them to set the Commission’s Work Programme for the forthcoming year.

Members discussed various portfolio areas which included the following points:

Members praised officers for the swift responses with traveller issues and on illegal sites at hot spots in the city. Members suggested that railings or grass verges/soil bunds could be used to deter unauthorised encampments. Officers confirmed target hardening is used where appropriate. Members were reassured that the Council had robust systems to deal with these issues across the city.

Officers from the service were praised for the work carried out on Melton Road where footways had been cleaned and prompt action had been taken to tackle Pan spitting.

Concerns were raised about anti-social behaviour issues in the city’s parks and when this occurs the impact this can have on families and vulnerable people that use the parks. Members suggested that the Council should explore solutions for this as it was a city-wide problem. The safety of parks was noted and that measures to provide reassurance and to tackle any issues were in place including the employment of parks officers, work with the police if required and use of security as appropriate. Officers asked Members to highlight any particular concerns and they will follow up.

Members reported issues regarding maintenance around the Courtyards on the St Peters and St Matthews Housing Estate and suggested a visit. Officers said they would support and link in with Housing colleagues. 

Members enquired about the use of the Love Leicester app and the impact it had on the service. Officers agreed to provide details to Members. 

Members referred to the CCTV System and the recent £1.2 million investment. A question was asked about the use of and access to mobile CCTV cameras. It was confirmed that the investment included purchase of additional mobile cameras. Camera deployment was supported by a risk-based assessment so that cameras were placed in locations with the most need at the time. It was noted that there tended to be a high demand for cameras sometimes fuelled by the perception of crime or community safety concerns as opposed to actual crime being known to take place in an area.

Members raised questions about the service delivered by Biffa and environmental impacts of waste disposal. Officers confirmed that the City Council had a contract with waste management company, Biffa Leicester, and confirmed the disposal routes available including the recycling of waste and at Gypsum Close Household Waste Recycling Centre the available reuse shop that is run by local charity LOROS. It was noted some waste did go abroad but there were strict regulations governing that, that Biffa Leicester were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Attached at Appendix C1 is a report submitted by the Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services introducing the draft Food Service Plan 2019/20 and providing information on the food sector from a food law regulatory perspective, proposed food law regulatory interventions for 2019/20 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.

Attached at Appendix C2 is a presentation to support the above report.  This will be displayed at the meeting.

The Commission is recommended to note the work undertaken by Leicester City Council’s Food Safety Team and pass any comments on the issues raised and proposed work programme to the Director of Neighbourhood and Environmental Services.

The Director of Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services submitted a report introducing the draft Food Services Plan 2019/20.

Deputy City Mayor Clair introduced the report and Members were asked to note the report.

The Food Safety Manager delivered a presentation supporting the report.

Members of the Commission discussed various areas, which included the following points:

Members shared their concerns with pan masala packets that are imported and sold. Members enquired whether there were any licensing policies to monitor the sale of this product. It was noted that the Food Standards Agency were responsible for testing significant quantities of food imports and if poor products were identified authorities were then notified. Imported products that were sold under the counter were products that were problematic as they would not be declared correctly.

It was noted that planned Food Safety inspections took place periodically and as appropriate dependent on the potential risk posed by an establishment and the products it sells.

Members suggested that a forum, similar to the Food and Drink Forum launched recently, where information could be shared by regulators would be a means of keeping both people and businesses informed.

Members shared their concerns about private catering businesses and those that were advertised online via social media. Officers advised that all food businesses should be registered with the service and if they came across any that had not previously been detected they would take the appropriate action. It was noted that festivals with stalls did have to meet hygiene standards.

Members of the commission welcomed the report and praised the Food Safety Team for the work they do in ensuring the public felt reassured with the standard of food businesses in the city. Displaying the hygiene rating and information was helpful however it was noted that it was the view of the committee that, the display of the hygiene rating that is displayed in many of the Food outlets should be made mandatory. Officers informed the Commission that the Food Standards Agency were keen to do this but there had been delays due to Brexit.

Members of the Commission were informed on the plans the Food Safety Service had with the Public Health Team to launch Health Food takeaways.

Members noted the Service were also looking into apprenticeship options to give young people the opportunity to be introduced to and work within Environmental Health/Safety. 

Agreed:

1)    That the Food Safety Team be commended for the great work they carry out and;

2)    That the Food Safety team consider reaching out to young people in the city to raise awareness of food safety issues and the impact this can have.

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 current work programme was received. Members of the Commission were invited to submit suggestions for items for inclusion on the work programme to the Chair or Scrutiny Policy Officer.

The Chair suggested a possible task group topic which was a community lottery, this would give the Commission to look at advantages and disadvantages. Members were asked to pass any comments or other suggestions to the Scrutiny Policy Officer.

AGREED:

That the work programme be noted.