Agenda item

The Lead Scrutiny Directors of the Commission to outline the service areas that form part of the commission.  

A presentation was given on Tourism, Culture and Economy using the slides attached with the agenda pack.  Additional points included:

• The Records Office held both Museum records as well as statutory records such as Coroner records.
• Jewry Wall Museum had opened the previous year.
• Capital redevelopment of the Leicester Museum and Art Gallery (LMAG) was being delivered in phases until 2030. 
• Extensive outreach had been undertaken through the National Lottery Heritage Fund to take museum collections out into communities.
• Work on Festivals and Events had included commissioning external organisations to deliver a range of festivals and events throughout the year.
• Users of Haymarket Theatre included Addict Dance Academy and Leicestershire Music.
• Place Marketing had included a range of activities to promote the area for visitors and residents.

A presentation was given on Neighbourhood and Environmental Services using the slides attached with the agenda pack.  Additional points included:

• The division was one of the largest in the Council and included a range of services from waste management, to libraries to bereavement. 
• Around 1180 people were employed in the division.  It was a diverse and local workforce.
• Areas highlighted on the slide could come to the Commission this year.
• There was a focus on the private sector housing scheme and the selective licensing review.
• The future of allotments would be looked at.
• Innovations and modernisation in street cleansing would be looked at.
• A presentation would be brought on agreed objectives in transformation work in neighbourhood services.
• Ward funding would be considered by the Commission.
• Feedback was welcomed on the second Public Space Protection Order (PSPO2).
• The Council were market leaders on leisure centres and place-based work had been done in sports.
• Central government grant funding had been received, the bulk of which concerned waste management.

A presentation was given on Corporate Services using the slides attached with the agenda pack.  Additional points included:

• The division supported and assisted other teams.  It was an enabling service that included services such as IT and HR.
• The division facilitated public reporting, for example, through the use of the Love Clean Streets app.
• Intelligence from customer services was used to make changes in services and add value.
• Risk Emergency Management and Business Continuity ensured that the right arrangements were in place when situations arose, such as flooding.
• The corporate wellbeing and support offer for the workforce was entirely arranged and put in place by People Services, which focused on physical and mental wellbeing.
• The Digital Data and Technology (DDaT) provided the digital, data and technology foundations that allowed the organisation to operate effectively, securely and efficiently. It was a strategic enabler of better services, stronger organisational resilience, and decision-making. 
• There was a Public Sector Equality Duty to tackle the inequality of service access.
• More focussed work had been done on knowing communities and helping to bring them together.

The Committee were invited to ask questions and make comments. Key points

included:

• The service was commended for listening to the public and implementing changes.  Staff were also praised for being responsive to Councillors, particularly at a grassroots level.
• Concerns were raised about fly tipping, and it was suggested that there needed to be a partnership approach by officers, councillors and the public. It was noted that fly tipping incidents had decreased from 12,000 to 9,000 over the last 10 years. Cameras were in place to catch perpetrators and AI speeded up the process to get results.  The issue could be considered by scrutiny.
• In understanding the relationship between Corporate Services and Neighbourhood and Environmental Services, the example was given that Community Cohesion sat with Corporate Services, but they worked closely with the Safer Communities Service which sat under Neighbourhood and Environmental Services.
• The side to Corporate Services that was relevant to the Commission was largely around accessibility to neighbourhoods and communities.
• In response to points made about housing, it was noted that Neighbourhood and Environmental Services worked closely with the Housing department and the service were aware of the hosing crisis, however, these issues generally sat with Hosing Scrutiny.
• With regard to health outcomes, it was noted that the Place Expansion Programme worked with community groups to get people active.  Neighbourhood and Environmental Services worked with the NHS and ICB as well as the voluntary sector who helped on the Place Leadership Programme, engaging with the big sports clubs in the city.
• More programmes would be brought forward around helping communities.
• A question was asked around the sustainability of Jewry Wall Museum.  It was noted that there had been positive reviews and lots of schools visits and there was a need to keep a focus on the awareness of what museums offered.
• It was noted that partner organisations were worked with to promote tourism in the city.  The idea of a City Pass to access multiple attractions could be considered; however, it was noted that not all organisations wanted this.
• A tourist tax could be considered when legislation allowed,  the Government had consulted on providing visitor levy powers to mayoral strategic authorities through new legislation, and hence this is not currently available in this area.
• In response to a query on food waste, it was noted that around half of councils collected food waste, and this would form part of the new waste contract in 2028.  Transitional work would need to be undertaken to communicate, educate and enforce on food waste.
• The issue of PSPO2 was raised, particularly the lack of responses to the consultation.  The deadline to the consultation would be increased and communications would be conducted on the details around this.

AGREED:

1) That the presentation be noted.

2) That comments made by members of this commission to be taken

into account by the lead officers.

3) The deadline to the consultation on PSPO2 to be increased and communications to be conducted on the details around this.