Agenda and minutes

Councillor Andrews

None

If you have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest* in an item of business:

§  if it is not yet on the council’s register, you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent;

§  you may choose to declare a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest that is already in the register in the interests of openness and transparency. 

In both the above cases, you must leave the room without participating in discussion of the item.

If you have a personal interest in an item of business and you intend to speak or vote on the item you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent but you may participate in the discussion and vote on the item.

*(a)     Employment, etc - Any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

(b) Sponsorship - Any payment or other financial benefit in respect of your expenses in carrying out duties as a member, or of your election; including from a trade union.

(c) Contracts - Any current contract for goods, services or works, between you or your partner (or a body in which one of you has a beneficial interest) and the council.

(d)      Land - Any beneficial interest in land which is within the council’s area.

(e) Licences- Any licence to occupy land in the council’s area for a month or longer.

(f) Corporate tenancies - Any tenancy between the council and a body in which you or your partner have a beneficial interest.

 (g) Securities - Any beneficial interest in securities of a body which has a place of business or land in the council’s area, if the total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body or of any one class of its issued share capital. 

This applies to all members present at the meeting.

None

None

The Chair circulated a list of possible topics for the work programme for the forthcoming municipal year. Following discussion Members expressed the view that there should only be a maximum of 2 main scrutiny topics, and these should be Estate Services Management and Scaffolding . The other suggested topics in the laid round document could be dealt with by presentations and mini scrutiny reviews, and if necessary, short concise recommendations forwarded to the Executive thereon.

RESOLVED:

(a)That Estate Services Management and Scaffolding/Work Platforms be selected as the two main topics for scrutiny for the Committee 2014/15 and that a review of bringing services back in house be considered for scrutiny commencing in the New Year

(b) That the work programme once finalised be submitted to the Members of the Committee once this is available

(c) That the membership, terms of reference be noted

(d) That the Committee consider report backs on a more frequent basis on the Tenant Management and Private Rented sector scrutiny reviews

                                                                                              DHASS

                                                                                              HODS

None

This matter was dealt with under Minute 5  above.

David Salenius, Housing and Adult Social Services was present for discussion of this matter.

During consideration of the report the following main points were made –

·         The consultation report would also be considered by the Disability Forum in September

·         It was noted that most other boroughs did not have reserved spaces on estates

·         25% of spaces available were not let at present and there was a need to look at how to maximise usage and make it easier for residents to use them

·         Whilst residents could still go to the Area Housing Office it was hoped that by developing an interactive GIS system this would reduce the number of people going to the Area Housing office .There was a need to make the website more accessible in order and to ensure that advertising space for non residents was provided. David Salenius stated that he would include this in the review

·         Investigations were taking place as to the actual number of vacancies on each estate but the vast majority were known to be in the north of the borough and that this information would be used to advertise spaces when required

·         It was stated that there were also a considerable number of empty garages and this was being looked with a view to addressing the situation once the issue with estate parking prices had been resolved

·         With regard to waiting lists and the current waiting list system being replaced by a simpler and faster auto alert system Members were of the view that this was a good idea and officers were confident that the system would be suitable

·         In relation to estate parking prices at present these were based on vehicle emissions. Discussion took place as to whether charges should be based on emissions and that prices should be increase for non residents to make it more competitive with private car parks in the borough.

The Committee were advised that prices were cheap, compared to private parking space rental, which could be up to £25 per day, compared to around £3-£9 a week for non residents and that this may prove to be a good option

·         The Committee also considered that increasing that a similar pricing system should be introduced as that used for street parking based on vehicle emissions and whether charges could be reduced for residents if charges for non residents were increased. In response to a question it was stated that details of current street parking prices be circulated to Councillor Fletcher

·         With regard to the application process it was stated that they considered that option 2 was the most favourable to make the application process more cost efficient including a minimum period of one month in advance

·         In relation to a question as to whether a paperless permit system would affect action being taken regarding regarding vehicles owned by tenants causing ASB it was stated that action being taken with regard to ASB would normally be dealt with by the ASB team and not having  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.