Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare:

·        Any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        Any prejudicial interests or

·        Any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were asked to declare at this point in the meeting, any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that they might have in the business on the agenda.  None were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting of 30 July 2014 and the Domestic Waste Recycling Task Group meeting of 20 August 2014.

Councillor Warters proposed that minute 10 be amended to include a sentence stating “Members were prevented from asking further questions on the Local Plan, as this was not within the Committee’s remit”.   Councillor Fraser proposed and Councillor Hodgson seconded a motion that minute 10 be amended to include a sentence stating “Members were advised to refrain from asking further questions on the Local Plan, as this was not within the Committee’s remit”. A vote was taken.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of the Community Safety Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 30 July 2014 and the Domestic Waste Recycling Task Group meeting of 20 August 2014 be approved and signed as a correct record subject to the following amendments:

·        minute 13 to read “Councillor Warters confirmed that he did not wish to be on the Task Group...”

·        minute 10 to include “Members were advised to refrain from asking further questions on the Local Plan, as this was not within the Committee’s remit”.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme may do so.  The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Tuesday 2 September 2014.

Members of the public may register to speak on:

·        An item on the agenda

·        An issue within the remit of the Committee

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

“Please note this meeting will be filmed and webcast and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission.  This broadcast can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at http://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/download/3130/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_of_council_meetings

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report informs Members of the progress made in refreshing York’s Equality Scheme.  Members are asked to comment on the draft priorities and outcomes and advise on which should be the focus within the revised equality scheme.

Members considered a report which informed the scrutiny committee of the progress made in refreshing York’s Equality Scheme.  Members were asked to comment on the draft priorities and outcomes detailed in the report and advise on which should be focussed on within the revised equality scheme.

Councillor Warters queried why the “number of homes built in York, especially affordable homes” had been included as an outcome which the committee may wish to monitor when, at the previous meeting, the Committee had not been able to ask the Cabinet Member questions on the Local Plan as they had been told that this was not in the committee’s remit.  Officers stated that issues in respect of planning fell within the remit of the Economic and City Development Overview and Scrutiny Committee but that functions such as the social housing landlord responsibilities now fell within the Community Safety Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s remit.

Members agreed that the following outcomes, as outlined in paragraph 10 of the report, should not fall within the remit of the committee:

·        % of pupils who reported frequent verbal bullying incidents in primary and secondary schools

·        % of LGB pupils in secondary schools who reported frequent verbal bullying

·        Number of homes built in York, especially affordable homes

·        Numbers of children with a Child Protection Plan

·        % of children ceasing to be the subject of a Child Protection Plan who had been the subject of a CPP continuously for two years or longer

Some concerns were expressed regarding the way in which the information presented in Annex 2 had been presented.  Members suggested that, to ensure greater clarity, future reports should:

·        include numbers as well as percentages

·        specify in all cases if the numbers were not statistically significant

·        include the data for non-deprived areas for completeness

·        better define the term “decency in the private sector”

Officers agreed to take these suggestions on board in future reporting.

Resolved:  (i)      That the progress made in the refresh of York’s

                             Equality Scheme be noted.

(ii)      That, subject to the amendments detailed above, the committee endorsed the draft priorities detailed in Annex 1 of the report and the draft outcomes relevant to the Community Safety Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as tabled in paragraph 10 of the report.

(iii)     That the Committee agreed that the priorities and outcomes should be the area of focus in the revised equality scheme.

Reason:     To help ensure that relevant equality issues are reflected in the revised Equality Scheme.

This report gives an update on the work of the Alcohol, Violence and Night-Time Economy (AVANTE) Task Group.

Members considered a report that gave an update on the work of the Alcohol, Violence and Night Time Economy (AVANTE) Task Group. 

Members noted that a multi-agency River Safety Task Group had been convened and they were given details of some of the initiatives that were under consideration to improve river safety. 

Officers were asked if sufficient action was being taken against premises that served alcohol to people already seriously under the influence of alcohol.  Members were informed that the Police had carried out an undercover operation on this issue last year but that no evidence had been found.  Licensing Enforcement Officers also continued to work with the Police on such matters.

Members requested that a future report provide data on Section 27 notices and information on those who were referred to the Alcohol Diversion Programme but did not take up this provision.

Clarification was sought as to the reference in the report to improving coordination between City of York Council Licensing and Planning through the Night Time Economy Scrutiny theme.  Officers stated that views had been put forward that written guidance should be in place to enable a more co-ordinated approach to be taken but that this was not a recommendation arising from the Night Time Economy Scrutiny review. It was noted that the separate legislation in place in respect of licensing and planning meant that a uniform approach was not always possible.  Officers were asked if the Authority had made representation to the Government regarding this matter.  Officers stated that they were not aware to this action having been taken but that they would seek confirmation regarding this matter.¹

Members paid tribute to the work that the Safer York Partnership was carrying out.

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

Reason:     To ensure that the committee is kept updated on the work of AVANTE.

This paper presents the Draft Final Report of the Domestic Waste Recycling Review.

Members considered the draft Final Report of the Domestic Waste Recycling Review.

It was noted that the draft Final Report had omitted the recommendation recorded in the minutes of the Task Group meeting of 20 August 2014 – “Include an additional recommendation stating that the Cabinet Member should put in place a rolling programme of intervention work”

It was noted that a statement would also be included in the report confirming that there were no legal implications.

The Chair expressed her appreciation of the work carried out by the Task Group.

Resolved:  (i)      That the review recommendations (as listed in

paragraph 36 of the draft report) and the additional recommendation that the Cabinet Member should put in place a rolling programme of intervention work, be endorsed.

                   (ii)      That, subject to the above amendment, the final

                             report be signed-off and presented to Cabinet.

Reason:     To conclude the review in line with scrutiny procedures and protocols.

Members are asked to give consideration to the Committee’s work plan.

Consideration was given to the Committee’s work plan for 2014-15.  A verbal update was also provided on the work of task groups:

(i)           A Boards Task Group

Members were updated on the situation in respect of the A Boards Task Group.  Members had requested that officers prepared draft guidelines on the use of A-Boards for consideration by the Task Group.  There had been a delay in this work being carried out, initially this was because of pressures on officer time due to the Tour De France.  Subsequently the Cabinet Member had requested that officers draft guidance on this issue. Officers in City and Environmental Services would be carrying out this work. The Chair stated that she had requested a meeting with the Cabinet Member to discuss this matter and she would invite him to attend a committee meeting. 

Members requested that their disappointment at the Cabinet Member’s intervention in this matter be recorded.  They also expressed their concern that officers had not been able to carry out the work requested by the Task Group. 

Members agreed that future work plans should include the name of the lead officer for each item of work in order to ensure greater accountability.¹

(ii)          Amendments to Work Plan

The following amendments were agreed to the work plan:

·        Finance and Performance Monitoring report to be included on the agenda for the meeting on 5 November 2014.

·        Update on changes in the Probation Service to be included on the agenda for the meeting on 7 January 2015 and not the meeting of 5 November 2014.

·        Include an item on Discretionary Charges in Waste Management Scrutiny Review.

Resolved:  That the work plan be approved subject to the amendments detailed above:

Reason:     To ensure that the Committee has a planned programme of work in place.