Items
No. |
Item |
10. |
Declarations of Interest
All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary or other
Pecuniary or Non Pecuniary Interst in any matter to be considered
at the meeting must declare that Interest and, having regard to the
circumstances described in Section 3 paragraphs 3.25 – 3.27
of the Councillors’ Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while
the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in
accordance with paragraph 3.28 of the Code.
Members are asked to confirm that they do not have a declarabe
interest.
All Members making a declaration will be required to complete a
Declaration of Interest at Meetings form detailing the nature of
their interest.
Minutes:
Cllrs Malik and Shah declared their status as
Council tenants.
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11. |
Minutes of the last meeting held on 3 July 2014 PDF 63 KB
Minutes:
Members wished to indicate their view that the
minutes of 3 July 2014 did not reflect the robust nature of their
questioning of Interserve. This related to minute 7 (Voids Contract
Performance).
In addition, in this minute the policy on
allocations is not currently being reviewed. It is also the
responsibility of Hamid Khan (Head of Place Shaping) rather than
Trevor Costello.
Resolved – That, subject
to the comments above, the minutes of the meeting on 3 July 2014 be
approved as a correct record.
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12. |
Member Questions
An opportunity for Panel Members to ask questions of the relevant
Director/Assistant Director, relating to pertinent, topical issues
affecting their Directorate – maximum of 10 minutes
allocated.
Minutes:
No written questions were submitted by panel
members before the meeting.
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13. |
Neighbourhood Policing PDF 80 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Neighbourhood policing supported the theme of
civic responsibility in the Slough Joint Wellbeing Strategy, and
Slough Borough Council (SBC) would offer relevant assistance. In
particular, Neighbourhood Action Groups (NAGs) and community focus groups (especially those
relating to crime and disorder) would receive support. The picture
of NAGs in Slough was mixed; whilst
some were proactive and engaged, others had become inactive whilst
some were now run as neighbourhood focus groups.
In addition, Thames Valley Police (TVP) had
launched a review in 2013, which sought to investigate whether
neighbourhood policing was fit for purpose. In spite the cuts, TVP
had commitment to neighbourhood policing from the highest levels of
management; despite the lower budget, frontline police presence had
increased in the last two years. Instead savings had been generated
by cuts to back office functions and the use of increased
collaboration with other police forces. The review had the
following priorities:
·
Improving efficiency and effectiveness in preparation for further
funding cuts.
·
Effective communication and engagement.
The panel raised the following points in
discussion:
- Ownership of NAGs was the responsibility of local communities.
TVP would interact with NAGs once
established and ensure that the best efforts were made to support
their work; however, they needed to be independent of TVP and could
not be established by them. Despite this, TVP requested details of
any NAGs with which they were not
engaging and would then work to rectify the situation. The Safer
Slough Partnership was also to engage with NAGs, and issues raised by NAGs could be referred up to the relevant Slough
sector where appropriate.
- Local publicity for NAGs and Have Your Say events needed improvement.
Communications at the buildings hosting events or through bodies
such as Tenants’ and Residents’ Groups could be one
example of ensuring a raised public profile. TVP could work on
raising the profile of community events, but would also appreciate
support from SBC and Councillors in this matter.
- Information was being shared in the
three Slough sectors (North, South and East) once it had been
captured. Information which spanned more than one sector would then
be referrred to a Local Policing Area
(LPA) meeting.
- NAGs
were not a standardised body; their composition and operation could
vary to reflect the local community and the most effective method
for the area. Some found that using a system of delegated
representatives with a limited membership was most suitable, whilst
other NAGs held regular meetings that
were open to all local residents.
(At this point in the meeting, Councillor
Sohal left)
- Greater co-ordination between NAG
Chairs (e.g. quarterly joint meetings) could improve their
effectiveness. Equally, the establishment of an advisory point for
NAGs (e.g. page on SBC website,
dedicated email inbox) could also improve co-ordination. However,
SBC also needed to ensure that the independence of NAGs remained intact, with its role being
facilitation of their activities.
- The timescales for responses to 999
calls were immediate, within one hour and within 24 hours depending
on the urgency of the situation. This was done by risk assessment,
but TVP could not supply details as to whether or when this
information would be communicated to the caller. This matter could
be checked with 999 call centres.
- Given the likely cuts to future
budgets, the possibility of sharing resources (e.g. call centres)
with the other emergencies would be explored if they were workable.
Similar co-operation had already been occurring which should
facilitate any new plans.
- The use of the word
‘maintain’ when referring to the future levels of crime
(e.g. ‘maintain the outcome rate for violence against the
person’) was questioned. TVP responded that this was a
consequence of recent decisions not to impose specific percentages
as targets, but that the aim would always be to improve crime
prevention.
At this point, questioning was concluded to
allow for discussion of other items, although some members wished
their desire to continue noted.
Resolved – that SBC
officers discuss options for future activity on NAGs, for later appraisal by the Neighbourhoods and
Community Services Scrutiny Panel.
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14. |
Waste Collections PDF 108 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
SBC was responsible for waste collection, with
Amey serving at present as the contractor. 250,000 bins were
collected each month, with a total of 55,000 tons being generated
in this time. The number of complaints received by Amey was used as
a key indicator of the quality of the customer experience; 45
complaints had been received in 2012 / 13, whilst this had fallen
to 38 in 2013 / 14.
The panel raised the following matters in
discussion:
- A major concern was that bins were
not being returned to their original positions. This was causing
particular difficulties for elderly or disabled residents and also
for those living in areas with industrial bins. In addition, it
could also cause problems with cars accessing driveways. This was a
particular issue with silver bins. However, access could complicate
the matter and bins could not always be returned, although the
issue was recognised by Amey as a concern.
- The use of complaints received as an
indicator of customer satisfaction was also a concern;
self-inspection and internal measurements of quality were
preferable. Furthermore, complaints were not reflective of all
dissatisfaction amongst local residents.
- The hours chosen for routes needed
to be selected to avoid peak hours on major traffic routes. In
addition, collections near schools needed to be scheduled with
regards to the times when children and parents would be present in
large numbers. However, schools had more flexible hours than
previously, which complicated the situation, as did the fact that
more than one road was usually affected.
- As Amey now had 12 years of
experience, detailed site maps of the areas where collections were
made were being compiled. This work would continue and be used by
the provider under the next contract (due to start late 2017).
- The washing of bins was not part of
the present arrangement. This could be added, but would cause a
significant rise in the cost of the service. Bins were classed as a
fixed asset which were loaned to residents, and therefore it was
their responsibility to clean them. Communal bins were the
responsibility of landlords; however, very few Councils chose to
maintain their bins.
- New technology (e.g. fuel monitoring
devices, 360° cameras) would be
investigated for cost efficiency and be included in the
re-procurement process. In addition, supervisors would also monitor
collections and compile reports on service levels.
- At present, there were no methods of
redress for those who did not recycle waste. Technical officers
were assessing the situation, with areas failing to meet required
levels receiving educational information on the matter.
- Any renewal of Amey’s contract
would be based on benchmarking and performance data. A team would
start evaluating the re-procurement process on 18 September
2014.
- The long term targets of 0.00001%
for missed domestic residual waste bins and missed domestic
recycling bins would be amended given the difficulty of measuring
such low rates.
Resolved – that the
following areas be addressed in the comments to Cabinet:
- The return of bins to a point as
close as possible to the place of collection, with the possibility
of a measurement to be explored.
- The starting time of collections;
7am would help avoid problems with congestion around rush hours and
peaks in activity around schools, although the implications for
‘vehicle reversing’ alarms may need clarification.
- The compilation of other indices of
customer satisfaction beyond the use of complaints received by
Amey.
- The target levels of 0.00001%
included in appendix 1.
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15. |
Water Metering PDF 98 KB
Minutes:
Water meters were proposed as an effective
method for reducing the bills of tenants and their usage of water
(which was cut by an average of 12%). Therefore, SBC was intending
to promote and improve the access of tenants to Thames Water (TW)
metering for their properties.
The panel raised the following matters in
discussion:
- There had been reports of instances
where TW had claimed that Council tenants’ property was part
of a corporate account and therefore would not act over
non-payment. As SBC was the contractor, it would chase and collect
in these instances. However, some residents were finding payment
difficult; collection could prove time and resource intensive in
these cases. SBC were planning to share information with TW in an
arrangement with an agreed protocol. SBC was not monitoring TW
customer service but would continue to pressurise for service
improvements.
- SBC would encourage tenants to take
up the offer in cases where they would benefit from water metering.
However, SBC could not enforce the matter.
- Whilst it was recorded that no
tenants had been evicted over the matter of payment for water,
there was no information on how many cases where it had been a
significant factor in eviction.
- There were no secondary meter
arrangements in place.
Resolved – that the
Panel note the contents of the report.
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16. |
Sheds With Beds PDF 108 KB
Minutes:
The project was now focusing on rogue
landlords as a priority. The quality of service to tenants was
being emphasised and it was intended that progress would accelerate
over the coming months. This should be assisted by income being
raised by the project, which was neutralising the cost of the
associated project team.
Legislation on energy efficiency had changed
with domestic properties now included. This had complicated
matters, as had problems with the recruitment of sufficiently
experienced inspection and assessment staff. The procurement scheme
also ran to tight deadlines and specifications. The fact that a
property was deemed to be owned after four years (and therefore
permanent) had moved the project’s focus away from
identification and planning. The main questions emerging about the
accommodation in question were as follows:
- Is it appropriate? If so, was it
liable to Council Tax?
- Is it suitable for tenancy?
In cases where the accommodation served as
reasonable accommodation, inspection and assessment would be used
to monitor the issue. Landlords would also be clearly informed as
to their responsibilities, and rents would be chased should they
not be declared.
The panel raised the following points in
discussion:
- Private owners could refuse SBC
entry to property. However, SBC had means of redress by getting
access with 24 hours notice. Furthermore warrants could be obtained
where necessary. There was also an online reporting system which
fed into SBC.
- If properties registered as business
premises were to be rented out as accommodation, this change would
require planning permission. However, resources would need to be
prioritised on the matter as older properties were immune from
prosecution. SBC would enforce in cases where it had the powers to
do so.
- Council Tax for these properties
could be backdated. Where this was the case, SBC would be
responsible for enforcement.
- The possibility of paying staff
commission rates had been raised, but had experienced difficulties
during the procurement phase of discussions.
Resolved – that the
Panel note the contents of the report.
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17. |
Forward Work Programme PDF 71 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Chair circulated information regarding the
Panel’s areas of responsibility and asked members to consider
it in raising items for future agendas. In addition, the Panel
would receive the relevant forms for requesting future agenda items
via email.
The Panel was also informed that the Overview
and Scrutiny Committee would consider Town Centre Car Parking on 11
September 2014. This could have an impact on the Panel’s
agenda for 29 October.
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18. |
Attendance record PDF 39 KB
Minutes:
The attendance record was noted.
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19. |
Date of Next Meeting - 29 October 2014
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