Agenda and minutes

To receive comments or views from members of the public at the Panel’s discretion.

The Vice-Chairman of the Panel indicated that she would take any comments from members of the Public now, but if they had any specific to the items on the agenda she would take those comments with the agenda item.

One resident referred to the recently published coloured pamphlet which concerned the LSVT and indicated that it was a waste of money as people would just throw the leaflet in the waste bin and she did not have access to any local recycling.  She thought the council were looking at ways to save money.

Another resident referred to the cleaning of two specific alleyways in Stamford and although it did not come under the remit of the Community DSP the Mayor of Stamford, Councillor Judge indicated that the Town Council was aware of the problem and it was being looked into.

Two other residents referred to the problems of late night drinking and youths urinating against doors even in the middle of the town centre. 

Another comment was made about the bad acoustics in the room and the Scrutiny Officer replied that a PA system was on order to be used at such meetings.

The Panel to be notified of any substitute members.

The Panel was notified that Councillor Brailsford was substituting for Councillor Mrs Bosworth for this meeting only.

Councillors Bisnauthsing and Brailsford sent apologies for their late arrival a the Panel meeting.

Members are asked to declare interests in matters for consideration at the meeting.

None declared.

The notes of the meeting held on 15th September 2005 are attached for information.

(Enclosure)

The action notes from the meeting held on 15th September 2005 were accepted as a correct record with the following typographical amendments:-

Top of page 3 line 3 - being should be beginning;

Top of page 5 line 3 - sort should be sought.

None.

An update to be given at the meeting.

The Corporate Director Regulatory Services gave an overview of activity since September. The current work programme included work being undertaken by the tenant groups including the Independent Tenant Advisor (ITA) on capacity building work getting more tenants involved, ITA media training, media briefings had been held in the last couple of weeks, the first meeting of the joint member and tenant group to look at the Strategic Choice of Landlord would be held the following day, staff focus group understanding the strategic choice of landlord and what people expect the new landlord to provide.  Joint Member and Tenant working group looking at specification and case study visits. 

The working group looking at the strategic choice of landlord consisted of tenant, member and staff representation and their recommendation would be placed before a special meeting of the Council on 5th January 2006.   There were three possible choices to consider: merge completely with an existing RSL, create a brand new organisation or create a new organisation within an existing RSL.  The first choice had been ruled out by the Stock Option Appraisal as local autonomy and independence was required.   Visits had been arranged to see the other two choices, the first one taking place on 14th November to Amber Valley Housing which was an independent RSL and the next visit on 28th November to Stort Housing Association which was a new organisation created within an existing RSL.  The visits were a fact finding project for those involved to find out the issues what, where, why etc to help them come to a recommendation concerning the preferred strategic choice of landlord.  That is the only decision that will be made at the meeting on 5th January 2006.

Communication was the second item on the work programme and a Tenant Communication Group has been formed to look at all the different aspects.  The Council must ensure that all tenants have the opportunity to make an informed decision, based on fact and use their vote accordingly.  The Corporate Director Regulatory Services referred to the leaflet that had previously been highlighted by a member of the public as a waste of money.  She said that the tenants communication group had approved the contents of the leaflet and that format.  All written communications from the Council had to go through a series of strict checks both internal and external from legal advisors to the ITA.  The ITA were also creating a newsletter on behalf of the tenants to give an alternative impartial viewpoint.  The recent media briefings had raised various issues such as the reasons for transfer, facts and figures, choice of landlord, rents, how tenants can get involved, tenants rights and the impact on staff. The Grantham Journals angle on the LSVT issue seemed to be a series comparing a council that kept its housing stock and a council that transferred its housing stock five years ago.  As communications develop a communications strategy will also develop over the long term so that as much information as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.

The Corporate Manager Democratic & Legal Services to advise on the possibility of the Council making its own byelaw banning street drinking in certain areas of the district.

The Scrutiny Officer introduced the Corporate Manager Democratic & Legal Services who had been invited to the Panel meeting to give the legal position with regard to making byelaws banning street drinking following the work carried out by the street drinking working group.

The Corporate Manager Democratic and Legal Services advised the Panel on the general legal position with regard to the making of byelaws.   He said that there was not a byelaw, which banned street drinking, and therefore other acts of Parliament had to be looked at such as the general local government acts.  The Home Office issued model guidance about the making of byelaws but there was a problem in that no specific guidance concerning the banning of street drinking had been drafted and any departure from the model byelaw guidance could lead to problems especially as the Home Office and Government had to approve any byelaw made.  The new Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 would be changing the law quite dramatically and if the Council did manage to pass a byelaw concerning street drinking, by October 2006 the byelaw would no longer be enforceable as the new act changes the whole process and byelaw enforcement.

After October 2006 there will be new procedures concerning banning street drinking in designated areas with the primary duty resting on the police as they will be the enforcement body.

One member of the panel disagreed with the Corporate Manager Democratic and Legal Services indicating places that had already imposed bans such as Peterborough City Council.  The Community Support Officers were also due to be getting more powers to search people under the age of 18 for drink if they suspected them of carrying alcohol on their person.

The Corporate Manager Democratic and Legal Services indicated that orders were starting to come forward concerning banning street drinking in designated areas but three quarters of the orders failed at the last hurdle which was enforcement which had to be carried out by the police.  One member asked if the Town Council could make byelaws but the Corporate Manager Democratic and Legal Services said that their powers were more limited than the District Councils and stressed that the police needed to be onboard if any designated area to ban street drinking was to be made.

A general discussion then ensued with members discussing the selling of alcohol by supermarkets and the drinking carried out in the meadows in Stamford and the lack of police resources.  The Scrutiny Officer indicated that the working group had primarily focused on St Peter’s Hill, Grantham and perhaps they needed to do more work with regard to Stamford and invite the Community Support Officer and the Anti Social Behaviour Officer to a future meeting.

The Portfolio Holder responsible for community safety referred to the proposed changes concerning the police and informed the panel that ODPM had said that 59 new Community Police Support Officers units would be deployed in the country, however he could not say if any would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

·              Housing Issues – Specifically difficult to let properties and voids.

·              Strategic Housing

The Scrutiny Officer informed the panel that a difficult to let property had still to be found in the Deepings area.   He then circulated an up to date copy of the Strategic Housing Action Plan for members’ information.

The Corporate Director of Regulatory Services informed members of the recruiting problems that were being experienced which had impacted on the action plan timetable and had therefore resulted in one or two targets being revised.   She informed the Panel that one of the lead housing inspectors was coming back for an interim visit in December to offer advice, support and guidance in respect of the work that was being carried out, it would not be used in re-inspection.

Two areas that had been identified at the previous inspection for focus on were affordable housing and homelessness prevention.  Although it was early days a special advisor from the ODPM, who had a housing background, had been in touch about carrying out some training to focus on these issues.  He had advised the Council to open the training to neighbouring authorities as this helped to get SKDC “on the map” and by hosting the event the Council could be seen as being proactive.

The Corporate Director of Regulatory Services concluded that although progress was being made it was slow partly due to the inability to recruit the relevant staff however; she was cautious but confident that the necessary work would be completed.

Members were sceptical about the visit by the housing inspector and the reasons behind it, but the Corporate Director of Regulatory Services reiterated that it was only one inspector and they were coming to offer advice and support.

(Enclosure)

A copy of the Best Value Performance Indicators (BVPI’s) to September had been circulated with the agenda. The Scrutiny Officer advised members that if they had a particular concern about a PI they should speak to the relevant officer, having said that he then proceeded to go through the indicators giving a brief comment on indicators which needed more clarification.  Questions were asked about the anti-social behaviour indicators, the number of affordable units planned and the % of stock void to which the Scrutiny Officer, the Corporate Manager Democratic and Legal Services and the Director of Regulatory Services replied.   

Scrutiny Work Programme attached for information.                      (Enclosure)

A copy of the Community DSP’s work programme had been circulated with the agenda.  The Scrutiny Officer highlighted various issues that had been included from the Forward Plan.  The Corporate Director Regulatory Services indicated that some of the dates in the Forward Plan would be amended to show later dates for the decisions to be made.  The panel agreed that they already had a busy programme with the LSVT and the work associated with it.

To receive updates from members on outside bodies.

Nothing to report.

None.

The meeting closed at 12.50pm.