Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made at the meeting.

The member of the press present did not wish to ask any questions.

It was noted that at the 9^th December, 2005, meeting of the above Committee, it was agreed that a review of transportation in the Borough be carried out.  Accordingly, representation was sought from each of the Scrutiny Panels.

Resolved:-  That Councillors P. Russell and F. Wright be nominated as this Scrutiny Panel’s nominations on the review.

- presentation by Mark Ford, Neighbourhood Standards Manager

Mark Ford, Neighbourhood Standards Manager, gave a powerpoint presentation on the above as follows:-

Enviro-Crime Strategy

Focus:-

-              improving the quality of the local environment

-              Key elements – changing behaviour and attitude/effective deterrents

-              Complemented by effective and responsive cleansing operations

Key Aims:-

-              To reduce by 10% by April, 2009, the number of residents who view enviro-crime to be either a very big or fairly big problem in their local area

-              To enable all local communities to widely recognise the quality of their neighbourhood so that by April, 2009, there is a 75% level of satisfaction with the cleanliness of their area

How:-

-              Education and campaigning

-              Enforcement

-              Promoting

National drivers:-

-              Sustainable Communities

-              Liveability

-              Safer, Cleaner and Greener

-              Neighbourhood Renewal

-              Community Safety

-              Neighbourhood Management

-              Local Accountability

Local Priority:-

-              Local Surveys have consistently shown clean and safe streets and improved public spaces to be a top priority for local people which is likely to continue

-              Rotherham will be a place where neighbourhoods are safe, clean, green and will maintained

-              To improve the quality of the local environment, creating cleaner, greener, safer and better used public spaces (including the Town Centre), reducing the gap on aspects of liveability between the worst neighbourhoods and the district as a whole

Local Linkages:-

-              Neighbourhood Renewal Strategy 2004-2010

-              Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy

-              Community Safety Plan 2005-08

-              Housing Strategy

-              Equalities and Diversity Strategy

-              Neighbourhood Management

-              Neighbourhood Policing/Safer Neighbourhood Teams

-              Green Spaces Strategy (under development)

-              Local Development Framework (under development)

-              Public Health Strategy (under development)

-              Housing Market Renewal

Why? Public Opinion:-

-              Top problem for communities

-              Nationally below average in terms of dissatisfaction

Not all bad news:-

-              Litter – Success

-              Dog Fouling – Success

-              Grafitti – Success

-              Flytipping

-              3^rd Best Met Council in England for “cleanliness”

Implementing:-

-              30 Point Action Plan building on good practice

-              Delivering

It was noted that the Enviro-Crime Strategy was out for consultation ahead of consideration by the Corporate Management Team followed by a joint meeting of the Cabinet Members for Neighbourhoods and Economic Regeneration and Development Services.

A question and answer session ensued with the following points/issues highlighted:-

§               The Government was looking at Councils being more accountable in terms of environment quality and would be a major focus on Performance Indicators.

§               The Toxic Campaign was well received in schools.  Possible consideration to a follow-up questionnaire which would show what impact it had had.  It was recognised in the action plan the importance of building environmental awareness into the national curriculum.

§               The local press had been very supportive in the Council’s approach in dealing with litter etc.

§               In 2005 there had been 522 fines issues for littering.  The current Streetpride signs were to be amended to reflect this information.

§               The good relationship with the Environment Agency would hopefully be stronger.

§               From  ...  view the full minutes text for item 124.

John Parks, the Neighbourhood Quality Manager submitted a report outlining the progress made since the Scrutiny Panels’ review of Wardens, Rangers and Caretakers which had culminated in Cabinet approval on 14^th December, 2005, for the establishment of a Rotherham Neighbourhood Warden Teams serving each Assembly Area (Minute No. 187 refers).

The amalgamation of the services, as per Scrutiny recommendations, was currently on course with several meetings held to formulate the workings of the proposed new team.  Discussions were ongoing with Human Resources to implement working pattern and job description changes.  Consultation would be undertaken with Unions once completed.

Safer Neighbourhood Teams had been installed in Rawmarsh and Wath and the current Neighbourhood Warden Project that had Wardens working within those areas had been assigned to the Safer Neighbourhood Teams to establish a joint working culture.

An update of actions taken/being taken against the Scrutiny Review’s finding was attached at Appendix 2.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the contents of the Warden action plan, outlining action taken against recommendations (Appendix 2), be noted.

(2)  That it be noted the teams would now be known as “Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTS)).

Janet Greenwood, Safer Neighbourhood Teams, presented a position statement for the Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Wentworth North and Wentworth South.

Neighbourhood policing was the first stage of an ACPO led programme of reform which aimed, in partnership with the Home Office, Association of Police Authorities and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, to achieve confident and secure neighbourhoods by providing communities with:-

Access            to policing services through a named point of contact

Influence         over policing priorities in their neighbourhood

Interventions   joint action with partners and communities

Answers         sustainable solutions and feedback

In Wentworth South/Wentworth North successful responses had included:-

-              Direct telephone line to Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs)

-              Serving Anti-Social Behaviour Contracts with South Yorkshire Police

-              Christmas card promoting SNTs and useful contact details

-              Police Community Support Officers enforced action against 45 untaxed vehicles in conjunction with the DVLA

-              Targeting motorbike nuisance resulting in reduction of complaints

-              Motorbike Hotline into the police station

-              Regular SNT briefings, improved exchange of information

-              Higher visibility of agencies working in the area

-              Numerous arrests – GBH, burglary, auto crime, smoking cannabis, possession of stolen goods and criminal damage to Council property

-              Execution of warrants following information supplied

-              2 Anti-Social Behaviour Contracts served for the use of foul and abusive language/inconsiderate behaviour

-              1 child taken into care due to neglect

-              1 abandoned property terminated following information supplied.

-              4 truants identified and reported to the School/Education Service.

A question and answer session ensued with the following points highlighted/raised:-

§                     It was hoped to introduce a help line for the new SNTs so all communities had a point of contact.

§                     South Yorkshire Police had contributed considerably to the initiative as well as Neighbourhoods and other partners in the Council.  Through partnership working there was the ability to join budgets and carry out initiatives around flytipping for example which in the past had happened in isolation.

§                     Each of the new Teams would have a Police Sergeant, a Neighbourhood Manager, between 5-6 Police Officers, 3 Wardens and 8-10 Neighbourhood Champions per Area Assembly.  The number of Police Support Community Officers was not known as yet.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the progress of the Safer Neighbourhood Teams be noted and supported.

(2)  That the Scrutiny Panel note the achievements of Safer Neighbourhood Teams in Wentworth North and Wentworth South.

- report by John Mansergh, Performance Champion, Neighbourhoods

The Performance Champion submitted the 3^rd quarter performance report for the Programme Area and for 2010 Rotherham Ltd.

At the end of the 3^rd quarter, 74% (31 Key Performance Indicators) were on target, with 69% of the Indicators were currently performing better than they were at the end of last year.  Overall the results demonstrated evidence of continuous improvement but there were signs of slippage in relation to 2010 Rotherham Ltd., Waste and Homelessness performance measures.

The Council had taken formal action in respect to the recent performance results of 2010 Rotherham Ltd.  A recovery plan for improving customer satisfaction and reducing rent arrears had been requested.  The Council was currently awaiting a robust Repairs and Maintenance Strategy from 2010 which would hopefully move towards more programmed works rather than reactive works.  The Performance Champion was providing support services to 2010’s Performance Sub-Committee in order to build the capacity of the Board Members in their performance roles as well as weekly liaison meetings.  

Performance management action had been taken during the quarter to improve performance on the Waste Indicators which included the addition of further areas to the Blue Box Scheme and encouraging the waste contractors to recycle more.  It was hoped that these actions, together with the trend associated with lower than forecast waste collection levels, should ensure that all the Indicators, except the Composting Indicator, would achieve their year end targets.

Performance clinics had been held to improve the performance of the Homelessness Indicators.  The Homeless Strategy was having a positive impact on customers themselves with less people sleeping rough and more customers finding it easier to sustain their tenancies.  However, the increase in the number of emergency accommodation units in Rotherham and the increased demand on the housing register, associated with Choice Based Lettings, had had a negative impact on the number of facilities waiting for accommodation.  Action was being taken to reduce the number of families placed in temporary accommodation.

A question and answer session ensued with the following points highlighted/raised:-

§               There were 3 main areas that tenants of Council housing were dissatisfied with:-  (1) an increase in expectations of the Almo had lead to an increase in expectation of what they had to deliver against; (2) until recently there was no programme in place to deliver Decent Homes and (3) people felt that some were “winning” and others were “losing” until the Decent Homes programme was rolled out.

§               Budgetary discussions were still ongoing with regard to household waste recycling centres.

§               The explanation for failing BV213 was the insufficient supply of housing in the Borough to meet demand.  There was a clear split between properties provided for those in need of emergency accommodation and those on the general waiting list.  Negotiations had taken place with Registered Social Landlords to maximise the Council’s nomination rights together with extra resources into the Robond Scheme. 

Resolved:-  That the report and progress made be noted.

- minutes of meetings held on 9^th, 23^rd and 30^th January, 2006

The Panel noted the decisions made under delegated powers by the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods on 9^th, 23^rd and 30^th January, 2006.

- minutes of meeting held on 19^th January, 2006

The minutes of the meeting held on 19^th January, 2006, were noted.

- minutes of meeting held on 1^st February, 2006

The Panel noted the minutes of the Asylum Seekers Working Party held on 1^st February, 2006, attended by Councillors Robinson (in the Chair) and Ellis.

- minutes of meetings held on 20^th January, 2006

The minutes of the meeting held on 20^th January, 2006, of the Performance and Scrutiny Overview Committee were noted.

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the following for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 11 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (labour relations).

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 11 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (labour relations).

The Chairman proposed, as 2010 Rotherham Ltd. towards the completion of its 1^st year of operation and a new Chief Executive commencing in February, 2006, that a Scrutiny review take place into the progress made and service development.  It would be the intention for the review to have a strong customer focus.

A proposed overview of the process was set out in the report.

Resolved:-  (1)  That a review take place on 2010 Rotherham Ltd.

(2)  That Councillors Hall, McNeely, P. Russell, Vines and F. Wright form the review panel.