Agenda and minutes

Councillor N Akhtar declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the subject of Minute 34 below headed ‘Taxi Licensing Matters’. He left the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14^th November, 2018 were signed as a true record. There were no matters arising.

Briefing note of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

Councillors E Ruane and B Kaur, Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities and Councillors J O’Boyle and D Welsh, Cabinet Member and Deputy Cabinet Member for Jobs and Regeneration have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The following representatives have also been invited to attend:

Kate Still, West Midlands Housing Group

Neelam Sunder, West Midlands Combined Authority 

The Committee considered a briefing note and presentation of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) concerning the public consultation currently being carried out to develop the Housing and Homeless Strategy 2019-2024. Further views or inputs into the Strategy and the supporting Action Plan were sought from Members. Councillor Ruane, Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities, attended the meeting for the consideration of this item along with Kate Still, West Midlands Housing Group (WMHG), and Neelam Sunder, West Midlands Combined Authority. Louise Morley also attended as the representative of the Experts by Experience Panel. The response to the Strategy from the Experts by Experience had been circulated with the briefing note. These representatives addressed the Committee setting out their views on the draft Strategy.

The briefing note indicated that under Section 1 of the Homelessness Act 2002, the Council was required to develop and publish a Strategy to prevent homelessness every five years. An up to date Homelessness Strategy was required from 2019 and the Council had decided to combine this with the Housing Strategy so the Strategy was not seen in isolation. At their meeting on 3rd October, 2018 Cabinet had approved a public consultation on the draft Strategy.

The draft Strategy focussed on the following four main themes:

i) Preventing homelessness and supporting homeless households

ii) New housing development

iii) Improving the use of existing homes

iv) Support for people and communities.

A draft action plan had been published alongside the draft Strategy. Once approved, the action plan would be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that the actions were being progressed and responding to any changes. Reference was made to the transfer of Council’s housing stock to Whitefriars Housing in 2000 and the need for the Council to work proactively with developers and registered providers. Attention was drawn to the Homelessness Reduction Act 2017 and to the changes to the Council’s homelessness duties required by the Act. The duty to refer process had only recently commenced and was to be reviewed in due course.        

The briefing note informed that key stakeholders, partners, advice agencies and other Council departments had been engaged throughout the development of the strategy. The consultation would run from 6^th November to 18^th December, 2018. The purpose was to ensure that the correct priorities had been identified for housing and homelessness issues faced by the city, along with the correct actions. The results would be reviewed and any necessary changes made to the strategy and action plan prior to final consideration by Cabinet and Council in February 2019.

The Committee were informed that to date, 99 responses had been received to the consultation. At 30^th November, the majority of the responses had been received from individuals, 79%, with the remainder from interested groups and organisations. The majority of these responses showed support for the principles and actions included in the draft Strategy. The briefing note set out a summary of the key points raised in response to the four strategy  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Briefing Note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

Councillor Hetherton, Cabinet Member for City Services has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

The Committee considered a briefing note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator concerning two issues from the recent review of the requirements and processes for taxi drivers, vehicles and operators in Coventry. A report on the review had been considered by Cabinet at their meeting on 27^th November, 2018 and a copy of the report was set out at an appendix to the briefing note. The matters under consideration were the proposals to consult on a move away from age based vehicle licensing restrictions to a requirement based on emissions and the implementation of new conditions of licence to allow Pedicabs and Tuk Tuks to be licensed. Councillor Hetherton, Cabinet Member for City Services attended the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The briefing note indicated that the City Council kept its arrangements for licensing taxi drivers, vehicles and operators in Coventry under regular review in order to ensure that only ‘fit and proper’ individuals held a licence in Coventry; licensing processes were up to date and accessible and that taxi services in Coventry met the needs of customers.

At their meeting in November, Cabinet had approved the recommendations set out in the report which focussed on the following five proposals:

Part 1 – To update and replace the existing Private Hire Operator Conditions of Licence to incorporate requirements around the use of automated systems including the provision to grant licences to operators based outside of Coventry, subject to specific requirements

Part 2 - To implement changes to current processes for new and existing driver and vehicle licence holders following consultation with key stakeholders

Part 3 – To consult on a move away from age based vehicle licensing restrictions to a requirement based on emissions

Part 4 - To implement new Conditions of Licence to allow Pedicabs and Tuk Tuks to be licensed

Part 5 - Approve the continuation of the existing limit on the number of traditional hackney carriage vehicle licences at 859 in accordance with the recommendations in the recent hackney carriage vehicle unmet demand survey.

The Committee had been asked to consider Parts 3 and 4. The proposal to move away from age based vehicle licensing to a requirement based on emissions was in support of Local Air Quality Management requirements. 

Members questioned the officer on a number of issues and responses were provided, matters raised included:

·  Concerns about drivers being licensed by other Local Authorities and then operating in the city

·  Support for the standards and requirements operated by the Council

·  A request that Coventry drivers be allowed to drive other vehicles not on the list and be allowed more flexibility

·  A concern about the short vehicle modification date

·  Further information about the Coventry frame and the cap on the number of Hackney Carriage vehicle licences

·  Concerns about the financial difficulties facing Coventry drivers in light of the requirement to have a new vehicle by 2024, particularly in light of the competition from Uber drivers

·  Information of the package of measures to help the trade

·  Concerns  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

Briefing Note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Committee noted a briefing note of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator which provided an update on the work of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Overview and Scrutiny Committee and its Sub-Groups.

The briefing note informed of the recent call-in by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of a decision of the Housing and Land Delivery Board at their meeting on 25^th October concerning the Town Centre Programme, in particular ‘the lack of transparency within the report, supplementary information document and minutes as to the process used leading up to the selection and naming of the sites chosen’. At their meeting on 20^th November, 2018 to discuss the call–in, the Committee agreed with the decision to allocate the funding to the town centres, however they were unhappy with the levels of transparency in the process for decision making. They agreed recommendations to provide scrutiny members with more information on the work programmes of all the sub-groups of the WMCA. The briefing note listed all the recommendations.

The Committee noted that, as the meeting wasn’t quorate, these recommendations would need to be ratified at the next quorate meeting. Members expressed concerns that Scrutiny meetings of the WMCA were inquorate. They were informed that concerns were being raised at a national level about the high level quorum required for Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny meetings.

The briefing note referred to the two meetings of the Health and Wellbeing Working Group. The focus for this group had been agreed as mental health, digital innovation and the justice system.         

RESOLVED that:

(1) The contents of the briefing note be noted.

(2) The concerns being raised at a national level concerning the high level quorum required for Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny meetings be noted.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Committee noted their work programme for the current municipal year.

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no additional items of public business.