Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

a)  To agree the Minutes of the Scrutiny Board held on 9 August, 2017

b)  Matters Arising

The Minutes of the meeting held on 9 August, 2017 were approved and signed as a true record.

Further to Minute 6 relating to “Changes to Household Waste Collections”, officers were requested to ensure that Recommendation b) had been taken on board, whereby in the event of a non-collection, Ward Councillors are advised accordingly.

Briefing Note of and presentation by the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Scrutiny Board considered a Briefing Note and comprehensive presentation which provided an update on the progress with the bid for Coventry to become the UK City of Culture 2021.

In July, 2017, it was announced that Coventry was one of five places that had been successfully shortlisted for the title of UK City of Culture in 2021. The final bid will be submitted in September, 2017, with the successful City being announced in December, 2017.

Laura McMillian, Manager, Coventry City of Culture Trust, was also present at the meeting and provided information for the Scrutiny Board.

The Scrutiny Board congratulated officers on their achievements to date and discussed aspects of the bid, including:-

  • The impact that involvement from businesses has had on the bid, how

  a long term commitment from those businesses has been achieved and

  whether there has been any involvement from Trade Unions

  • Involvement and engagement with Faith Groups in the City

  • Support, guidance and sharing of experiences from other Cities who

  have successfully and unsuccessfully bid for City of Culture.

  • How the current development plans for the City support the delivery of

   the bid.

The Scrutiny Board asked officers to take on board the suggestion that engagement with Trade Unions takes place on the bid.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Board express their full support for the final stages of the bid; support the marketing and communication of the bid;   and undertake to help promote the bid at every opportunity.

Briefing Note of and presentation by the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Scrutiny Board considered a Briefing Note and comprehensive presentation in relation to work undertaken to address the increase in fly-tipping, which was highlighted in the Council Plan Performance 2016/17 Annual Report.

The Briefing Note provided the following information:-

• Information relating to the number of fly tipping incidents in Coventry for the years 2015/16 and 2016/17, together with figures for other local authorities, which show a rising trend both locally and nationally

• The following factors which have exacerbated the increase in fly tipping incidents and the reporting of those incidents:-

  •Changes in legislation and the increased cost of waste disposal

  • The restructuring of the Enforcement Team

  • The introduction of an on line reporting tool, which has made it

  much easier for members of the public to report fly tipping.

• The following measures to address the increase in fly tipping:-

  • The continuance of the training programme for the Street

   Enforcement Team, which will increase competence in dealing

  with fly tipping and other issues.

• The mapping of instances of fly tipping to better determine and

  understand where problems are occurring

• Projects such as “hot streets” which use early intervention and

  education initiatives in specific areas.

• The deployment of surveillance equipment

• Engagement with community members in relation to reporting

  incidents using social media and promoting good practice

• Targeting offenders and highlighting prosecutions

• The introduction of selective licencing in certain parts of the City

The Scrutiny Board questioned officers on certain aspects of the presentation including:-

  • The use of surveillance cameras and how they can be most

    effectively used

  • The anticipated impact of the new changes to the refuse

  collection service on levels of fly tipping

• The type of waste that is being fly tipped in Coventry

• The impact of the austerity cuts on fly tipping

• Work undertaken in partnership with the Universities and social landlords such as Whitefriars to tackle the issue

• The bulky waste service offered by the Council

• Issues associated with the increase in Houses in Multiple Occupation

 (HIMOs)  

• Circumstances in which prosecutions are instigated

The Scrutiny Board thanked the officers for all of their work in this regard.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Board note the circumstances leading to the increase in fly tipping in the City and the measures that are already taking place to address this issue.

All outstanding issues are dealt with in the Scrutiny Board’s Work Programme.

The Scrutiny Board noted that all outstanding issues were dealt with in the Scrutiny Board’s Work Programme.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Scrutiny Board considered a report of the Deputy Chief executive (Place) which detailed the Board’s Work programme for 2017/18.

RESOLVED that the following items be added to the Work Programme:-

  • Update on the outcome of the City of Culture Bid

  • Littering and Street Pride

  • Taxi Licensing

There were no items of urgent public business.