Agenda and minutes

In relation to Minute 25 below relating to “Conservation Areas”, the Scrutiny Board noted that Cllr McNicholas is a member of the Coventry Canal Trust.

a)  To agree the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 30^th January 2025

b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 30^th January 2025 were agreed and signed as a true record.

There were no matters arising.

Report of the Director of City Services and Commercial.

The Scrutiny Board considered a Briefing Note of the Director of City Services and Commercial, which provided an overview of identified Conservation Areas in the city, a summary of the relevant Legislation and Policy and how that is considered and applied through the Planning process, together with the principles of Planning Enforcement and Grant Funding for Heritage.

Coventry has 18 designated Conservation Areas, 16 of which have been in place prior to the most recent Local Plan adoption in 2017 and listed at policy HE1. The adopted Local Plan then established a commitment for the authority to bring forward two additional Conservation Areas during the Plan period, within the areas of Brownshill Green and Earlsdon.

The Conservation Areas are identified and available on the public planning map, and listed on the Council’s website, alongside supporting Management Plans and Appraisals where available. Work to provide management plans and appraisals of all Conservation Areas in the city remains ongoing and is also proposed to be carried forward as a commitment in the emerging Local Plan.

In considering the Briefing Note, the Scrutiny Board asked questions, received responses and discussed a number of matters as summarised below:

·  The powers the Council had to enforce breaches in Conservation Areas and how they used those powers.

·  It was noted that there were no additional enforcement powers for Conservation Areas. The Council had the ability to impose legal and financial penalties but used a staged approach and, where appropriate, attempted to solve breaches informally in the first instance.

·  It was confirmed that Stop Notices are served on everyone who has an interest in the land or property.

·  How repeat offenders were identified and the powers available to Planning Enforcement Officers in terms of carrying out inspections.

·  Examples and numbers of recent Notices and enforcement actions. It was noted that the Council serves approximately 25-50 Notices a year and that records of Notices exist going back to 1948.

·  The process for a Council response to unlawful works which breach planning permission and/or control.

·  How the conservation Area Status was applied to open spaces generally and more specifically to Coventry Canal.

·  Information was requested in relation to the current situation regarding Coventry Swimming Baths, which was a listed building. It was noted that this information would be sought from the appropriate Cabinet Member and forwarded to the Scrutiny Board.

·  Whether there currently was a funding prioritisation for heritage funding.

·  Work undertaken to raise awareness of heritage buildings and sites in the city. 

RESOLVED that the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (4):

1)  Notes the National Legislative and Policy Framework and how it is applied by the local planning authority, having regard to planning enforcement and heritage funding.

a)  Recommends that the Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities considers funding prioritisation and allocation for heritage assets as part of the new Heritage Strategy.

Report of the Director of City Services and Commercial.

The Scrutiny Board considered a Briefing Note of the Director for City Services and Commercial which provided an update on the legal requirement for Councils to provide a separate collection of food waste from 2026.

In October 2023 the Government announced the new Simpler Recycling Reforms under Section 45a of the Environment Act 2021. These reforms are intended to make the national recycling system simpler removing confusion over what can and cannot be recycled in different parts of the country. They introduce a new default requirement for households and workplaces to have containers to allow for the separate collection of:

·  Non-recyclable waste.

·  Paper, card, plastic, metal and glass.

·  Food waste (weekly).

Non-household municipal premises such as businesses, hospitals and schools are required to implement the requirements of the reforms by 31st March 2025 (where they have more than 10 full-time employees). Local Authorities are required to implement the collections of these materials from households by 31st March 2026 with micro businesses with fewer than 10 full-time employees required to comply by 31st March 2027.

It was confirmed that local authorities would receive capital funding to cover the costs of additional bins and vehicles required to implement food waste collections alongside ongoing revenue funding from 1^st April 2026 to cover the additional costs related to the delivery of the service.

In considering the Briefing Note and the presentation by officers, the Scrutiny Board asked questions, received responses and discussed a number of matters as summarised below.

• Officers were learning from neighbouring authorities that already have a separate collection, although this is not always directly comparable as there are different demographics in each area.
• Plans for collection of food waste from flats are still being developed but each set of flats will be considered separately, and arrangements will be appropriate to existing facilities.
• There was an expectation of a relatively low tonnage for collection, but that the main financial benefit of the scheme is on savings made from not having to dispose contaminated garden waste, rather than income from selling food waste.
• That the exact date for implementation had yet to be agreed, but that the Government’s expectation is currently April 2026.
• The focus of the Communications Strategy with the important aspects being the savings made as well as the environmental benefits and the production of green energy.
• Whether the Council were legally obliged to provide all households with a food waste bin or whether there could be an opt-in option.

• Information was sort regarding the percentage of recyclable materials in Council recycling bins and it was noted that this information would be circulated to the Scrutiny Board.
• Whether new food caddies would be provided as part of the new service.
• Recruitment and staffing for the new service.
• Arrangements that would be in place to cleanse the vehicles.

RESOLVED that the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (4):

1.  Notes the actions taken so far to facilitate the requirement for the Council to provide a separate collection of food waste to all  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

Report of the Director of Law and Governance.

The Scrutiny Board considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance that detailed issues on the Board’s Work Programme for meetings of the Board for 2024/25.

The Board noted that the last meeting of the Committee for the Municipal Year 2024/25 was scheduled for 9^th April 2025 at which the following matter would be considered:

• Quality of Social Housing and Retrofit Programme.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Board’s Work Programme for 2024/25 be noted.

There were no other items of urgent public business.