Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

The Executive is asked to approve the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 5 December 2019.

The Executive considered the minutes of the meeting held on 5^th December 2019.

RESOLVED:

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 5^th December 2019 for signing by the Chair.

A copy of the Register of Interest for each Selby District Councillor is

available for inspection at www.selby.gov.uk.

Councillors should declare to the meeting any disclosable pecuniary

interest in any item of business on this agenda which is not already

entered in their Register of Interests.

Councillors should leave the meeting and take no part in the

consideration, discussion or vote on any matter in which they have a

disclosable pecuniary interest.

Councillors should also declare any other interests. Having made the

declaration, provided the other interest is not a disclosable pecuniary

interest, the Councillor may stay in the meeting, speak and vote on that

item of business.

If in doubt, Councillors are advised to seek advice from the Monitoring

Officer.

There were no disclosures of interest.

Report E/19/38 outlines a mechanism for the collection of Council owned recycling boxes as proposed by the Recycling Task and Finish Group.

The Lead Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture presented the report which outlined a mechanism for the collection of Council owned recycling boxes as proposed by the Recycling Task and Finish Group.

Discussion took place on the proposals. The Head of Commissioning, Contracts and Procurement explained that residents who requested a doorstep collection for the boxes would be offered it if requested.

In response to a query concerning the 12 collection points, the Executive was informed that agreement was still needed on some of the sites with the respective landowners and Parish Councils. It was noted that the 12 confirmed sites would be reported to the Task and Finish Group on 29 January 2020.

The Executive was informed that any boxes returned would be recycled.

RESOLVED:

To approve option B.ii as outlined in the report as the mechanism for the collection of Council owned recycling boxes.

REASON FOR DECISION:

The Task and Finish Group were requested by Full Council to consider and recommend a mechanism for collecting redundant recycling boxes from households.  The Task and Finish group initially considered four broad options which were appraised using a hierarchy of key considerations as set out below in priority order to logically appraise and identify the best solution.

i.              Operational and customer considerations

ii.            Waste hierarchy considerations, Avoid/ Reduce/ Reuse/ Recycle

iii.           Cost

The Task and Finish group considered that no single option originally appraised provided the best solution and have proposed two alternative options. The proposed solutions have been appraised within the body of the report.  

Report E/19/39 sets out the draft policies for approval and adoption following input from the Recycling Task and Finish Group and Policy Review Committee.

The Lead Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture presented the report which set out the draft policies for approval and adoption following input from the Recycling Task and Finish Group and Policy Review Committee.

It was queried when the bins would be rolled out and when would the residents be aware of the rollout. The Head of Commissioning, Contracts and Procurement explained that the delivery of bins to the Council would start from 20^th January 2020 where the stock would be built up before the delivery process commenced to residents. The Executive was informed that there would be a comprehensive communications strategy to inform residents and this would commence from next week.

In response to a query concerning residents requesting smaller bins where they had reduced space, the Head of Commissioning, Contracts and Procurement explained that as part of the rollout, properties where space would be an issue had been identified and these properties would be issued with smaller bins in the rollout. Additionally other properties where space was an issue such as terraced houses would be contacted later in the rollout.

In respect of the write out to all residents regarding the rollout, the Executive was informed that the write out would overlap with the delivery of bins to residents therefore some residents would receive their bin before they received their letter. The Head of Commissioning, Contracts and Procurement explained that the new bins would be sealed and display a message to not use until a specific date to avoid residents using the bins earlier than planned.

RESOLVED:

To endorse the report and approve the waste and recycling policies as set out in Appendix A of the report and listed below:

a.    Recycling contamination

b.    Recycling bin size and excess waste

c.    Assisted Collections

d.    Residual bin size / Larger residual bins

e.    Lane end collections

f.     Missed collection reporting

REASON FOR DECISION:

To ensure that the Council has a robust approach to waste management and also to enable the policies to feed into the communications campaign relating to the new recycling service which will launch in the New Year.

Report E/19/40 outlines the proposed Selby Taxi Licensing Policy.

The Lead Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture presented the report which outlined the proposed Selby Taxi Licensing Policy.

In response to a query concerning the low number of consultation responses, the Solicitor to the Council explained that the Licensing Manager had spoken to some taxi drivers who were satisfied with the policy and that discussions had also taken place with disability groups.

RESOLVED:

To approve the proposed Taxi Licensing Policy 2020 shown at Appendix A.

REASON FOR THE DECISION:

To ensure the Council has an up to date Taxi Licensing Policy.

E/19/41 outlines proposals for a consultation to take place on the Local Plan Issues and Options Document which will be undertaken under Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended). 

The Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping presented the report which outlined proposals for a consultation to take place on the Local Plan Issues and Options Document, which would be undertaken under Regulation 18 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended). 

The Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping proposed that the words ‘in consultation with the Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping’ be inserted into the second recommendation.

The Executive were supportive of the proposals.

RESOLVED:

i)             To approve the Issues and Options document at Appendix 1 of this report for consultation in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) regulations 2012 (as amended);

ii)            To  delegate to officers in consultation with the Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping the arrangements for the consultation to take place for 6 weeks between 24^th January and 6^th March 2020.

iii)           To delegate to the Director of Economic Regeneration and Place, in consultation with the Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping, any minor amendments required to the documentation for typographical, grammatical and factual or Plain English purposes to the documents prior to publishing for consultation.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To approve the Issues and Options document for public consultation in order to further progress the adoption of a Local Plan.

Report E/19/42 presents proposals for Housing Revenue Account rent levels which have been calculated in accordance with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) policy statement on rents for social housing from February 2019. 

The Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources presented the report which outlined proposals for Housing Revenue Account rent levels which had been calculated in accordance with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) policy statement on rents for social housing from February 2019. 

The Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources explained that from April 2020, the Council was allowed to raise rents by no more than CPI + 1%. It was noted that this followed four years from annual rent reductions of 1% from April 2016 in accordance with the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016.

The Executive was informed that the rise in rents would result in an average increase in rents of £2.50 per week for tenants on a 48 week basis.

In response to a query concerning reinvestment in council properties, the Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resource stated that the Council had budgeted to invest in its properties however were looking to address the issue of a shortage in trades people for the work.

RESOLVED:

To approve the proposed 2.7% rent increase for 2020/21.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To allow rent levels to be set in advance of the coming financial year following the government’s policy on rents for social housing from 1 April 2020 onwards.

Report E/19/42 outlines the proposed Rent Policy 2020.

The Lead Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture presented the report which outlined the proposed Rent Policy 2020.

The Executive were supportive of the proposals.

RESOLVED:

To approve the attached Rent Policy 2020 in the report (Appendix 1).

REASON FOR DECISION:

Approving the Rent Policy further guarantees that Council rents are set in accordance with relevant statutory and regulatory obligations. It also ensures that rents are set at a level which ensures the Council meets its responsibilities to customers, maintains stock at a high standard, plans for future investment and continues to function as a financially viable organisation.

Report E/19/44 outlines Selby District Council’s involvement in the North Yorkshire Refugee Resettlement Scheme.

The Lead Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture presented the report which outlined Selby District Council’s involvement in the North Yorkshire Refugee Resettlement Scheme.

The Lead Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture explained that the Government had written to the Council to ask them to participate in the new scheme and that the Council would be committed to the resettlement of approximately 29 refugees from 2020/21 to 2023/24.

Discussion took place on offering the refugees more support to learn to speak English to assist with integration. It was noted the families who had settled in Selby Town all spoke English aside from the Grandparents.

In response to a query concerning the housing for the refugees, the Housing and Environmental Health Service Manager explained that under the previous scheme, the Council had used its own houses as it was aimed to locate the refugees near the town centre so they could access services more easily. It was noted that under the new scheme, the Council would make a decision on the most appropriate method of housing nearer the time.

RESOLVED:

To approve Selby District Council’s participation in the new ‘Global Resettlement Scheme’ and to commit to resettling a minimum of 29 persons between 2020/21 and 2023/24.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To enable Selby District Council to participate in the wider North Yorkshire resettlement scheme and commit to supporting the resettlement of refugees.

Report E/19/45 outlines the proposed Tenant Participation Strategy 2020-2023.

The Lead Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture presented the report which outlined the proposed Tenant Participation Strategy.

The Lead Executive Member for Housing, Health and Culture explained that there had been a consultation undertaken with tenants and stakeholders and a key aim of the new strategy was to improve the relationship with tenants.

Concern was raised at the attendance of tenants at participation events held by the Council. The Housing and Environmental Health Service Manager explained that the events were advertised and that the new strategy offered a wide range of events for tenants to get involved in.

RESOLVED:

To approve the final Tenant Participation Strategy 2020-2023.

REASON FOR DECISION:

Whilst tenant participation is not new to the Council, we want to build on current opportunities and increase our expertise and reputation in this field. Approving this plan provides the Council with a real opportunity to further develop a genuine partnership with both our tenants and leaseholders, working with them to shape the future of our housing service.

Report E/19/46 outlines the Corporate Complaints and Compliments Annual Report for 2018-19.

The Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development presented the Corporate Complaints and Compliments Annual Report for 2018/19.

It was noted the number of complaints were few and that the Council was effective in dealing with them. It was also noted that the number of compliments had increased from last year.

RESOLVED:

To note and provide comments on the Corporate Complaints Annual Report.

REASON FOR DECISION:

In our Complaints Policy we have made a commitment to publish an annual complaints report. This report includes how we have done in responding to complaints and how we have used complaints to inform service improvement.