Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence had been received.

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.

There was no Chairs address.

To consider the annual reports of the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults and Children Boards for 2020-21.

The Committee received the report of the Partnerships Manager which asked Members to note the content of the Annual Report for the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Adults Board (NYSAB), and the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children Partnership (NYSCP) Independent Scrutineers Annual Report 2020-2021.

The Committee heard that the NYSAB Annual Report covered the activity in 2020-2021 and provided evidence of the key areas of focus for the current year, to provide leadership, challenge, and direction to ensure that partner agencies improved outcomes for adults at risk of harm or abuse.  

Members noted that a Section 11 and governance audit had been developed with the North Yorkshire Safeguarding Children’s Partnership, City of York Safeguarding Adults Board and Safeguarding Children’s Partnership; this reassured NYSAB that partner organisations had everything in place to deliver safeguarding effectively.

It was further noted that there had been a review of the guidance which had been written for responding to concerns about Persons in a Position of trust (PiPoT). This was where a concern related to someone’s personal life, but which may also impact upon their job role, if that person worked with adults who had care and support needs.

The Committee were informed that over the year of 2020-21, 3456 safeguarding concerns had been received, this showed a decrease of 23% from the previous year.

In terms of agreed priorities for 2021-2023, Members noted that NYSAB would re-connect with local communities in North Yorkshire to raise awareness and develop strategies to address and reduce the risk of abuse.  Ensure multi-agency safeguarding policies and procedures were in line with best practice to meet the needs of older and younger vulnerable people; and ensure that NYSAB was able to effectively adapt and respond to wider contextual changes affecting adult safeguarding.

The Committee heard that the NYSCP was a statutory body, led by an Executive which carried co-ordination and accountability responsibilities under the 4 Priorities “Being Young in North Yorkshire”.   It was confirmed that the 4 priorities were a safe life, a happy family life, a healthy life: and achieving in life.

It was highlighted that the Independent Scrutineers Annual report had identified that there were children and young people with special educational needs, with or without disabilities, who required additional support beyond the resources available, and that there had been an increase in family poverty caused by adults’ job uncertainty, leading to a need for more access to free school meals or other practical support.

In terms of local delivery, the Committee acknowledged that Selby District Council actively participated in stakeholder meetings to include the Selby Local Safeguarding Partnership (LSP).  Officers also managed the Safer Selby Hub, which addresses the issue of community safety, prevent and safeguarding.  In 2020, the Council had supported the virtual campaign, Safeguarding Awareness Week; the overarching topic had been “Safeguarding is everybody’s business”, with a focus put onto how to report a concern.

Members asked a number of questions in relation to the use of acronyms within the report, what was being done  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

To consider the report of the Strategic Asset Management and Property Services Manager which sets out the current position in respect of void properties within the Council’s residential property portfolio.

The Committee received the report from the Strategic Asset Management and Property Services Manager, which provided Members with an update on the current position in respect of void properties within the Council’s residential property portfolio.

The officer explained that Selby District Council (SDC) currently owned circa 3,000 domestic properties across the district: with significant stock concentrations around the three main towns of Selby, Sherburn in Elmet and Tadcaster.

Members were informed that in April 2019, the Council had changed the way in which it recorded and reported on performance in respect of its domestic void properties, moving from a single target to three separate categories which better reflected the levels of work required in the properties being received back for re-letting.

The Committee acknowledged that under the previous single measure arrangement, void properties requiring extensive works had been classified as ‘out of management’ and thus ‘hidden’ from the performance measures until re-let. 

The Committee were informed that the three new categories of voids were a standard void, a major void, and lastly, a refurbishment.  In terms of a standard void, this was a property categorised as one which required minor repairs, compliance checks and cleaning only; this had a target for completion of the works of within 26 working days.

A major void was categorised as one which, in addition to the standard void works, required one of the major elements in the property replacing, for example a kitchen or bathroom; the target for completion in a major void was 45 working days.  The refurbishment void had a target of 180 days and was categorised as one which required two or more of the major elements in the property replacing, and frequently required significant levels of investment to bring the property back to acceptable standards for re-letting.

It was highlighted that from across three previous financial years, refurbishment voids had accounted for approximately 34% of all voids, however an increasing number of properties returned to the Council had started to fall into the refurbishment voids category, and this figure had recently risen to 82%.

Members heard that one of the reasons for this was that 85% of the Council’s existing housing portfolio was at least 50 years old, and with degradation of the properties over time this meant that alongside more routine elements such as new kitchens or heating systems, investment was required for the replacement of key elements such as new roofing.

The officer stated that following approval of the HRA Business Plan in 2019-2020, the introduction of significant capital investment had enabled the Council to review its approach to void delivery, ensuring funds were available to undertake the improvements needed to properties when they became vacant.

The Committee was informed that the Council currently had 87 void properties awaiting works, 12 completed voids ready for re-letting to prospective tenants, 1 completed void required for the resettlement programme, 2 specialist void properties being held for specialist adaptations: and 2 voids removed from the housing stock pending possible demolition and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

To consider the Committee’s work programme.

The Committee considered the 2022-23 work programme as presented in the agenda.

Members were informed that, as requested, an officer from parking enforcement at North Yorkshire County Council had been invited to attend Committee to discuss the issue of on-street parking; it was confirmed that an officer would be present at the meeting due to take place on 24 November 2022.

RESOLVED:

To note the Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2022-23.