Agenda item

To receive reports from the Council’s committees which need to be brought to the attention of Council. To receive questions and provide answers on any of those reports.

Councillor Karl Arthur, Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee

Councillor Arthur, Chairman of the Audit and Governance Committee, provided an update on the work of the Committee as outlined in his report.

There were no questions for Councillor Arthur.

Councillor Chris Pearson, Chairman of the Policy Review Committee

Councillor Pearson, Chairman of the Policy Review Committee, provided an update on the work of the Committee, as set out below:

Update from Low Carbon Working Group

Officers gave an update following the last meeting of the Working Group held on 6 July. There was a real emphasis from Members on the importance of moving forward with both short and longer term projects, such as tree planting in the autumn, to start reducing the Council’s carbon footprint. The next meeting of the Working Group was arranged for late August.

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)

The Committee were given an overview of the MTFS by Officers and the Executive Member for Finance who was also in attendance. Members asked various questions on the Selby Station Gateway Project, the Council’s work towards carbon neutrality, the future of the Summit Centre and interest rates and their potential effect on the MTFS. Overall, the Committee were happy with the Executive’s recommendations to Council.

Proposed Taxi Licensing Consultation on Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards

Officers introduced the report and asked the Committee for their comments. Members queried the need for 6-monthly DBS checks and believed they could respond to the consultation themselves should they have specific concerns; the Committee were content for the consultation to be taken forward as it stood.

Car Parking Update

Members were pleased to note that new tariff schemes, signage and machines had been implemented, and the work on large EV charging units had been completed. Officers would supply information to Members later as to the number of people using the £1 tariff. There had been a drop in car park revenue due to the pandemic, which it was hoped would recover following the lifting of restrictions on 19 July. Officers would shortly be looking at the provision of a new long stay car park in Selby, and the refurbishment of the car park at Back Micklegate.

Universal Credit Update

The Committee expressed their concerns as to the rise in the number of people claiming Universal Credit, as well as the government’s additional payment for Universal Credit claimants coming to an end. Ring-fenced grants for homelessness were received from the government, but rent debt had also been accruing which, with the courts reopening, could lead to some evictions. Members asked that homelessness was brought to a future meeting of the Committee, as well as the criteria for the use of any money left from the government’s grant; Officers explained that just before the pandemic the Council’s new Homelessness Strategy had been agreed, and as a result this could also be explored.

Fly tipping and Littering

As requested at a previous meeting, Members were given an overview of fly tipping and littering by Officers and expressed their frustration at how the problem did not seem to be abating. Fixed penalty notices (FPNs) had been issued, which had generated £11k in fines; local authorities often preferred FPNs due to the way in which the courts generally dealt with fly tipping, as well as some offences being difficult to prosecute due to lack of evidence.

Education and engagement with the public to prevent offences was crucial, and compared to other local authorities, Selby was issuing more FPNs than most. There was little evidence that the increase in fly tipping was due to charges for the collection of bulky household waste, a report on which was scheduled for the next meeting of the Committee in September.

In relation to littering, evidence suggested that compared to other areas Selby’s standards were relatively high, which could be why when there was litter, it was more noticeable and reported by the public. A campaign against littering on high-speed roads was planned by asking people to report the registrations of cars who littered so FPNs could be issued. Members went on to ask Officers several questions relating to mechanical versus hand litter picking, identification of areas that needed more focus and inspections and how quickly reported mess was cleared up.

Feedback on the Local Plan Preferred Options Consultation

Members thanked Officers for the tremendous work they had done on the Local Plan and noted the summary of responses as set out in the report.

Work Programme 2021-22

Members noted the work programme which would be amended to reflect the suggestions made at the meeting.

Councillor Steve Shaw-Wright, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Shaw-Wright, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, provided an update on the work of the Committee as outlined in his report.

RESOLVED:

To note the reports.