Agenda and minutes

No apologies for absence were received. Councillor Evans was not present.

To approve the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 19 October 2023.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 19 October 2023 were approved.

Members to declare any interest as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

No declarations of interest were received.

To consider the attached Forward Plan and identify any relevant items for inclusion in the Scrutiny Work Programme, or to request further information.

The Chairman introduced the Cabinet Forward Plan and invited Members to comment.

The Scrutiny Committee is to undertake a mid-year review of the Scrutiny Work Programme. Members are invited to suggest additions for the Work Programme and to comment upon the existing Work Programme.

The Chairman invited Members to suggest additions for the Work Programme and to comment upon the existing Work Programme.

Members discussed the following topics.

Review of the Waste Contract

Members stated they have had reports from constituents regarding missed collections, dog mess not being cleared up and issues with rats. The overall feedback is that Biffa is not operating as they should. Other concerns raised were that the charges for the green garden waste bins are much higher than other in other areas and the street cleaning service is not up to standard.

The Director for Housing and Communities advised that although the current contract with Biffa is until 2028, it is constructive to review the delivery of the contract.

Review of Complaints Procedures

Members want to review the process and the reporting of the resolution. It was agreed that there is a need to have a transparent process.

Social Housing Allocation

Members agreed that a review of the process for social housing allocation was required. The Director for Housing and Communities advised that the item can be accommodated on to the Work Programme.

In review items to be removed, Members agreed that Lightbulb and Homelessness Strategy should be removed or rescheduled.

RESOLVED

Scrutiny Committee

(1)  Agreed to add the following items on to the Work Programme:

·       Review of Waste Contract

·       Complaints Procedures

·       Social Housing and Bidding

(2)  Agreed to defer the following Work Programme items:

·       Homelessness Strategy

·       Lightbulb Project

The Scrutiny Committee will consider a report on the Draft Climate Change Strategy Consultation.

The Director for Growth and Regeneration introduced the report and gave a presentation to give Members an oversight on the work being done.

Planning Policy Officer, Nicola Butcher, informed Members on how the Strategy sets out the key actions and framework. Members were also informed that the vision has come from a consultation with the local community. There is public support for the Council to take action on climate change.

The following points and comments were raised by Members:

• It is good to see that Biffa are changing vehicles, which has reduced their emissions.
• Concerns were raised about vehicle pollution with buses having their engines running when on breaks and cars leaving engines running outside schools at pick up/drop off times. 
• A suggestion was made to write to residents to advise about cleaning recycling as dirty items contaminate the whole collection.
• The comment was made about combining both Parkside and Phoenix House so only using energy in one building, this is being reviewed in the Asset Development Plan.
• Offsetting was discussed. Although Members were informed that this is the last resort and is a long-term process. One tree stores 1 tonne of carbon over 100 years. The aim is to reduce carbon emissions rather than offsetting.

The question was asked what is net zero and how will we know when we get there and is the increasing population taken into consideration, particularly as we have an increasingly ageing population. In response, Members were informed that these are all factors that are taken into account. As a Council, we need to lead by example and encourage behavioural change, in addition the Council will need to look at what it can do and make the right decisions.

In response to the query of how Melton compares with other authorities, Members were informed that the Council are the last local authority to develop this work, however Officers have done the baseline work and have the evidence to put together a good quality action plan.

Members felt the report was informative and the strategy sets out the framework, however there are a lot of challenges to achieve the targets in particular a lack of funding and commitment from central government.

The Chair thanked everyone for the hard work, there is a lot of commitment and passion but realised there is still a lot of work to do.

To consider any other items that the Chair considers urgent.

There was no urgent business.