There was a change of membership for this meeting: Councillor Taylor replaced Councillor Greenslade.

Apologies were received from Councillor Walford.

There were no disclosures of interest. 

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2015 to be submitted and signed.

Copies of the minutes of this meeting are usually available seven working days following the meeting.

(All minutes are available on the Council’s website.)

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2015 were submitted and signed.

To consider any Executive decisions which have been called in by the requisite number of Members.

No Executive decisions were called in.

Report of the Head of Community and Customer Services

The report provides an overview into the role of the environmental crime team, the functions that the environmental crime officers regulate and enforce and how compliance is achieved. It focuses in detail on the response and regulation of fly tipping, the challenges and common issues faced and the performance in relation to numbers of fly tips and enforcement.

The Scrutiny Committee received a report of the Head of Community and Customer Services which provided an overview of the role of the environmental crime team and the functions they regulated and enforced.  It focussed on fly tipping.

The officers provided a presentation on ‘Fly Tipping, Trends and Service Provision’.  They explained the structure of the team, which was based at Wiggenhall Depot.  This enabled the Council’s officers to work with Veolia on issues as they arose.  They were able to refer work to each other and identify hotspots from the information received.  They outlined the areas they regulated and provided two examples of casework; one where formal action had been taken and the second where informal action had been carried out.  This showed how officers considered each case and took the most appropriate course of action.  In addition to fly tipping on public land the Environmental Crime Officer explained how officers dealt with fly tipping on private land, alleyways and service roads.  All fly tipping incidents were risk assessed and where hazardous waste may be involved immediate removal would be considered.  Whereby the Council was able to recharge the costs to the owner.  Officers showed examples of ‘before’ and ‘after’ cases where land owners had been helped to protect their land from future problems.  This had included moving fencing to the owners boundary or installing fencing where it had previously not existed.  The officers concluded by stating that information and education were an important part of their work.

Having considered the statistics at paragraphs 3.25 and 3.32 of the report, Councillor Taylor asked whether there was an incentive to under report fly tipping in order to ensure a good effectiveness grading.  He asked how the figures were verified.

The Environmental Health and Licensing Section Head explained that the service had spoken to the Environment Agency and other local authorities to review the incidents that should be reported as fly tipping.  Officers had also reviewed related guidance.  It had transpired that Watford’s officers had been over reporting incidents.  She highlighted some of the examples that should not be classed as fly tipping, including road kill and black bags next to residential waste bins.  Officers ensured they recorded the same information as other authorities.

Councillor Dhindsa congratulated officers on the way they had handled the second casework example.  He commented that in Vicarage Ward he was of the opinion that fly tipping had not decreased.  Previously he had been informed that the Council was unable to take any action if waste had been fly tipped in alley ways unless there were environmental issues, such as vermin.  He asked that if there were any fly tipping in alleyways who would the Council prosecute.

The Environmental Crime Officer responded that alleyways were very complicated matters.  They were often under shared ownership or unregistered.  Officers relied on any witnesses who had observed the waste being dumped.  If the Council became aware of the person who had dumped the rubbish and the witness was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

An update from the Head of Community and Customer Services

The Head of Community and Customer Services provided a late report setting out information about the Housing Service and how it was moving forwards.  He also provided statistics on various factors covered by the service.

Households in temporary accommodation

The Head of Community and Customer Services informed the Scrutiny Committee that the number of people in temporary accommodation was higher than any other time he could remember.  The first chart showed the different types of accommodation the Council used to house those in temporary accommodation.  He advised that due to the increase in the number of homeless people presenting themselves to the Council, it was necessary to use a variety of accommodation.  He added that those accommodated in bed and breakfast accommodation did not receive breakfast.  Due to the increase it had become necessary to place people outside of Watford.  These locations were preferably close to a main transport route.

In response to a question from Councillor Bell, the Head of Community and Customer Services responded that the latest information showed approximately 12 households had been placed outside Watford.  Locations could include Borehamwood, Luton or Dunstable. 

Following a question from Councillor Taylor about increasing the Council’s temporary accommodation stock, the Head of Community and Customer Services referred Members to paragraph 3.2 of the report.  He explained that work had been commissioned to look at the current arrangements and would make recommendations for future requirements.

Councillor Johnson, Portfolio Holder responsible for Housing, added that he had concerns about the quality of some of the current stock.  The Council would need to consider whether to refurbish the stock or source accommodation from else where.

The Head of Community and Customer Services commented that the Council would look at the business cases for different options.  If the Council opted to release some of its current accommodation this could release funds to purchase other property.

Councillor Dhindsa noted that in the past few years several hotels had been built in Watford.  He asked officers to try to place more people locally rather than outside the area.  The relocation away from Watford could impact people’s lives, for example travelling to work.

In response the Head of Community and Customer Services stated that the Council had a good relationship with the groups it worked with; the availability of bed and breakfast accommodation was dependent on events within Watford and the surrounding area, and that the Council always tried to place people in Watford whenever possible. 

The Portfolio Holder noted that some people were happy to go further as standards were sometimes better than accommodation they may have already experienced in Watford.

Councillor Bell requested details of the temporary accommodation sites within Watford.  The Portfolio Holder advised that these sites were managed by Watford Community Housing Trust on behalf of the Council.  It was agreed the list would be provided.

Number of rough sleepers in Watford

The Head of Community and Customer Services informed the Scrutiny Committee that the Council was required  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the outstanding actions and questions from previous meetings.

The Scrutiny Committee received a list of outstanding Actions and Questions.  Members noted the updates.  The Committee and Scrutiny Officer reported that the items proposed for the 2015/16 work programme would be reported to the Scrutiny Committee at its June meeting.

RESOLVED –

that the update be noted.

The report presents an update on the council’s performance indicators at quarter 3 (October - December) 2014/15 for non-outsourced services.

The Scrutiny Committee received a report of the Partnerships and Performance Section Head which provided an update on the Council’s performance indicators for non-outsourced services at Quarter 3.

The Partnerships and Performance Section Head reported that officers were still unable to provide data on the percentage of complaints resolved at stage one, due to software problems.  The average waiting times in the Customer Service Centre for Revenues and Benefits enquiries had been added to the indicators following Members’ interest. 

Members noted the results for the indicators for housing.  Councillor Martins referred to the affordable homes results.  He stated that Members on the Development Control Committee had found that developers were asking if they could provide less affordable units than required.  The reason they gave was the viability of the scheme.  He asked that officers were aware of this when developing planning policies.

The Portfolio Holder advised that Planning officers worked with the Housing Team.  He noted that an application was being presented to Development Control Committee on 12 March where the Applicant had requested that they be allowed to provide a lower number of affordable units.  He was concerned about the precedent this could create.  He reminded Members that if an applicant submitted an application to develop nine residential units they were not required to provide any affordable units within the scheme.  He suggested that the Planning service and Housing Team should discuss the matter and make a joint statement about this matter.

Councillor Bell said that he agreed with the previous comments and suggested that the Council should consider what controls could be brought in.

RESOLVED –

that the Scrutiny Committee’s comments on the performance of the Council’s performance measures for those areas where the Council directly delivers the service/ area of work at the end of quarter 3 2014/15 be noted.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to review the latest edition of the Executive Decision Progress Report and consider whether any further information is required.

The Scrutiny Committee received the latest edition of the Executive Decision Progress Report 2014/15. 

Following a request from Councillor Joynes, it was agreed that the Scrutiny Committee would be provided with the Wifi connectivity reports which were presented to Cabinet in December 2014 and January 2015. 

RESOLVED –

that the report be noted.

The next meeting of the Hertfordshire County Council Health Scrutiny Committee is due to be held after 5 March 2015.

Further information about the Scrutiny Committee is available on the County Council’s website.

The Scrutiny Committee noted that there had been no further Health Scrutiny Committee’s since the last update in January.

The agendas, reports and minutes for the Health Scrutiny Committee were available on the County Council’s website.

RESOLVED –

that the update be noted.

This report provides the Scrutiny Committee with details of a suggestion for a Scrutiny Task Group. 

The Scrutiny Committee received a report of the Committee and Scrutiny Officer setting out details of a proposed scrutiny topic.

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer reported that she had emailed all non-Executive Councillors advising them of the scrutiny suggestion and asking them to contact her if they were interested in participating in the proposed Task Group.  The following Councillors, in order of reply, had responded –

·               Councillor Karen Collett

·               Councillor Binita Mehta

·               Councillor Jeanette Aron

·               Councillor Rabi Martins

·               Councillor Anne Joynes

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer advised that the Corporate, Leisure and Community Section Head had suggested that two meetings would be required, commencing after the May elections but before officers presented a report to Cabinet in June 2015.

Members questioned whether two meeting would be sufficient.  They also requested that they were provided with any preparatory information in advance of the first meeting.

The Committee and Scrutiny Officer advised that it may be possible to hold an additional meeting, but the Task group needed to complete its work in a very short time frame as the report was due to be presented to Cabinet in June.  She confirmed that she would contact the Corporate, Leisure and Community Section Head and request that Members were provided with the preparatory information as soon as possible.

It was agreed that all Councillors with community centres within their wards would be provided with information about the Task Group. 

RESOLVED –

1.      that a Task Group be established to review the community centres section of the revised Voluntary and Community Sector Commissioning Framework, based on the proposal submitted by the Corporate, Leisure and Community Section Head. 

2.      that the Task Group comprises the following Councillors

·               Councillor Karen Collett

·               Councillor Binita Mehta

·               Councillor Jeanette Aron

·               Councillor Rabi Martins

·               Councillor Anne Joynes

Since the last Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Budget Panel has met on the following occasion –

·               24 February 2015

The minutes are available on the Council’s website – www.watford.gov.uk/budgetscrutiny

The Chair of Budget Panel to provide an update to the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee noted that Budget Panel had met on 24 February 2015.  The minutes were available on the Council’s website.

RESOLVED –

that the update be noted.

Since the last Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Outsourced Services Scrutiny Panel met on the following occasion –

·               12 February 2015

The minutes are available on the Council’s website - http://watford.moderngov.co.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=223

The Chair of Outsourced Services Scrutiny Panel to provide an update to the Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Taylor, Chair of Outsourced Services Scrutiny Panel, informed the Scrutiny Committee that the Panel had met on 12 February and had reviewed the IT contract.  Capita presented the new team dedicated to the contract.  The Scrutiny Panel had requested that it should be provided with a progress update in March.

RESOLVED –

that the update be noted.

Since the last Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Community Safety Task Group has met on the following occasion –

·               23 January 2015

The minutes are available on the Council’s website - http://watford.moderngov.co.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeId=209

The Chair of the Community Safety Partnership Task Group to provide an update to the Scrutiny Committee.

The Community Safety Partnership Task Group had met once since January.  The Chair requested that the minutes were circulated to the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED –

that the Task Group’s minutes be circulated to Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair of the Property Task Group to provide an update.

Councillor Bell, the Chair of the Property Task Group, informed the Scrutiny Committee that the Task Group had considered the report which would be presented to Cabinet on 9 March.  The report proposed the establishment of a Property Investment Board.  He hoped that more resources might be made available to build new hostels.

RESOLVED –

that the update be noted.

The Chair of the CPZ Task Group to provide an update.

Councillor Collett, the Chair of the new Task Group, informed the Scrutiny Committee that the Task Group’s report would be presented to Cabinet on 9 March following its deferral from the previous meeting.  She stated that officers had been pleased with the support provided by the Task Group. 

RESOLVED –

that the update be noted.

·               Thursday 26 March 2015 (For call-in only)

·               Thursday 26 March 2015 (For call-in only)