Minutes:
The Committee discussed the draft area plan and the following suggestions / issues were raised:
1. Clean & Green, 3. Refuse & Recycling
· Under agreed activity 1., Cllr Schmitz proposed replacing “Robust communication about new fortnightly refuse collections will be shared with residents before implementation” with a proposal that the introduction of fortnightly collections be deferred until after a report had been produced on the issues arising in areas where fortnightly collections had already been rolled out. Cllr Schmitz reported that it seemed that there were particular issues in respect of HMOs, and that it would be imprudent to roll out to an area with a disproportionate number of HMOs until a report on the issues and how these could be addressed had been produced. These concerns were echoed by Cllr Alexander.
· In response, Cllr Canver, as Cabinet Member for Environment, advised that it was always anticipated that there would be challenges, particularly in respect of HMOs, in the course of the rollout. This did not mean, however, that the rollout of the 2nd phase should be deferred. Identifying problems at an early stage addressing these issues would require ongoing negotiation before, during and after the rollout. Engagement with HMOs, residents, landlords and the Landlords Forum was now taking place in advance of implementation of the 2nd phase of the rollout, and a range of forms of communication, including letters and home visits, were being used to engage with as many people as possible.
· The Committee agreed that there was a need to learn from the issues identified in phase 1 of the rollout, and that Members should see the report on this when it was produced. It was further suggested that Ward Members should meet as a group and hear from officers on a more frequent basis to monitor the rollout and any issues arising, in order that they were more engaged in the process.
· Cllr Canver confirmed that all Members would shortly receive a briefing note and FAQs; data on the first phase was in the process of being gathered, and Members would receive a report on phase 1 as soon as this was completed. Very early indications were that while the experience had been positive overall, there had been issues on roads with HMOs, and that the level of engagement with this type of property was being increased.
· The Committee was advised that officers would be visiting key local organisations to engage with them regarding the rollout. Members were asked to suggest possible venues and groups that should be involved in this engagement process.
· The Committee agreed, in the first instance, that the issue of implementing bi-weekly collections should be raised for discussion at the next meeting of the HMO Working Group, and that additionally a date would be set for the Green Lanes Strategy Group to discuss this issue in further detail, before the mid-June date that the rollout was timetabled to start.
· On seeking advice from the Chief Executive, the Chair ruled that it would be out of order to put to the vote the motion that the implementation of phase 2 of bi-weekly collections be deferred, as the timetable for this process was a decision of the Cabinet.
2. Crime & Antisocial Behaviour, 1. Supporting Safer Neighbourhood Team priorities
3. Culture & Creativity, 1. Inward investment
6. Housing, 2. Affordable Housing (St Ann’s Hospital Development)
7. Regulation, 1. Planning Enforcement
7. Regulation, 3. Trade Waste Enforcement
Taking into account the agreed amendments and actions in the discussion above, the Committee:
RESOLVED
That the draft Area Plan be approved, subject to the amendments agreed during the meeting, as set out above.
It was formally noted for the record that, while approving the rest of the Area Plan, Cllr Schmitz and Cllr Alexander objected to point 1, under Clean & Green, Refuse and Recycling, in respect of the introduction of fortnightly refuse collections before a full report on phase 1 had been made available for consideration.