BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET DISTRICT COUNCIL

HOUSING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE

Thursday 2nd July 1998

PRESENT -:

Councillors Sharon Ball, Tim Ball, Trevor Deacon, Gordon Derrick (for Chris Dando), Ruth Griffiths, David Hawkins, Pat Hogg (for Esme Latchem), Adrian Inker, Mike Kelleher (for Roger Symonds), Keith Lunt, Doug Miles and Bruce Shearn.

Co-opted Members, George McNeil, Joy Smith

Apologies:

Councillors Chris Dando, Esme Latchem and Roger Symonds

Co-opteesSheila Ingerfield, Ann Kirby and Colin South

24 ELECTION OF CHAIR(PERSON) (LABOUR GROUP TO CHAIR)

RESOLVED that Councillor Bruce Shearn be elected Chair(person) for the duration of the meeting.

25 EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

The Chair(person) drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out on the Agenda

26 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillors Doug Miles and Adrian Inker declared an interest in agenda item 10 and withdrew from the meeting for that item.

Councillors Adrian Inker and David Hawkins declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 12 and withdrew from the meeting for that item.

Councillors Sharon and Tim Ball declared an interest as a Council Tenant with a special dispensation to remain in the meeting and vote.

27 TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIR(PERSON)

There were no items of urgent business.

28 ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC - TO RECEIVE DEPUTATIONS, STATEMENTS, PETITIONS OR QUESTIONS

There were none.

29 ITEMS FROM COUNCILLORS AND CO-OPTED AND ADDED MEMBERS

There were none.

30 MINUTES: HOUSING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE - THURSDAY 30TH APRIL 1998 (REPORT 9A).

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 30^th April 1998 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair(person).

31 MINUTES: HOUSING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE - THURSDAY 7TH MAY 1998 (REPORT 9B).

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on Thursday 7^th May 1998 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair(person).

32 STOCK CONDITION SURVEY REPORT - REFERRAL FROM HOUSING TRANSFER SUB-COMMITTEE (REPORT 10).

The Committee considered a report which was a referral from Housing Transfer Sub-Committee in relation to the Stock Condition Survey.

RESOLVED that the decision of the Housing Transfer Sub-Committee to refer this item to the Housing and Public Protection Committee for use in the preparation of the Council's Housing Investment Programme Submission and Bid for 1999/2000, be noted.

33 HOME ENERGY CONSERVATION (REPORT 11).

The Committee considered a report which detailed the progress in Home Energy Conservation and gave details of current projects. A framework strategy for future action was suggested with action points and targets and a criteria for capital expenditure.

RESOLVED

(1) That the objectives and targets in the Service Strategy attached at Annex A be endorsed.

(2) That the criteria and priorities for capital works on Home Energy Conservation as set out in Annex B, be agreed.

(3) That the criteria be agreed for the payment of Energy Conservation grants payable to householders as set out in Annex C as part of the discretionary grants policy.

(4) That the Home Energy Conservation Act (HECA) bid detailed in Annex D which was submitted on 30 April in consultation with spokespersons, be noted.

(5) That the work being done on the Energy Efficient Historic Home Project detailed in Annex E be noted and the project outline be agreed.

(6) That the targets for works on Council homes detailed in Annex F, be noted.

34 CORPORATE PRIORITISATION - VOLUNTARY SECTOR FUNDING (REPORT 12).

The Committee considered a report which sets out corporate priorities for Voluntary Sector Funding and recommendations for Housing and Social Services Committee Criteria for 1999/2000.

RESOLVED

(1) That it be agreed that the Service Committee Criteria (Annex 2) should not change for 1999/2000.

(2) That the process which has decided the services to be commissioned within the 1999/2000 Voluntary Sector Funding round, as set out in paragraphs 5.6 and 5.7, be noted.

(3) That if further funds be made available through the corporate prioritisation process the following items be identified as areas for investment: Neighbourhood Mediation, Youth Offending, Mental Health Services, Alcohol Assessment Outreach and the potential for restoring funding to some of the organisations who lost out last year..

35 LEASES TO CHARITY AND VOLUNTARY GROUPS (REPORT 13).

This report was withdrawn from the agenda.

36 ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSUMER SERVICES PERFORMANCE REPORT FOR APRIL AND MAY 1998 (REPORT 14).

The Committee considered a report which provided a summary of the issues surrounding service operations and development together with indicators of performance against the service plan and corporate standards.

RESOLVED

(1) That the service performance 1996/97 as measured by the Audit Commission be noted.

(2) That that rate of food safety inspections for April and May 1998 being currently below target be noted, but that officers expect to meet the annual target.

(3) That 1998/99 performance be at or above target for all other selected indicators.

37 VOLUNTARY SECTOR SERVICE CRITERIA (REPORT 15).

The Committee considered a report which set out a revision of the service criteria for Housing and Public Protection voluntary sector grants.

RESOLVED

(1) That it be agreed to accept the revised advice and advocacy service criteria contained in Appendix I.

(2) That it be agreed that the grants for public safety groups (criteria in Appendix II) be removed from the traditional grant application process and converted into project grants. The decisions for funding will be taken under the delegated power provisions.

38 BUDGET MONITORING 1997/98 AND 1998/99 BUDGET (REPORT 16).

The Committee considered a report which identified the Environmental and Consumer budgets for 1997/98, the provisional outturn against these budgets for the year and the cost centres for 1998/99.

RESOLVED

(1) That the virement in paragraph 4.2 of the report be noted.

(2) That the provisional underspend of £88,954 for 1997/98 in paragraph 5.2 of the report be noted.

39 BATH AND NORTH EAST SOMERSET CORPORATE COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE ANNUAL REPORT 1997/98 (REPORT 17).

The Committee considered a report which provided monitoring information relating to official complaints received within the Directorate of Development and Engineering Services in the second year of the authority, in accordance with the Council's Corporate Complaints Procedure.

RESOLVED that the information provided in the report be noted.

40 HOUSING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION COMMITTEE FORWARD AGENDA PLAN (REPORT 18).

RESOLVED that the Forward Agenda Plan be noted.

41 EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

RESOLVED that, in accordance with the provisions of Section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

42 10 BROOKSIDE HOUSE, HIGH STREET, WESTON, BATH (REPORT 20).

The Committee considered a report which sought authority to accept a surrender of the lease of this property.

RESOLVED that the proposal to accept a surrender of the lease of the property immediately prior to the reletting of the premises or 31 December 1998, whichever is the earlier, be approved.

The meeting ended at 7.15pm

Chair(person)

Date Confirmed and Signed

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