Agenda and draft minutes

An apology for absence was submitted on behalf of Councillor Stella Walsh

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any personal interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda. If the interest arises only as result of your membership of another public body or one to which you have been appointed by the Council then you only need to declare it if you intend to speak.

If the personal interest is a prejudicial interest, you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No members declared an interest in respect of items on the agenda.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask a question(s) on an item(s) on the agenda will be asked to put their question(s) to the Panel. Each member of the public will be allowed to ask one supplementary question within his/her allocated 3 minutes.  

There were no questions from Members of the public.

The Corporate Director (Neighbourhoods) will do a presentation on the streetscene function and will include performance information relating to the service.

The group will undertake the scoping exercise. A blank copy of the scoping document and project plan to be completed are enclosed.

The Corporate Director (Neighbourhood) gave a short presentation on the Neighbourhoods Directorate setting out its areas of responsibility and objectives.

The basis of the inquiry would be on the Streetscene Division which was split between street cleaning and grounds maintenance, The budget, and the number of staff employed by the Division was given, with Members attention drawn to the schedules of maintenance for both areas.

A brief outline of the performance of both street cleaning and grounds maintenance was also given.

Member’s immediate response on issues in which the inquiry could focus its attention on was the operation of the schedule of maintenance.

Members expressed concern that the schedule of maintenance for the following areas was not as efficient and effective as it should be and requested to have sight of these documents at a future meeting.

Street cleaning

Emptying Litterbins

Sweepers

Tree pruning

Grass cutting

Members raised concern that some areas had not been placed on a schedule of maintenance, therefore creating an area of neglect.  Complaints had also been received regarding the maintenance of cemeteries and the emptying and size of litterbins, particularly those around schools.

Reference was also made to the Scrutiny Inquiry that was done a few years ago on the Grass Cutting service and the need to revisit the recommendations that the Inquiry produced to see if they have been carried out.

All the issues and concerns of Members would be incorporated into the scoping document for the inquiry, which would be drawn up by the Democratic Services Officer and Corporate Director (Neighbourhoods) in consultation with the chair of the Task Group and submitted to the next meeting.

The Group to decide the dates of future meetings.

The group AGREED that the next meeting would be held on Wednesday 20 August at 6.30pm.