Meeting Details

Communities Committee
3 Mar 2020 - 09:30
Occurred
  • Documents
  • Attendance
  • Visitors
  • Declarations of Interests

Documents

Agenda

Public Items
1 Sederunt
2 Declaration of Group Decisions and Members Interests *
3

In terms of Standing Order 20 and the Councillors' Code of Conduct, there were no declarations from Group Leaders or Spokespersons in regard to any prior decisions taken on how Members will vote on any item on the agenda or any declarations of Member's interests in respect of any item on the agenda.

 

 

 

3 Resolution

Consider, and if so decide, adopt the following resolution:

"That under Section 50A (4) and (5) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, as amended, the public and media representatives be excluded from the meeting for Item 13 of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information of the class described in the relevant Paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.”

 

4

The meeting resolved that in terms of Section 50A (4) and (5) of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, as amended, the public and media representatives be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the items of business appearing at the relevant paragraphs of this minute as specified below, so as to avoid disclosure of exempt information of the class described in the appropriate paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 7A of the Act.

 

   Paragraph Number of Minute       Paragraph Number of Schedule 7A and Reason 
     
14     9 Information on terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the Authority.

5

The Minute of the meeting of the Communities Committee dated 17 December 2019 was submitted for approval.

 

Under reference to paragraph 14 of the draft Minute the Chair advised it was not her, but Councillor Creswell, who had raised the question of an agenda item for Tenant Representatives.

 

With this change the Minute was approved.

 

6

The Committee noted that no written questions had been submitted.

 

6 pdf No Access Policy (228Kb)

Report by the Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance)

 

7

Under reference to paragraph 11 of the Minute of the meeting dated 17 October 2017 a report by the Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance) asked the Committee to consider and approve a No Access Policy for Council tenants.  The policy aims to reduce barriers faced by the Council in accessing tenants' homes to carry out statutory landlord duties in relation to the improvement, repair and servicing of the housing stock.

 

Following consideration the Committee agreed to:

  1. note the Council's new legal duty to install satisfactory smoke and carbon monoxide alarms of a required specification in all Council housing stock by February 2021;

  2. approve the draft No Access Policy as set out in Section 7 and appendix I of the report to assist in achieving this;

  3. approve a period of consultation with tenants and stakeholders; and

  4. consider the consultation feedback at the meeting in April 2020.

Report by the Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance)

 

8

A report by the Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance) informed the Committee of the budget position to 31 December 2019 for the Housing Investment Programme for 2019/20.

 

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the position as at 31 December 2019 with regards to the Housing Investment Programme for 2019/20.

 

Report by the Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance)

 

9

A report by the Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance) informed Committee of the council's performance in 2019/19 in comparison with benchmarking peer groups.

 

Councillor Gatt was of the opinion that actual numbers, as opposed to percentages, would be beneficial.

 

In response the Head of Housing and Property Services advised it would be possible to provide numbers for Moray Council performance in the future but not for the benchmarking peer groups.  Committee agreed this would be acceptable.

 

Thereafter the Committee agreed to note:

  1. performance outlined in the report; and

  2. that along with percentages actual numbers in relation to Moray Council performance will be provided in future reports.

Report by the Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance)

 

10

Under reference to paragraph 6 of the Minute of the meeting dated 27 February 2019 a report by the Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance) presented the budget position for the Housing Revenue Account and General Services Other Housing Budget for the period up to 31 December 2019.

 

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the budget monitoring report for the period to 31 December 2019.

 

Report by the Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance)

 

11

Under reference to paragraph 9 of the Minute of the meeting dated 25 September 2018 a report by the Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance) provided the Committee with details of progress on the Moray Home Energy Efficiency Programme.

 

Following consideration the Committee agreed:

  1. to note the progress made on the delivery of the Moray Home Energy Efficiency Programme; and

  2. that further reports on progress will be presented to Committee.

Report by the Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance)

 

12

A report by the Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance) provided Committee with details of the Scottish Government/Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) joint Action Plan to improve the lives of Scotland's Gypsy/Travellers.

 

Following consideration the Committee agreed:

  1. to note the details of the joint Action Plan on Gypsy/Travellers agreed by the Scottish Government and COSLA;

  2. to note the implications for the Council approach to assessing and meeting the needs of Gypsy/Travellers in Moray; and

  3. that the council participate in COSLA's Gypsy/Traveller Negotiated Stopping Pilot.
12 pdf Question Time (66Kb)
13

Councillor Creswell sought clarification on information provided to residents of Forres on changed arrangements for the Forres Access Point.

 

In response the Head of Housing and Property Services advised he will have to speak with the Customer Services Team and get a response which he will share with Committee.

 

Chair of Meeting
1

The meeting was Chaired by Councillor Louise Laing.

 

Welcome and Tribute
2

In noting the Mr Richard Anderson has returned to his substantive role as Head of Housing and Property Services the Committee joined the Chair in welcoming Mr Anderson back to the Committee.

 

Thereafter the Committee joined the Chair in thanking Mr Graeme Davidson for his help and support during his time as the Acting Head of Housing and Property Services.

 

Building Services Trading Operation Budget 2019/20 - Budget Monitoring
14

Under reference to paragraph 19 of the Minute of the meeting dated 2 April 2019 a report by the Depute Chief Executive (Economy, Environment and Finance) presented the budget monitoring information for the period to 31 December 2019 for the Building Services Trading Operation.

 

Following consideration the Committee agreed to note the:

  1. financial information for the period to 31 December 2019, as detailed in appendix I of the report;

  2. revised year end forecast to 31 March 2020 as detailed in appendix I of the report; and

  3. Building Services operating performance, Business Plan 2017 - 2020 and financial improvement update as set out in section 6 of the report.
Private Items
Item which the Committee may wish to consider with the Press and Public excluded

 

13 Building Services Trading Operation Budget 2019/20 - Budget Monitoring [Para 9]
  • 9. Information on terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the Authority;
  1. Building Services Trading Operation Budget 2019-20 - Budget Monitoring - Appendix 1
    • 9. Information on terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the Authority;
Summary of the Communities Committee functions:

To deal with matters relating to Housing/HMOs, Housing Regeneration, Homelessness, Social Inclusion, Equalities, Community Safety, Anti-Social Behaviour (including road accidents) and Community Liaison.

 

 

Attendance

Name
No other member attendance information has been recorded for the meeting.
NameReason for Sending Apology
Councillor Ryan EdwardsNo Reason Given
Councillor Maria McLeanNo Reason Given
Councillor Ray McLeanNo Reason Given
NameReason for Absence
No absentee information has been recorded for the meeting.

Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.

Visitors

The Head of Housing and Property Services, the Housing Strategy and Development Manager, the Building Services Manager, the Senior Housing Officer (Information), the Senior Housing Officer (Policy) and Caroline Howie, Committee Services Officer as Clerk to the meeting.

 

Contact Us

Committee Services
Council Offices
High Street
Elgin
IV30 1BX

01343 563014

committee.services@moray.gov.uk

Contact Us

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Council Offices
High Street
Elgin
IV30 1BX

01343 563114