Issue - meetings

Work Programme 2022/23, Scrutiny Review Topics and Key Decision Forward Plan

Meeting: 07/03/2023 - Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regeneration and Skills) (Item 41)

41 Work Programme 2022/23, Scrutiny Review Topics and Key Decision Forward Plan PDF 278 KB

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer that sought the views of the Committee on the Work Programme for 2022/23; sought the identification of any items for pre-scrutiny by the Committee from the Key Decision Forward Plan; provided an update on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee; sought consideration of the views of the Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services in response to a request of the Committee concerning the implementation of recommendations arising from the Effectiveness of the Council’s Enforcement Activity Working Group; and sought formal approval of a decision taken by an informal meeting of the Committee in respect of leasehold house sales.

Councillor Lappin, Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services, was in attendance and provided information on the comments contained in the report regarding the implementation of recommendations arising from the Effectiveness of the Council’s Enforcement Activity Working Group.

Members of the Committee asked questions/commented on the following issues:

· The dual enforcement role undertaken by Civil Enforcement Officers who undertake both parking offences and environmental offences. Committee Members considered that environmental offences were likely to be enforced only in parking areas and that the roles should be separated.

· The leasehold of property which was at a low rate.

· Second home ownership.

· The informal sessions held by the Committee during 2022/23 had proved to be useful.

RESOLVED: That

(1)

the Work Programme for 2022/23, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be noted;

(2)

the update on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted;

(3)

Having given consideration to the views of the Cabinet Member – Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services, in response to a request of the Committee concerning the implementation of recommendations arising from the Effectiveness of the Council’s Enforcement Activity Working Group, the following recommendation be agreed:

“the Head of Highways and Public Protection be requested to consider the separation of parking offences and environmental offences, currently undertaken in a dual enforcement role by Civil Enforcement Officers.”; and

(4)

the following recommendation arising from the informal meeting of the Committee held on 6 February 2023 in respect of leasehold house sales be approved:

“the Assistant Director of Place (Economic Growth and Housing), via his Housing Team be requested to look into adding reference information relating to flat/apartment leaseholders (residents’ management company) on the Council’s website.”