Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Board Room, Council Offices, Whitwick Road, Coalville, LE67 3FJ

Contact: Democratic Services  01530 454512

Items
No. Item

89.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

No apologies were received.

 

90.

Declaration of Interests

Under the Code of Conduct members are reminded that in declaring interests you should make clear the nature of that interest and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest, registerable interest or other interest.

 

Minutes:

In accordance with the Code of Conduct, Members declared the following interests:

 

Councillors Ashman, Gillard, Merrie and Rushton declared a non pecuniary interest in Item 5 as members of Leicestershire County Council.

 

91.

Public Question and Answer Session

Minutes:

No questions were received.

 

92.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 209 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2023.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on the 28 March 2023 were considered.

 

It was moved by Councillor T Gillard, seconded by Councillor K Merrie and

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 March 2023 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings.

 

Reason for decision: To comply with the constitution.

 

93.

Draft Resources and Waste Strategy for Leicestershire 2022 - 2050 pdf icon PDF 211 KB

The report of the Head of Community Services.

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report and wished to express thanks to the Community Scrutiny Committee for their comments.

 

A member noted that this had been a very comprehensive piece of work and that North West Leicestershire District Council had been ahead of the curve in their approach to waste.

 

It was highlighted that the authority had the highest recycling rate in Leicestershire and that NWLDC is unique in the county in that it already has a Recycle More Planwhich firmly aligned with best practice highlighted within both the Leicestershire and national strategies

 

It was moved by Councillor A Woodman, seconded by Councillor K Merrie and

 

RESOLVED THAT:

 

  1. The Leicestershire Resources and Waste Strategy (Appendix One) be adopted.
  2. The continuation of the waste partnership be endorsed, but it be requested that it is developed and enhanced to ensure appropriate political, strategic and organisational engagement.
  3. It be requested that the partnership explores collaborative opportunities which have the potential to deliver environmental improvements, whilst helping to reduce costs across the waste-system, such that cost shunting is avoided and mutual benefits are shared across all partners.
  4. Authority be delegated to the Head of Community Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community Services to sign off any further amendments to the strategy on behalf of North West Leicestershire District Council, to incorporate legislative, regulatory or national policy changes recommended by the Leicestershire Waste Partnership and any such changes be communicated in writing to all members.

 

Reason for decision: To seek Cabinet approval and adoption of the Leicestershire Resources and Waste Strategy (LWRS) which sets out how the Leicestershire Waste Partnership (LWP) intends to manage municipal waste up until 2050.

 

94.

Reporting Exemption to Contract Procedure Rules pdf icon PDF 229 KB

The report of the Strategic Director.

Presented by the Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Housing, Property and Customer Services Portfolio Holder presented the report. It was noted that due to timescales and the amount of work required, along with the fact that Merrison’s had been a trusted existing and local supplier, that they had been appointed by officers in order to carry out works on the Council’s housing stock.

 

A member stated that they had been happy that officers had followed correct procedures.

 

Questions from Councillor S Sheahan.

Councillor Sheahan thanked the Leader for the opportunity to present his questions as the deadline for questions had passed when they were proposed.

 

Question

Response

What is the latest estimate of the number of cases of mould and damp identified within the Council’s housing stock?

477 properties have notified NWLDC of having Damp, Mould or Condensation related issues. These are broadly self notifications unchecked and vary in size type and complexity.


291 Damp, Mould and Condensation surveys have been issued to specialist contractors.
120 properties have been referred to Merrisons to carryout works to address the cause and treat any mould.

What is the percentage, within that figure, of Housing Health and Safety Rating System category 2 serious damp and mould cases?

Unable to obtain due to time constraints, will follow .

What is the percentage of HHSRS category 1 cases, which fail the decent homes standard?

Unable to obtain due to time constraints, will follow.

What is the remaining percentage of notable damp and mould cases?

Unable to obtain due to time constraints, will follow.

What is the combined number of all damp and mould cases expressed as a percentage of the Council’s housing stock?

11.75% - this is the 477 notifications and not the confirmed cases, as assessment work has not yet completed.

What is the current best estimate of the national average percentage of mould and damp cases in social housing, according to the Regulator of Social Housing?

While the picture is incomplete, RSH’s best estimate is that less than 0.2% of social homes have the most serious damp and mould problems, 1-2% have serious damp and mould problems, and a further 3-4% have notable damp and mould. (Published on 02nd February 2023). No data has been issued for minor cases of which some of our 477 notifications are.

What is the Council’s process for ensuring that damp and mould cases are identified and dealt with promptly and effectively?

NWLDC made the decision to refer all reports of Damp, Mould, and Condensation to specialist contractors for survey to allow the root cause of the reported concerns to be diagnosed and addressed.

All remedial works are being issues to NWLDC’s support contractor Merrisons, trained to MGC (Mould Growth Consultants) standards of treatment.


Whilst this approach, in conjunction with the vast increase in reports received following the media coverage of Awaab Ishak’s death, has meant that some tenants are experiencing delays for the completion of treatment it ensures that we offer a long-term solution minimising repeat cases in the future. Cases are triaged  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94.