Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillors F S Broadley, Ms K M Chalk, Miss M V Chamberlain, R F Eaton, R Fahey and Mrs H E Loydall.

To appoint substitute Members in accordance with Rule 4 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

None.

Members are reminded that any declaration of interest should be made having regard to the Members’ Code of Conduct. In particular, Members must make clear the nature of the interest and whether it is 'pecuniary' or ‘non-pecuniary'.

The Senior Democratic Services Officer / Legal Officer advised the Committee that Councillor G S Atwal was currently in the process of applying for a Combined Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence of this Council as a Licensing Authority. It was said that the Monitoring Officer and the Senior Democratic Services Officer / Legal Officer had in turn advised Councillor G S Atwal and were in unanimous agreement that his seat on this Committee was no longer tenable because of an apparent conflict of interest and that it was recommended that the Member formally tender his resignation by letter addressed to the Chief Executive which was to be done imminently.

The Committee heard that Councillor G S Atwal’s anticipated resignation would have a consequential impact upon the membership of this Committee in terms of securing a political balance in accordance with the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations 1990 given that the Member was the only single Member of his political group represented both on this Committee and at Full Council. The implications were said to be that the Committee’s total membership was to be reduced from 14 to 12 Members, equating to 9 Liberal Democrat Members and 3 Conservative Members resulting in a net loss of 1 Liberal Democrat Member. It was stated that, subject to the direction of the Leader of the Council, the re-constitution of the Committee’s membership was to be submitted for approval at the next meeting of the Council on Tuesday 06 September.

The Senior Democratic Services Officer / Legal Officer advised the Committee that Councillor G S Atwal was able to remain for the duration of this meeting as the business to be transacted did not give rise to nor substantiate the conflict of interest aforementioned.

Councillor G S Atwal confirmed that he was to formally tender his resignation in respect of his seat of this Committee.

To read, confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting in accordance with Rule 17 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

RESOLVED THAT: 

The minutes of the previous meeting of the Committee held on 14 April 2016 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

To receive any Petitions and, or, Deputations in accordance with Rule 24 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

None.

The Chair, Councillor Mrs L M Broadley, commended the exceptional work undertaken by the former Chair of the Committee, Councillor Mrs H E Loydall, and expressed her gratitude to the Member’s longstanding chairmanship.

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendices (at pages 7 - 11) as delivered and summarised by the Community Safety and Environment Manager which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

The Chair enquired as to: whether the charge of £150.00 (+ VAT) at paragraph 3.3. (page 8) was inclusive of all five visits to treat cockroach infestation; the comparable practice(s) of other local authorities in respect of dog control; and if dog owners were additionally liable to pay kennelling fees. The Member opined that the fees in respect of dog control may serve to deter dog owners from re-claiming their dogs.

The Community Safety and Environment Manager advised that stray dog control was a statutory duty incumbent upon all local authorities who operate identical, if not similar, practices. He confirmed that the charge of £150.00 (+ VAT) was fully inclusive and that additional knelling fees were payable if the need to kennel a dog arose. He noted that the existing Scale of Fees and Charges (“the Scale”) did not meet the present costs of delivering the services mentioned and otherwise served to further promote responsible dog ownership.

Councillor M H Charlesworth enquired as to the action taken in respect of squirrels. He further sought clarification as to ‘Copies of Register of Food Business’ (at page 10) and requested information upon: total income; the number of Environmental Health Officers (EHO’s); and the cost of the service vis-a-vis cost recovery.

The Community Safety and Environment Manager advised that squirrels, once captured, were humanely dispatched of. He further stated that the point of clarification and information sought by the Member were not immediately available at the meeting and would be circulated to Members in due course.

Councillor J Kaufman enquired as to: how the proposed Scale compared to other local regulatory authorities in Leicester/shire and the private-sector; the action taken in respect of non-microchipped dogs; and the impact upon food export certificates in view of the recent referendum upon the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union.

The Community Safety and Environment Manager advised that the Scale was in range and benchmarked, accordingly. He stated that the services offered were provided on policy grounds and were, in some areas, marginally cheaper than that of the private-sector. He confirmed that Environmental Health was actively enforcing new legislation regarding stray dogs and that a microchip-scanner had since been acquired and that a review of all pest control services was to be reported to the next meeting of the Committee on Thursday 29 September 2016. He advised that there had been a substantial amount of deregulation in respect of food export certificates.

Councillor Miss A R Bond commended the recent work of EHO’s in respect of several matters raised by the Member.

Councillor G A  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.