Agenda item

Report of the Head of Law & Governance / Monitoring Officer

The Committee gave consideration to the report (at pages 6 - 10) as delivered and summarised by the Licensing & Environmental Health Team Leader which should be read together with these minutes as a composite document.

Asbestos Case - Marstown Avenue (Update)

Members stated that they were advised during the meeting of the Service Delivery Committee held on 23 January that the results for the laboratory analysis were due on 24 January. They requested that the results be chased as the report was still outstanding.

Members were advised that a prosecution file was in preparation, however, there was no time constraint on starting the legal action. It was said that a full report would help to ensure a successful prosecution. The Council would apply for full costs and, as part of the land is owned by the perpetrator, a land charge could be imposed.

Dog Fouling

Members stated that they were happy with the progress made so far and that stencilling and signage had made some difference but there were still areas of the Borough littered with dog faeces. Although bins had now been provided in the areas requested, some dog owners, who had bagged up the offending mess, were reported not to be using the bins and discarding, for example, in front gardens. The majority of Members agreed that a stern approach was the only way forward.

Members were advised that the current dog warden contract was up for renewal in April 2018 and that the Council was currently looking at various options. This was said to possibly involve contracting a company who could provide enforcement and issue Fixed Penalty Notices on the Council’s behalf.  If this was the way forward, the Council could then undertake a media campaign in order for the public to report offences and worst offending areas could be targeted. For successful prosecutions, the Council would require a statement and preferably good photographic evidence.

Enforcement of Litter, Fly-Tipping and Accumulations

Members requested that, as all local Councils were now part of the Leicestershire Forum, some pressure be exerted onto Leicestershire County Council to consider stop charging for disposal at household waste sites as this could be partly to blame for incidents of fly-tipping. 

Members suggested that an article could go into Letterbox advising residents to check that if they employ a firm to dispose of their waste that they hold the relevant permit, as if the rubbish is fly-tipped the resident would still be liable. Members stated that Leicester City Council offer three large collections in any one year, free of charge, and suggested that was something that the Council should look into providing.

Officers clarified that the time period for the statistics in the report were from 1 September to 31 December 2017. The figures compiled for the report were taken from the Council’s complaints database and therefore it was raw data. The figures recently presented to the Service Delivery Committee on 23 January were taken from the national database and represented an exact number.

Abandoned Vehicles

Officers confirmed to Members that if a member of the public reported an abandoned vehicle, that they would be contacted with an outcome as long as contact details were provided at the time of reporting the incident.

Food Hygiene

Members requested a list of all establishments giving them a risk rating of low, medium and high and the date they were due for next re-inspection to be brought to the next meeting.

Officers confirmed that there were currently 48 food hygiene inspections outstanding. It was said that it was a service that the Council had to provide with no funding contributions. At present re-inspections were currently provided for free, which could be charged, but few establishments would request them. It was stated that establishments which gain a low risk (score of 5) should be celebrated and publicised.

Licensing

Members stated that they had witnessed private hire vehicles parking in the taxi ranks and other parking spaces on Leicester Road, Wigston (i.e. outside the Co-operative funeral building) therefore requesting that a Licensing Officer attend scene.

A Member raised concern at overhearing a conversation between a taxi driver and a Licensing Officer whereby the driver was struggling to understand the conversation.  Members noted the Joint Police Enforcement Operation report did not indicate how many vehicles were stop checked.

Members were advised that there had been no known cases in the Borough involving overcharging disabled passengers or the refusal to carry an assistance dog, but if there were, the Council would take appropriate action and report back to Members.

It was stated that the Council could look into new taxi drivers undertaking an English speaking test, that standards were increasing and the Council wish this to continue.  Officers advised Members that eight vehicles were stop checked on the first night of the enforcement operation but did not have the figures to hand for night two.

The Chair requested that she be informed of any future joint enforcement operations to allow any newly-appointed Members of the Committee to attend and observe. It was also requested that drivers be reminded of the law and policy and l for accepting assistance dogs and not charging an increased fare for disabled passengers, following the recent news reports in the local and national media.

Members requested that for all future meetings, reports be more detailed, more explanatory and timeframes be clearly stated.

The Committee further requested that a report be brought back to the next meeting providing details as to how to apply for a scrap metal licence, how many licences have been issued in the Borough and any display requirements.

Licensed Premises

Members asked that, when a licence was issued, could the licensee be advised to join ‘Pubwatch’ to which Officers advised that the Council advise but not compel.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The contents of the report be noted by Members.