Agenda and minutes

To note any changes to the membership.

To elect a Deputy Chairman for the meeting.

Minutes of a virtual meeting of the Environment, Highways and Public Protection Policy and Scrutiny Committee held on Thursday 11 June 2020.

1.              MEMBERSHIP

1.1           The Chairman sought any absences, apologies or substitutions to the committee’s membership.  There were no changes to the membership of the Committee.

2.              DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

2.1      The Chairman sought any personal or prejudicial interests in respect of the items to be discussed from members and officers, in addition to the standing declarations previously made.

2.2      There were no declarations made.

3.              MINUTES

3.1      There were no changes to the minutes.

3.2      RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the City Management and Public Protection Policy and Scrutiny Committee held on 10 September 2019be signed by the Chairman as a correct record of proceedings.

4.              UPDATE FROM THE CABINET MEMBER FOR PUBLIC PROTECTION AND LICENSING

4.1      The committee received a portfolio update from Councillor Heather Acton, Cabinet Member for Licensing and Public Protection.  Councillor Acton provided an overview of the portfolio, highlighting recent areas such as rough sleeping, mortuaries and markets.  Councillor Acton praised the wraparound services and she advised that the service alongside St Mungo’s and Passage have worked extremely hard in supporting rough sleepers to move off the streets.  Councillor Acton discussed WCC mortuaries, advising that due to a rise in Covid-19 cases a temporary mortuary was erected.  She advised the committee that the temporary mortuary was being taken down, as due to the reduction in cases it was no longer required.  On markets, Councillor Acton advised the committee that WCC markets remained opened for the sale of essential goods.  Councillor Acton thanked staff for supporting markets to open safely whilst observing social distancing.

4.2      Members of the committee queried the liaison with the WCC BCU and referred to an incident with a young boy with mental health issues.  Members also raised concerns regarding antisocial behaviour (ASB) specifically rough sleepers causing difficulties for residents, domestic violence (DV) and the Black Lives Matters (BLM) demonstrations and the implications this might have for some of the City’s statues.

Members sought clarity on the council’s position regarding air quality and queried if the council intended to review strategically, the easing of social distancing and more people returning to the city. Members also enquired if the council had considered reviewing the decision to increase the market trader fees given the current pandemic.  Members queried whether the council intended to review the licencing policy in light of the pandemic, in order to help traders recover lost revenue. 

4.3      Councillor Acton advised that she and council officers were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

To receive declarations of interest by Members and Officers of any pecuniary

interest or any other significant interest in matters on this agenda.

To approve the minutes of the Environment, Highways and Public Protection Policy and Scrutiny Committee on 16^th April

Councillor Heather Acton, Cabinet Member for Public Protection and Licensing to provide a verbal update to the Committee on current and forthcoming issues in his portfolio and to answer questions from Members.

Councillor Andrew Smith, Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways to provide a verbal update to the Committee on current and forthcoming issues in his portfolio and to answer questions from Members.