Deputy Leader - Neighbourhood, Environmental and Communities Cabinet Member - Minutes - 7 August 2007

13 (13) EXTERNAL FUNDING FOR WALKING THE WAY TO HEALTH – The Service Director Neighbourhood and Environment submitted a report to update the Cabinet Member on the outcome of a recent bid for external funding for a post to broaden the appeal of walking for groups currently under represented in walking schemes.

Walking the Way to Health was a project targeted particularly at those who did little exercise and lived in areas of poor health. The project commenced in July 2003. The project had proved very popular with well over 1,000 different participants attending. Currently, there were 20-25 led walks taking place around North Lincolnshire every month, each attracting on average 30-40 walkers. The initiative has received a 3 heart quality mark award (the highest level possible) from the Countryside Agency.

The project originally received funding for a part time Co-ordinator from the Countryside Agency. This expired in July 2006 and the Corporate Services Cabinet Member subsequently approved a report in October 2006 (minute 462 refers), which recommended filling the post of Healthy Walks Co-ordinator for two days per week until 31 March 2007.

Natural England had made funding of £90,000 per project available for three years for nine projects nationally that would work with groups currently under represented in Walking the Way to Health schemes. North Lincolnshire had been chosen to receive the funding in the Yorkshire and Humber region for its innovative ideas to engage children and overweight/obese adults in walking.

It was proposed to recruit a Walking for Health Development Officer as a full time post for three years on Grade 6 (awaiting confirmation of grading) to deliver this project.

Resolved - (a) That agreement be given to accept the funding from Natural England and sign its Memorandum of Agreement, and (b) that the report be submitted to the Corporate Services Cabinet Member for approval of the creation of a three year fixed-term post as described in the report.

14 (14) HOME INFORMATION PACKS – The Service Director Neighbourhood and Environment submitted a report to update the Cabinet Member on the current situation in relation to Home Information Packs, which came into effect on 1 August 2007 and to give delegated powers to the Service Director Neighbourhood and Environment so that he may authorise officers to enforce the Housing Act 2004 and the Regulations made thereunder.

Proposals for the introduction of Home Information Packs (HIP) were first introduced in 2003 and subsequently incorporated into part 5 of the Housing Act 2004. The Home Information Pack Regulations 2007 and the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) Regulations 2007 provided the details.

The Act required that vendors commission a HIP for the property being sold, so that copies could be given to prospective purchasers free of charge on request. Similar duties were imposed on estate agents where they handled the sale of a property. The component parts of the HIP were prescribed in the regulations. There was a distinction between ‘required’ documents, which must be included in the packs and ‘authorised’ documents, which may be included in the pack. The required documents were listed in the report.

Home Improvement Packs including Energy Performance Certificates would be implemented on a phased basis from 1 August 2007. From then, packs would be required for the sale of four bedroom properties and larger. A timetable for the implementation of the remainder of the measures was set out in the report.

Resolved – (a) That the report be noted, and (b) that Council be asked to delegate responsibility under the Housing Act 2004 and its associated Regulations to the Service Director Neighbourhood and Environment to enable officers to be duly authorised to enforce the Act.

15 (15) OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY SERVICE PLAN 2007/08 – The Service Director Neighbourhood and Environment submitted a report seeking approval for the Occupational Health and Safety Service Plan 2007/08.

Mandatory guidance from the Health and Safety Commission (HSC) required the council to make adequate arrangements for the health and safety enforcement function. The guidance stipulated an enforcement framework that had to be adopted to enable the council to demonstrate that adequate arrangements were being made.

The Plan had to be approved in order for it to have the appropriate status as a strategic document on occupational health and safety.

The Occupational Health and Safety Service Plan 2007/2008 was appended to the report and detailed how the available resources would be deployed to deliver the broad range of activities which constituted the council’s arrangements for heath and safety enforcement in North Lincolnshire.

Resolved – That approval be given to the Occupational Health and Safety Service Plan 2007/2008.

The following item contains exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

16 (16) MOBILE BEAT SWEEPERS - The Service Director Neighbourhood and Environment submitted a report seeking approval for the change in post title and grade of four Beat Sweepers to Mobile Beat Sweepers.

The need to improve the gateways to main urban areas within North Lincolnshire had meant the council implementing a fast track mobile response service Beat Team. These members of staff were essentially Beat Sweepers that had the ability to move around to where the problems occur, thus the need for transport.

The need to re-evaluate the posts had become necessary as the Beat Sweepers were originally engaged as Pedestrian Sweepers with no need to drive. Essential criteria now in the job description included the need to drive and be responsible for a small pick up vehicle to carry out the duties as a mobile beat sweeper.

Resolved – (a) That approval be given for the change in post title and grade of four Beat Sweepers to Mobile Beat Sweepers, as outlined in the report, (b) the changes be implemented in accordance with the council’s Review Protocol, and (c) that the report be forwarded to the Corporate Services Cabinet Member for approval.

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Where there is no report this is because it is exempt, as it contains information which is considered to be of a confidential nature, as detailed in the Local Government (Access to Information) Act.