Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed Councillor Golton to his first meeting of the Executive Board.

To identify items where resolutions may be moved to exclude the public

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as exempt on the ground that it is likely, in the view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of proceedings, that if members of the public were present there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information so designated as follows:

(a)  The appendix to the report referred to in minute 139 under the terms of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3) and on the grounds that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information by reason of the fact that it contains commercially sensitive information which, if disclosed, could be prejudicial to contract negotiations.

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct

Councillor Wakefield declared a personal interest in the item relating to the Children’s Services Annual Performance Assessment and half year update on progress and performance (Minute 135) as a member of the Learning and Skills Council and as a Governor of Ashtree School and Brigshaw School.

Councillor Harker declared personal interests in the items relating to North and South Gipton Children’s Centres (Minute 133), Leeds Building Schools for the Future (Minute 134) and the Children’s Services Annual Performance Assessment and half year update on progress and performance (Minute 135) as a governor of Moortown Primary School and a member of the Children Leeds Partnership.  He also declared personal interests in the items relating to the Leeds Local Development Framework Annual Monitoring Report 2007 (Minute 141) and the proposed changes to the Regional Spatial Strategy (Minute 142) as a Trustee of the Thackray Medical Museum which is sited on the edge of the proposed EASEL Area Action Plan.

Councillor Brett declared a personal interest in the item relating to the Annual Performance Report for Adult Social Care (Minute 136) as a member of Burmantofts Senior Action Management Committee.

Councillor Smith declared personal interests in the items relating to the Home Energy Conservation Act (Minute 130) and the Leeds Climate Change Strategy (Minute 145) as a member of Greenpeace.

Councillor Golton declared a personal interest in the item relating to Options for Building Council Houses (Minute 131) as  a member of Aire Valley Homes.

Councillor Andrew Carter declared a personal interest in the item relating to Options for Building Council Houses (Minute 131) as a member of the ALMO Outer West Area Panel.

Councillor Harrand declared a personal interest in the item relating to the Annual Performance Report for Adult Social Care (Minute 136) as  a governor of the Leeds Mental Health Trust and a member of Moor Allerton Elderly Care.

Councillor Blake declared personal interests in the items relating to Options for Building Council Houses (Minute 131) as a  member of the Belle Isle North Estate Management Group; Children’s Services Annual Performance Assessment and half year update on progress and performance (Minute 135) as a  non executive director of Leeds North West Primary Care Trust.  Councillor Blake also declared a personal interest in the item relating to the Annual Performance Report for Adult Social Care (Minute 136) as a member of Middleton Elderly Aid.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th November 2007 be approved as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods responding to the deputation from Queenswood Heights Residents Association to full council on 31^st October 2007.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report responding to the deputation from Queenswood Heights Residents Association to full council on 31^st October 2007.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods presenting the 11^th Progress Report

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report presenting the 11^th Progress Report as required under Section 2 of the Act.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods on the options available to the Council for the building of houses.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report on options available to the Council for the building of homes.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods work with other officers as appropriate to bring forward the results of work on the following points to the March 2008 meeting of this Board:

• Explore Housing Corporation grant to two star ALMOs from 2008/9
• Review the availability of land for housing development
• Review Council contributions via the capital programme and capital receipts from Council owned land
• Explore other public sector land in government ownership made available to the Council to support development initiatives
• Lobby government to retain income streams to fund borrowing from rents on existing and new build

(b)  That an early report be submitted upon the identification of a suitable site for a small scale scheme

The Director of CIty Development submitted a report in response to the deputation made to Council on 29^th October 2007 by local residents concerned about Brittania Quarry, Morley.

The Director of City Development submitted a report in response to the deputation made to Council on 29^th October 2007 by local residents concerned about Britannia Quarry, Morley.

RESOLVED – That it be noted that the site will continue to be monitored on a similar frequency to other minerals and waste sites within Leeds and that where breaches of the planning permission are identified, enforcement action will be taken where it is considered by officers expedient to do so.

To consider reports of the Acting Chief Officer for Early Years and the Youth Service on proposed new modular builds to create

a)  a new North Gipton Children’s Centre on a site adjacent to Oakwood Primary School and,

b)  a new South Gipton Children’s Centre on a site adjacent to Wykebeck Primary School

both schemes to be 100% funded by Children’s Centre Capital Grant.

The Acting Chief Officer for Early Years and the Youth Service submitted reports on proposed new modular builds to create:

(a)  a new North Gipton Children’s Centre on a site adjacent to Oakwood Primary School and,

(b)  a new South Gipton Children’s Centre on a site adjacent to Wykebeck Primary School both schemes to be 100% funded by Children’s Centre Capital Grant.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That approval be given for the transfer of £853,400 from the Phase 2 Children’s Centre Parent Scheme and that authority be given to incur total expenditure in the same amount on construction of the North Gipton Children’s Centre.

(b)  That approval be given for the transfer of £885,000 from the Phase 2 Children’s Centre Parent Scheme and that authority be given to incur total expenditure in the same amount on construction of the South Gipton Children’s Centre.

To consider the joint report of the Director of Children’s Services and the Chief Executive of Education Leeds on the proposed removal of Intake High School from Phase 3 of the Leeds BSF project to enable further consideration of the options available for the school, including the possibility of it becoming an academy, and on a proposal that the school form a new Phase 4 to be subject to a separate business case when its status is confirmed.  

The Director of Children’s Services and the Chief Executive of Education Leeds submitted a joint report on the proposed removal of Intake High School from Phase 3 of the Leeds BSF project to enable further consideration of the options available for the school, including the possibility of it becoming an academy, and on a proposal that the school form a new Phase 4 to be subject to a separate business case when its status is confirmed

RESOLVED – That approval be given for the removal of Intake High school from the Outline Business Case for BSF Phases 2 and 3 and that this school will form part of a new Phase 4 once the status of the school, whether as an academy or a High School in Leeds, has been confirmed.

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services providing an overview of half yearly performance against the Every Child Matters outcomes across key themes and areas within children’s services, on a number of internal and external audit inspections conducted recently, including the latest Annual Performance Assessment providing a basis to consider progress against the Children and Young People’s Plan priorities.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report providing an overview of half yearly performance against the Every Child Matters outcomes across key themes and areas within children’s services, on a number of internal and external audit inspections conducted recently, including the latest Annual Performance Assessment providing a basis to consider progress against the Children and Young People’s Plan priorities.

RESOLVED – That the report and the Annual Performance Assessment letter attached as appendix A be noted.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5 Councillor Wakefield required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on this decision)

To consider the report of the Director of Adult Social Services on the annual performance review report of the Commission for Social Care Inspection, providing a brief summary of the key points raised by the Commission, and areas identified by Inspectors where further improvements can be made which will form the basis of the adult social care services improvement plans for the coming year.

The Director of Adult Social Services submitted a report on the annual performance review report of the Commission for Social Care Inspection, providing a brief summary of the key points raised by the Commission, and areas identified by Inspectors where further improvements can be made which will form the basis of the adult social care services improvement plans for the coming year.

RESOLVED – That the report and the Performance Review Report from the Commission for Social Care Inspection attached as Appendix 1 be noted.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5 Councillor Wakefield required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on this decision)

To consider the report of the Director of Resources on the financial position in the current year, the likely impact of the Comprehensive Spending  Review 2007 and their impact on the methodology for the new Financial Plan. The report is intended to form the basis of the initial budget proposals for 2008/09.

The Director of Resources submitted a report on the financial position in the current year, the likely impact of the Comprehensive Spending Review 2007 and their impact on the methodology for the new Financial Plan.  The report was intended to form the basis of the initial budget proposals for 2008/09.

RESOLVED – That the allocation of resources to services as outlined in the report be approved as the basis for the new Financial Plan and that the report be approved for consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5 Councillor Wakefield required it to be recorded that he abstained from voting on this decision )

To consider the report of the Director of Resources giving details of the provisional Local Government Revenue Support Grant Settlement for 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11 which was announced on 6^th December 2007.

The Director of Resources submitted a report giving details of the provisional Local Government Revenue Support Grant Settlement for 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11 which was announced by the Department of Communities and Local Government on 6^th December 2007.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and that representations be made to the Department on a cross party basis, expressing the Council’s disappointment and concern.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development providing an update on the lamp post advertising city centre trial and its findings, providing an update on the existing lamp post advertising sites and seeking approval to award a contract for lamp post advertising across the city (excluding the defined City Centre area) for the period 2008-2023.

The appendix to this report is designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3)

The Director of City Development submitted a report providing an update on the lamp post advertising city centre trial and its findings, providing an update on the existing lamp post advertising sites and seeking approval to award a contract for lamp post advertising across the city (excluding the defined City Centre area) for the period 2008-2023.

Following consideration of the appendix to the report designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3), which was considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting, it was:

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the intention to bring a further report to this Board in relation to City Centre advertising sites be noted.

(b)  That the basis of the contract procurement for the rest of the City be noted and approval given for the award of the contract for advertising on street lighting columns 2008-2023.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods on the developing collaboration between officers from Leeds and Bradford Councils, overseen by Senior Elected Members from both authorities and on the case for setting this collaboration on a more structured and long term basis.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report on the developing collaboration between officers from Leeds and Bradford Councils, overseen by Senior Elected Members from both authorities and on the case for setting this collaboration on a more structured and long term basis.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the progress made on the Leeds Bradford joint working to date be noted.

(b)  That the principle of joint working between Leeds and Bradford councils and the work programme project plan in Appendix A to the report be approved.

(c)  That a budget of £100,000 over two years from Leeds City Council to take forward the work programme be approved.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development presenting the Annual Monitoring Report for the Leeds Local Development Framework prior to it’s submission to the Secretary of State.

The Director of City Development submitted a report presenting the Annual Monitoring Report for the Leeds Local Development Framework prior to its submission to the Secretary of State.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the Annual Monitoring Report for submission to the Secretary of State pursuant to Regulation 48 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Development) (England) Regulations 2004.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development seeking approval of the City Council’s detailed representations and formal response to the Regional Spatial Strategy “Proposed Changes”.

The Director of City Development submitted a report on the proposed City Council’s detailed representations and formal response to the Regional Spatial Strategy “Proposed Changes”.

RESOLVED – That the schedule of representations contained in Appendix 1 to the report be approved as the City Council’s formal response to the Proposed Changes, in the preparation of the Yorkshire and Humber Plan (Regional Spatial Strategy).

To consider the report of the Director of City Development on progress to date on re-opening Sweet Street Bridge and describing how this project is a key scheme for Holbeck Urban Village.

The Director of City Development submitted a report on progress to date on re-opening Sweet Street Bridge and describing how this project is a key scheme for Holbeck Urban Village.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the scheme design proposal and brief and to the scheme estimates and cash flows as presented and that scheme expenditure of £636,000 be authorised.

To consider the report of the Head of International Relations on a proposal  that the Council accept the Gate of Friendship from Hangzhou, on the intention that it be erected on Quarry Hill as detailed in the report and on the associated costs.

The Head of International Relations submitted a report on a proposal that the Council accept the Gate of Friendship from Hangzhou, on the intention that it be erected on Quarry Hill as detailed in the report and at the associated costs.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Council accepts the Gate of Friendship from Hangzhou and that it be erected on Quarry Hill as detailed in the report.

(b)  That expenditure of £200,000 on the erection of the Gate, funded from Section 106 Public Realm Works within the City Centre, be authorised.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development outlining the key issues contained within the consultation draft of the Leeds Climate Change Strategy , how it has been developed, the implications and plans for consultation.

The Director of City Development submitted a report outlining the key issues contained within the consultation draft of the Leeds Climate Change Strategy, how it had been developed, the implications and plans for consultation.

RESOLVED – That the approach taken be endorsed and that the consultation draft of the Leeds Climate Strategy be published for consultation in January 2008.

DATE OF PUBLICATION:    21^ST December 2007

LAST DATE FOR CALL IN:  2^nd January 2008 (5.00 pm)

(Scrutiny Support will notify Directors of any items called in by 12 noon on Thursday 3^rd January 2008).