Agenda and minutes

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 exempt on the grounds that it is likely, in the view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information so designated as follows:

(a)  Appendix 1 to the report referred to in minute 197 under the terms of Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3) and on the grounds that this information is not publicly available from the statutory registers of information kept in respect of certain companies and charities.  It is considered that since this information will be obtained through inviting of best and final offers for the property/land then it is not in the public interest to disclose this information at this point in time and will affect the integrity of disposing of property/land by this process.  Also it is considered that the release of such information would or would be likely to prejudice the Council’s commercial interests in relation to other similar transactions in that prospective purchasers of other similar properties would be informed about the nature and level of offers which may prove acceptable to the Council.  It is considered that whilst there may be a public interest in disclosure, much of this information will be publicly available from the Land Registry following completion of this transaction and consequently the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing this information at this point in time.

(b)  Appendices 1 and 3 to the report referred to in minute 198 under the terms of Access to Information Rule 10.4(3) and on the grounds that publication could prejudice the Council’s commercial interests as they include financial information relating to land and property that if published could influence negotiations between the Council and private property owners.  In these circumstances it is considered that the public interest in not disclosing this commercial information outweighs the interests of disclosure.

(c)  Appendix 5 to the report referred to in minute 202, which was circulated at the meeting under the terms of Council Procedure Rule 10.4(3) and on the grounds that the public interest in maintaining the exemption in relation to the appendix outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information by reason of the commercially sensitive information concerning the individual site values contained therein.

(d)  Appendix 1 to the report referred to in minute 204 under the terms of Access to Information Procedure Rule 4 and on the grounds that publication could prejudice the City Council’s commercial interests as it includes financial information relating to land and property.

There were no late items but supplementary/revised information provided since the despatch of the agenda was noted as follows:

Minute 194  -  Supplementary information submitted by the Relate charity

Minute 198  -  A revised report circulated on 5^th March 2008

Minute 199  -  A revised covering report circulated at the meeting

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 13 of the Members Code of Conduct

Councillor Blake declared a personal interest in the item relating to ‘Joint Service Centres’ (Minute 200) due to her position as Non-Executive Director of Leeds North West Primary Care Trust.

Councillor Smith declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the item relating to a deputation to Council entitled ‘Members of Relate regarding the Organisation’s Funding’ (Minute 194) as he had a client organisation operating a similar enterprise to Relate.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th February 2008

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th February 2008 be approved.

Inquiry into River Safety Management of Wharfemeadows Park, Otley – Officer Observations (Minute 166 refers)

  RESOLVED – That a report be submitted by the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) to the April meeting of Executive Board on recommendation 2 of the Scrutiny Board (Culture and Leisure) report entitled ‘River Safety Management at Wharfemeadows Park, Otley’, in relation to the availability of Counsel’s advice.

Annual Standards Report _ Secondary (Minute 182 refers)

  RESOLVED – That a report be submitted by the Chief Executive of Education Leeds to the April meeting of Executive Board on the strategies being used to address identified areas of comparative under achievement in schools.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development responding to the deputation from Tinshill Recreation De-Fence Group to full council on 16^th  January 2008.

The Director of City Development submitted a report responding to each of the issues raised by the deputation from Tinshill Recreation De-Fence Group to full Council on 16^th January 2008.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

(Under the provision of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor Wakefield required it to be recorded that he voted against the decisions taken in this minute).

To consider the report of the Director of Adult Social Services responding to the deputation from representatives of the charity Relate to full Council on 16^th January 2008.

The Director of Adult Social Services submitted a report responding to the deputation from representatives of the charity Relate to full Council on 16^th January 2008.  Supplementary information submitted by the charity was circulated at the meeting.

RESOLVED – That the request for a recurring grant payment of £23,000 be not supported by Adult or Children’s social care services and that it be noted that officers have provided advice to the Relate organisation in relation to other sources of funding that they might access to support their work. 

(Having declared a personal and prejudicial interest,  Councillor Smith left the meeting during the consideration of this matter).

(Under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 16.5, Councillor Wakefield required it to be recorded that he voted against the decisions taken in this minute).

To consider the report of the Director of City Development in relation to the deputation from local residents to full Council on 16^th January 2008.

The Director of City Development submitted a report in relation to the deputation from local residents to full Council on 16^th January 2008.

RESOLVED – That the interim response as contained in the report be noted and that a further report be brought back to this Board on the feasibility of bringing some or all of the playing pitches and sports facilities into public ownership.

The Director of City Development submitted a report in response to the deputation from Headingley Network to full Council on 16^th January 2008.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development seeking approval for the submission of a Stage 1 Parks for People Programme Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) application for a Middleton Park restoration scheme with the support of Wade’s Charity,  the match funding for which is to come from the surrender and subsequent sale of 218 and 220 Middleton Town Street and adjoining land.

Appendix 1 to this report is designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3).

The Director of City Development submitted a report on the proposed submission of a Stage 1 Parks for People Programme Heritage Lottery Fund application for a Middleton Park restoration scheme with the support of Wade’s Charity; the match funding for the scheme to be provided by the Council’s surrender of its leasehold interest in 218 and 220 Middleton Town Street and adjoining land and the subsequent sale of the freehold in the properties by Wade’s Charity.

Members noted that the restoration scheme would deliver a maximum of £1.65 million of capital investment into Middleton Park, rather than the £1.4 million as detailed within the report.

Following consideration of appendix 1 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 approval be given to the proposal to submit a Stage 1 application to the Heritage Lottery Fund, with support from Wade’s charity, to restore Middleton Park and that the Acting Chief Recreation Officer be authorised to sign off the application on the Council’s behalf.

(b)  That approval be given to the surrender of the leases of 218 and 220 Middleton Town Street to Wade’s Charity to facilitate the sale and subsequent use of the proceeds as match funding for the restoration project which will deliver up to £1,650,000 of capital investment into Middleton Park.

To consider the report of the Director of Adult Social Services which seeks approval of the allocation of funding equal to the full capital receipt and service budget from Roundhay Road, in order to support the relocation costs of all the teams and services from the site. The report also seeks approval for an injection of funds into the capital programme to enable the identified schemes to progress.

Appendices 1 and 3 to this report are designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3).

The Director of Adult Social Services submitted a report on the proposed allocation of funding equal to the full capital receipt and service budget from Roundhay Road, in order to support the relocation costs of all the teams and services from the site, and on the proposed injection of funds into the capital programme to enable the identified schemes to progress.

Following consideration of appendices 1 and 3 to the report designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3) which were considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting it was

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the relocation proposals set out in appendix 1 to the report be approved, particularly in respect of the Mental Health Day Centre and Community Alternatives Team and office facility for Area Teams.

(b)  That funds equal to the capital receipt from Roundhay Road be used to support the capital requirements of the Social Care Services relocations, plus site disposal costs and resource costs.

(c)  That approval be given to the injection of £3,298,500 into the capital programme for acquisition of Digital/Dunbar, refurbishment of Lovall Park plus the other identified schemes in appendix 1to the report  plus associated site and project costs.

(d)  That authority to spend as indicated in appendix 1 to the report be given for the acquisition and fit out of Digital and Dunbar Houses subject to a satisfactory evaluation and mitigation of identified risk by the Director of City Development.

(e)  That in the event that the purchase of Digital and Dunbar Houses does not proceed, authority to spend an equivalent sum on alternative office accommodation be given subject to consultations between the Directors of City Development and Adult Social Care and the relevant Executive Members.

(f)  That the current revenue budget for Roundhay Road be retained within the service to meet relocation revenue requirements.

(g)  That a planning brief and marketing strategy be drawn up in preparation for the site disposal.

(h)  That the Director of Adult Social Services provides updates to Members of the Board on the risk assessments currently being undertaken through the Environment Agency with regard to the potential issue of flooding on the Sheepscar site.

To consider the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Planning and Improvement) providing an overview of the development, approach and broad content of the Leeds Strategic Plan 2008-11, and which seeks approval of the Plan, which is appended to the report.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Planning and Improvement) submitted a report on the development, approach and broad content of the Leeds Strategic Plan 2008-2011 and presenting the text of the plan prior to negotiations with central government concerning priorities for improvement in Leeds.  A revised version of the report was circulated at the meeting.

RESOLVED – That the text of the Leeds Strategic Plan, attached as appendix 1 to the report, be endorsed.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods seeking approval of a package of proposals from Leeds’ Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) to develop two joint service centres to be constructed at Chapeltown and Harehills.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report on a package of proposals from Leeds’ Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) to develop two joint service centres to be constructed at Chapeltown and Harehills.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Offer as prepared by Leeds Lift Limited be accepted and that the Deputy Chief Executive be authorised to formally accept that offer on behalf of the Council.

(b)  That the Deputy Chief Executive be authorised to submit the Offer to the Leeds Lift Strategic Partnering Board for Stage 1 Approval under the LIFT process.

(c)  That the Joint Service Centre Project Board be authorised to take the procurement of the project forward.

To consider the report of the Director of City Development summarising the findings from the town and district parking strategy overview studies previously approved by Executive Board and setting out proposals for taking the parking strategy development work to the next stage of targeting priorities for detailed strategy development and for consultation with Ward Members and local communities.

The Director of City Development submitted a report summarising the findings from the town and district parking strategy overview studies previously approved by Executive Board and setting out proposals for taking the parking strategy development work to the next stage of targeting priorities for detailed strategy development and for consultation with Ward Members and local communities.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That approval be given to the continued development of the parking strategy programme focusing on the centres described in sections 3.7 and 3.8 of the submitted report (Appendix 3) and to further consultation with Ward Members on the outcomes of the study and future priorities including those not specifically referred in this decision.

(b)  That a further report be brought to this Board on proposals for the implementation of the programme.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods on a proposal to incorporate the Regional Housing Board funded clearance sites into the pool of Council owned land, currently 77 acres, which has been set aside for the development of affordable housing via the Strategic Affordable Housing Partnership.

Appendix 5 to this report, which will be circulated at the meeting, is designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3).

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report on a proposal to incorporate the Regional Housing Board funded clearance sites into the pool of Council owned land which has been set aside for the development of affordable housing via the Strategic Affordable Housing Partnership.

Following consideration of Appendix 5 to the report designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure rule 10.4 (3) which was circulated and considered in private at the conclusion of the meeting it was

RESOLVED – That the Regional Housing Board funded clearance sites, as outlined in paragraph 2.2 and in appendix 5 of the submitted report, be transferred to the Affordable Housing Strategic Partnership for the purpose of developing affordable housing schemes in these locations, subject to land swap arrangements for the Stanley Road site from the affordable housing land bank to enable a contribution of equivalent value to the capital programme within 2009/10.

To consider the report of the Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods seeking authorisation to allocate £1.15m to complete Phase 2 of the Housing IT Project, which is outlined within the report.

The Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods submitted a report on a proposal to allocate £1,150,000 to complete Phase 2 of the Housing IT Project, as outlined within the report.

RESOLVED – That approval be given for the injection of £1,150,000 of unsupported borrowing into the Environment and Neighbourhoods HRA Capital Programme and that expenditure in the same amount be authorised for the scheme.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive of Education Leeds seeking authorisation to ringfence all of the capital receipt received from the sale of Fountain Primary School Annex, in order to invest in a scheme to rationalise the accommodation at Fountain Primary School onto one site.

Appendix 1 to this report is designated as exempt under Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4(3).

The Chief Executive of Education Leeds submitted a report on a proposal to ringfence all of the capital receipt received from the sale of Fountain Primary School Annex, in order to invest in a scheme to rationalise the accommodation at Fountain Primary School onto one site.

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 approval be given for 100% of the capital receipt arising from the sale of Fountain Primary School Annex (formerly Cross Hall Infant School) to be invested in Fountain Primary;

(b)  That the design proposals in respect of Phase Two of the scheme to rationalise the school onto one site by providing an extension to the former Junior building be approved.

(c)  That expenditure of £1,844,300 from capital scheme 14095 EXT be authorised

(d)  That the incurred expenditure against this scheme be reimbursed from the realisation of a future capital receipt from the sale of the former Cross Hall Infant School site, to be injected into the Education Capital Programme for reinvestment in the Education estate.

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services seeking approval to publish a statutory notice to formally alter the lower age limit for which education services are provided at Hollybush Primary School, in order to facilitate the delivery of children’s centre and extended school services on these sites.

The Director of Children’s Services submitted a report on a proposal to publish a statutory notice to formally alter the lower age limit for which education services are provided at Hollybush Primary School, in order to facilitate the delivery of children’s centre and extended school services on these sites.

RESOLVED – That approval be given for the publication of statutory notices to alter the lower age limit for Hollybush Primary School from 3 to 11 years of age to 4 to 11 years of age and that the provision on site by Early Years of a children’s centre for children aged 0 to 4 be noted.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive of Education Leeds outlining the proposed key changes to the Local Authority Admission Policy for the 2009/2010 academic year.

The Chief Executive of Education Leeds submitted a report outlining the proposed key changes to the Local Authority Admission Policy for the 2009/2010 academic year.

RESOLVED – That the following proposals be approved for implementation in the 2009 admission round:

• Primary and secondary school co-ordinated admission arrangements.
• Changing the sibling link criterion when the older child is in the sixth form in accordance with paragraph 3.5 of the report.
• Asking academies and foundation schools to adopt the ‘nearest’ criteria within their policies.
• Asking parents to confirm acceptance of the offer of a school place.
• Giving priority to pupils in the infant schools when transferring to their linked junior school.
• Changes to school admission numbers

Barwick in Elmet CE Primary   25 to 30

Swillington Primary  40 to 30

Haigh Road Infants  60 to 45

Guiseley Infant  80 to 90

Mill Field Primary  45 to 30

Farnley Park High  150 to 210

Roundhay High  240 to 250

DATE OF PUBLICATION   -  14^TH MARCH 2008

LAST DATE FOR CALL IN  -  27^TH MARCH 2008

(Scrutiny Support will notify Directors of any items Called In by 12.00 noon on Friday 28^th March 2008).