Agenda and minutes

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

In relation to item 9, the Board received a summary note of the Migration Scrutiny working group meeting held on 19^th January 2016.

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no disclosable precuniary interests declared to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillor N Walshaw.  Notification was received that Councillor C Dobson was substituting for Councillor N Walshaw.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2016.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2016 be approved as a correct record.

To receive a report from the Head of Customer Contact (Contact Centre) presenting a further update on the performance of the Contact Centre.

The report of the Head of Customer Contact (Contact Centre) presented a further update on the performance of the Contact Centre and addressed a number of key matters raised previously by the Scrutiny Board in September 2015.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Lee Hemsworth, Chief Officer Customer Access

·  Adam Quesne, Head of Customer Contact

The key issues raised were as follows:

·  Recruitment initiatives – Members discussed an initiative currently being explored with HR to attract students to provide flexible coverage during peak periods and holidays that would be mutually beneficial.

·  Career progression – it was noted that the service has reviewed its processes for internal progression opportunities within the Contact Centre following feedback from existing staff.

·  MyLeeds portal – Members emphasised the importance of generating greater awareness of the self-serve facility now available.  It was noted that digital access remained a key priority for the service moving forward.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and a further update be brought back to Scrutiny in the new municipal year.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting a summary note of the Migration Scrutiny Working Group meeting held on 19^th January 2016.

(Summary note to follow)

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting a summary note of the Scrutiny Board’s Migration Scrutiny Working Group meeting held on 19^th January 2016.  Proposed recommendations stemming from the working group’s discussions were also set out in the summary note for the Board’s consideration and agreement.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Councillor Debra Coupar, Executive Member for Communities

·  Shaid Mahmood, Chief Officer for Communities

·  Anne McMaster, Communities Team, Citizens and Communities

The key issues raised were as follows:

·  Members reflected on the original reference made to the growth of ‘EU economic migrants’ from particular parts of Europe but felt that future references in this regard should be reflecting the general growth of ‘EU citizen migration’ and asked that the summary note also be amended accordingly.

·  The Board acknowledged the benefits of establishing a ‘citywide’ Migration Strategy Group that would also include other key Leeds partners to provide a strategic and co-ordinated response to migration in Leeds.

·  The Board reiterated the pressures faced by schools in supporting in-year admissions and the challenges linked to accessing funding aimed at supporting the education and welfare of migrant children.

·  Members acknowledged that frontline staff need to become more knowledgeable of specific migrant support services but also emphasised the importance of frontline staff identifying and signposting all other vulnerable citizens in Leeds to appropriate services too.

·  Members discussed the importance of identifying and offering support, where appropriate, to parents of migrant children in terms of accessing local adult learning opportunities and particularly ESOL related provision.

·  The Board discussed the importance of local authorities being able to project and address key service demands such as schools places, housing and health and social care provision.  Linked to this, Members recognised the need for the Home Office and UK Border Agency to provide more timely and accurate intelligence surrounding the movement of EU migrant citizens to local authorities.

Reflecting on the above comments, the Board agreed to make changes to some of the proposed recommendations set out within the working group summary note (recommendations 1, 3, and 4) and also identified additional recommendations. 

The amended recommendations agreed by the Board are highlighted below:

Recommendation 1

That the Executive Board:

(i)  Supports the principle of urgently establishing a citywide Migration Strategy Group, involving other key Leeds partners, to provide a strategic and co-ordinated response to migration in Leeds based on robust local intelligence gathering and data sharing.

(iii) Tasks the nominated Lead Director and Executive Member to establish absolute clarity in terms of what the Leeds ‘support’ is to new migrants coming to the city and reports back to the Executive Board in this regard

Recommendation 3

That the Director of Public Health works closely with other directorates to identify appropriate measures for disseminating information that will encourage a wider range of frontline staff across the Council to assist in identifying vulnerable migrants, as well as other vulnerable citizens in Leeds, and signposting them to appropriate services including those commissioned through  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

To receive a report from the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) on the role and work of the Communities Board including terms of reference and membership.

The report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Citizens and Communities) provided an update on the role and work of the Communities Board, including revised terms of reference and membership.

The following were in attendance for this item:

·  Councillor Debra Coupar, Executive Member for Communities

·  Shaid Mahmood, Chief Officer for Communities

·  Anne McMaster, Communities Team, Citizens and Communities

The key issues raised were as follows:

·  Locally focused projects – Members discussed the work of the Communities Board in relation to three ongoing locality projects within East End Park, Holdbeck and Little London.

·  Community Development – particular importance was placed on the Communities Board working with partners to identify and agree key principles of community development that would form the basis for future joint investment.

·  Links with Neighbourhood Improvement Boards – as well as working closely with Community Committees, the Board also identified the need for the Communities Board to engage more closely with Neighbourhood Improvement Boards.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider the Board’s work schedule for this municipal year.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development invited Members to consider the Board’s work schedule for the municipal year.

RESOLVED – That the work schedule be noted.

Monday, 18 April 2016 at 10.00 am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 am).

Monday, 18^th April 2016 at 10.00 am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 am).

(The meeting concluded at 11.20 am)