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.)

The Board received the following supplementary information in relation to agenda item 8, Flooding:

·  Updated information submitted to the Executive Board on 21 January 2016 and draft minutes of the Executive Board

The above information was not available at the time of agenda despatch, but was subsequently made available on the Council’s website.

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 pecuniary interests declared to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillor C Townsley, Councillor J Walker and Councillor P Davey.  Councillor J Walker and Councillor P Davey were substituted by Councillor B Urry and Councillor R Grahame.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2015.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 December 2015, be approved as a correct record, subject to an amendment under minute no. 41, changing Halifax Building Society to The Halifax.

To receive reports from the Director of City Development and West Yorkshire Combined Authority providing initial background information as part of the Board’s Inquiry on bus services in Leeds and West Yorkshire.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which provided the Scrutiny Board with the information required to undertake the first session of the inquiry into bus service provision.

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:

-  Councillor Richard Lewis, Executive Board Member (Regeneration, Transport and Planning)

-  Councillor Keith Wakefield, Chair of Transport Committee

-  Gary Bartlett, Chief Highways Officer

-  Liz Bennett, Projects and Monitoring, Transportation

-  Tom Gifford, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Project Manager

-  Neale Wallace, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Bus Services Manager

-  Jonathan Bray, Urban Transport Group

The key areas of discussion were:

·  The emerging Buses Bill, devolution and the need for simpler legislation.

·  2008 Transport Act, quality contracts and NEXUS (North East Combined Authority).

·  The development of a Single Transport Plan which will set out the bus strategy.

·   The decline in bus patronage since deregulation during a period of economic growth and an increase in train patronage and car use.

·  The opportunity that bus travel presents in terms of solving traffic problems and supporting employment.

·  Regulation of bus operators, passenger rights and complaint processes.

·  The role of West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) in supporting non-commercial services.

·  The negative effects due to the lack of bus operator competition in West Yorkshire.

·  The need for simplified ticketing and the complex fare structures currently in place.

·  The issues created by commercial market led networks and the lack of orbital connectivity which links villages, towns and districts.

·  The Elland Road park and ride model which highlighted the attributes when planning a whole service in terms of quality and reliability.

RESOLVED – The report was noted and the evidence considered as part of the inquiry.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development to facilitate discussion regarding the recent flooding in Leeds.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report to facilitate discussion regarding the recent flooding in Leeds.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Executive Board, Storm Eva cover report, 21 January 2016

-  Executive Board, Storm Eva report annex, 21 January 2016

-  Draft minute no. 120 of Executive Board, 21 January 2016

-  Business Recovery Impact Examples

-  Draft Leeds Strategic Recovery Plan.

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:

-  Councillor Richard Lewis, Executive Board Member (Regeneration, Transport and Planning)

-  Gary Bartlett, Chief Highways Officer.

The key areas of discussion were:

·  Assessment and inspection of infrastructure damage, including Linton Bridge.  Infrastructure damage was estimated at £7m. Government is being lobbied for funding to meet costs.

·  Impact on businesses and employees.

·  The meeting with the Secretary of State when attendees from Leeds were advised that there is no funding in the Environment Agency programme for flood alleviation.

·  The feasibility review of phase 2 and phase 3 of the flood alleviation scheme. Funding is being sought to start this process.

·  The requirement for a commitment from Government for funding to prevent flooding and the requirement to consider the impact on neighbouring authorities.

·  Local responses and how communities can be involved in dealing with a problem as it arises.

·  Co-ordinated service working arrangements for traffic management and gully maintenance across the City.

·  Consideration of flood risk on land identified for housing, the need to build appropriately in flood risk areas and ensure that building work is resilient and done to appropriate standards.

·  The need to focus on what can be achieved through government investment, water management in partnership with other organisations.

·  Tributes to all who assisted, responded and helped.

RESOLVED – The Scrutiny Board considered the information provided and resolved to receive the Flood Risk Management Strategy at the March meeting.  The Board will also consider any additional aspects as deemed appropriate at that meeting.

(Councillor J Heselwood left the meeting at 12.40pm at the conclusion of this item)

To consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development detailing the City Development Budget proposals for 2016/17 and the budget update for period 8, 2015/16.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which updated the Scrutiny Board on the City Development 2015/16 financial position (period 8) and consultation on the City Development budget proposals for 2016/17. 

The following information was appended to the report:

-  City Development Budget 2015/16, period 8

-  Executive Board report, 16 December 2015, Initial Budget Proposals for 2016/16 (City Development extract)

-  City Development Budget Pressures and Savings 2016/17

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:

-  Martin Farrington, Director of City Development

-  Simon Criddle, Head of Finance, City Development

The key areas of discussion were:

·  The projected underspend on the 2015/16 budget.

·  Key proposals for 2016/17, planned efficiencies, changes to services and additional income.

·  The shortfall of advertising revenue.  This has been managed by achieving efficiencies in other areas of the budget.  A number of sites will come to fruition in 2016/17 generating income.

·  Clarification about the reduction in planning services staffing.

·  Proposed 2016/17 funding arrangements for the book fund within Cultural Services.

RESOLVED –

The Scrutiny Board:

a)  Noted the financial position of City Development period 8, 2015/16

b)  Considered the initial 2016/17 budget proposals relevant to the Scrutiny Board’s portfolio and did not make recommendation for consideration by the Executive Board in February 2016.

To consider a report from the Director of City Development presenting a summary of performance data for Quarter 2, 2015/16 in relation to progress in delivering the relevant objectives in the Best Council Plan 2015-20.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which provided a summary of performance against the strategic objectives for City Development.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  City Development Best Council Plan Performance Summary Quarter 2 2015/16

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:

-  Martin Farrington, Director of City Development.

The key areas of discussion were:

·  The trend in KSI’s and not meeting the annual target. The Board was advised that to counter this various publicity campaigns were due to start.

·  Leeds Let’s Get Active Funding and the continuation of the scheme. The Board was advised that funding had not yet been secured and the scheme was therefore at risk.

RESOLVED – That the Board notes the Quarter 2 performance information.

To agree the Board’s work schedule for the remainder of the municipal year.

A report was submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which detailed the Scrutiny Board’s draft work programme for the current municipal year.

RESOLVED – The Board noted the content of the report and agreed the revised work schedule.

Wednesday, 17 February 2016 at 10.30am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10.00am)

Wednesday, 17 February 2016 at 10.30am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10.00am)

(The meeting concluded at 1.25pm)