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.)

There were no late items.

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.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor A Sobel, Councillor T Wilford and Councillor R Wood.  Councillor B Urry substituted for Councillor A Sobel.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on Monday 28 September 2015.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2015 be confirmed as a correct record.

To undertake the second Inquiry session into fees and charges.

At the Board’s September meeting Members held the first session of their Inquiry looking at fees and charges.  The agreed terms of reference provided the rationale behind the Inquiry.  These focused on the belief that a critical examination of fees and charges was an effective way to help ease budget pressures and focus spend and subsidy on the highest priorities and therefore help deliver the Council’s Best Council Plan.

The October Executive Board report in relation to the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2016/17 – 2019/20 stated that addressing an estimated budget gap of £146m by March 2020 would require the Council to take difficult decisions in order to reduce the Council’s net spend.  These decisions would very likely to include generating additional income through increasing fees and charges for services, potentially based on the ability to pay. 

Members of the Scrutiny Board recognised this and asked for greater detail of current charges made by Directorates.  The Board agreed to invite Directorate representatives to discuss with members areas where further analysis and consideration into possible new areas for income generation could be undertaken.  The Board also agreed to explore with Directorates the principles around charging including; policies for non-Leeds residents, the use of subsidy and differential charges

The following were in attendance to respond to Members’ questions:

-  Martin Farrington – Director of City Development

-  Richard Ellis – Head of Finance, Environment and Housing

-  Simon Criddle – Head of Finance City Development

-  John Mulcahy – Citizens and Community.

In summary the main areas of discussion were:

·  The Directorates responses to the questionnaire previously sent out to all Directorates.

·  That every 1% increase in fees and charges equates to £1m additional income.

·  The notion that two issues required debate; how much existing fees are raised and what new ones should be introduced.

·  Key principles for inclusion in a revised fees and charges policy.

·  The ease in which fees and charges can be paid, particularly for community lets.

·  The need to work towards the complete recovery of cost and reducing subsidies where appropriate.

·  The concept of introducing increased charges in January (rather than April) where possible.

·  The analysis of, and the understanding of the unintended consequences of introducing some charges.

·  The concept of geographical flexibility in the level of fees and charges and the criteria used to set those differential, for example deprivation or quality of provision.

·  A range of new income streams taken up by other authorities but not currently by Leeds City Council.

·  The aims and objectives of the Leeds card and its current discount structure.

·  The role of Community Committees in setting community centre charges.

·  Assurances that where fees can only recover costs, all possible overheads are included.

·  The need for an IT Culture Platform that showcases the very best of Leeds, addresses concerns about the efficiency of numerous box offices but also offers the opportunity for advertising and marketing for the Public and Private Sector (which in turn supports the Culture Capital bid).

In terms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 29.

To discuss with the Chief Officer (Human Resources) Career Families

This item was deferred.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for 2015/16 municipal year and to agree terms of reference into an Inquiry into ICT Resources

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which provided information regarding the Board’s work Schedule. It was noted that the scheduled item on non-contract spend update would now be received in December rather than November.

Draft terms of reference were also submitted into an Inquiry into ICT resources.

RESOLVED –

(i)  That the Board’s work schedule be amended as discussed

(ii)  That the draft terms of reference be agreed.

Monday, 23 November at 10.00 a.m.

(pre – meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 a.m.)

Monday  23 November 2015 at 10.00am. (Pre-meeting for all Board Members at 9.30 a.m.

(The meeting concluded at 12.10 pm)