Agenda and draft minutes

The Board was advised that Guy Close was leaving Leeds City Council in the New Year to take up a more senior position at another local authority.  The Board thanked Guy for all his hard work over the last 10 years and wished him all the best in his new role.

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 declared to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

There were no apologies for absence.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th November 2017.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2017 be approved as a correct record.

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support reflecting the request made by the Chair for the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council to provide a verbal update in relation to the Leeds 2023 European Capital of Culture Bid.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report which introduced the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council to provide a verbal update on the Leeds 2023 European Capital of Culture Bid, particularly in light of recent developments surrounding the eligibility of the UK to host European Capital of Culture 2023.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of the Council

-  Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council

-  Cluny Macpherson, Chief Officer (Culture and Sport).

The key areas of discussion were:

·  Confirmation that the decision had been taken by the European Commission and was strongly linked to Brexit negotiations.  The focus was now about building on the energy and enthusiasm of the cultural community.

·  Clarification regarding the amount spent on the bid.  The Board was advised that to date the Council had spent £155,000 with approximately 4 times that amount spent by private and education sectors.

·  Confirmation that a risk management strategy had been established.  It was advised that the biggest risk identified was not winning, particularly since 4 other UK cities had submitted bids.

·  An update on the support received from cultural partners.  The Board was advised that there had already been discussions with sponsors about pursuing elements of the bid.

·  Reference was made to the positive work undertaken by Opera North across primary schools and its impact on attainment.  However, it was felt that more could be done to capture evidence in terms of the wider positive impacts of such cultural activities.

·  The Chair reminded the Board that a more detailed discussion surrounding the city’s Cultural Strategy 2017-2030 Delivery Plan was already scheduled into the Board’s work programme.  As part of this, it was suggested that an invitation be extended to other external partners to also share their views on how best to move forward with the development and delivery of this Strategy.

·  Clarification was sought regarding future bids for European funding and the potential implications of Brexit.  Linked to this, the Board acknowledged the Council’s existing cross-party Brexit working group and its role in picking up such issues too.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Board notes the update provided in relation to the Leeds 2023 European Capital of Culture Bid.

(b)  That an invitation be extended to other external partners as part of the Board’s consideration of the Culture Strategy 2017-2030 Delivery Plan.

(c)  That the intention of the Scrutiny Board is to produce a final Statement setting out its views in relation to the situation with the 2023 European Capital of Culture Bid and moving forward with the delivery of the city’s Culture Strategy for 2017-2030.

To receive a report from the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support in relation to the Board’s continued work in supporting the development of a systems approach to physical activity in Leeds.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report in relation to the Board’s continued work in supporting the development of a systems approach to physical activity in Leeds.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Key impacts of an active lifestyle to physical and mental health and wellbeing.

The following were in attendance:

-  Councillor James Lewis, Deputy Leader of the Council and Executive Member for Resources and Strategy

-  Tom Riordan, Chief Executive of Leeds City Council

-  Martin Farrington, Director of City Development

-  Cluny Macpherson, Chief Officer (Culture and Sport)

-  Mark Allman, Head of Sport and Active Lifestyles

-  Anna Frearson, Chief Officer (Consultant in Public Health).

The Head of Sport and Active Lifestyles provided a PowerPoint presentation briefly reminding the Board of the key benefits of developing a whole systems approach to physical activity as well as the main challenges and key ‘asks’ in terms of support needs to help achieve this vision, which were summarised as follows:

-  To make being physically active a Best Council Plan priority or obsession

-  Support development of a new integrated city strategy for Physical Activity

-  Commit to enabling a physically active LCC workforce

-  Local elected members to help lead a social movement in their communities

The key areas of discussion were:

·  The development of a city wide “Move More Leeds” type campaign in recognition that physical activity is wider than just sport.

·  The need to recruit a Chair and Board members of a new strategic body with oversight of the new strategy and campaign, which could potentially supersede the Sport Leeds Board as currently constituted.

·  A suggestion that relevant officers be invited to attend Community Committee meetings to promote the health benefits of physical activity.

·  The challenges utilising privately owned facilities for community use.

·  The role of ward members in building on approaches to physical activity in their communities and particularly in identifying assets and capabilities for physical activity within communities.

·  Development of a LCC physical activity policy including, for example, design of future office space, targeted support programmes for staff, developing a culture where being active is the norm in the LCC workplace, advocacy role with other employers in the city.

·  A recognised need to consider how physical activity can be embedded into the built environment; through informed and continued planning policy and supplementary guidance and with any recommendations and best practice reported to and considered by Planning Board.

·  Improving connectively across the city and particularly between smaller villages to enable and encourage more active travel and lifestyles.

·  Particular issues were raised in relation to non-registration of public rights of way and the role and resource capacity of the existing public rights of way team to be able to address this issue quickly.

·  A recognised need for all young people to build a habit of being physically active and for this to be recognised as a key priority within the new children's and young people plan.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

To consider the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2017/18 municipal year.

The Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support submitted a report which invited Members to consider the Board’s work schedule for the 2017/18 municipal year.

The key updates provided were:

·  The Board agreed for the update on the Culture Strategy Delivery Plan to be considered at the February Board meeting (previously scheduled for the January Board meeting)

·  The Board agreed in principle to undertake a review of Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) services in Leeds to commence early in the New Year.  The Principal Scrutiny Adviser was authorised to draft terms of reference for this review to bring back to the Board’s next meeting for approval.

RESOLVED – That subject to the above comments and any on-going discussions and scheduling decisions, the Board’s outline work schedule be approved.

Wednesday, 17^th January 2018 at 10.30 am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10.00 am)

Wednesday, 17 January 2018 at 10.30am (pre-meeting for all Board Members at 10.00am)

The meeting concluded at 12.05pm