Agenda and minutes

In the absence of the sitting Chair a new Chair was required to elected by the Committee. Councillor G Latty was nominated and seconded for the position of Chair and was un-opposed.

To consider any appeals in accordance with Procedure Rule 25 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (in the event of an Appeal the press and public will be excluded).

(*In accordance with Procedure Rule 25, written notice of an appeal must be received by the Chief Democratic Services Officer at least 24 hours before the meeting)

There were no appeals against refusal of inspection of documents.

1  To highlight reports or appendices which officers have identified as containing exempt information, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2  To consider whether or not to accept the officers recommendation in respect of the above information.

3  If so, to formally pass the following resolution:-

  RESOLVED – That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following parts of the agenda designated as containing exempt information on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as follows:-

There were no resolutions to exclude the public.

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 added to the agenda.

To declare any personal / prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) if the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members Code of Conduct.

No declarations of interest were declared.

To receive any apologies for absence form the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J Bale.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 10^th February 2010.

RESOLVED – The minutes of the Corporate Governance and Audit Committee meeting held on 10 February 2010 be approved as a correct record.

To receive the Minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held 17^th February 2010.

RESOLVED – The minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held on 17 February 2010 be noted.

To receive a report of the Chief Officer (Community Safety) informing the Committee of the arrangements in place for the Council to respond to complaints of anti social behaviour.

The Chief Officer Community Safety presented a report which provided an overview of anti-social behaviour, the services that respond to it and the process review being conducted by Safer Leeds.

Members particularly discussed:

• the current difficulties in knowing which agency is best to contact where anti social behaviour is encountered; and
• the importance of the different agencies involved in responding to anti-social behaviour working closely together;

RESOLVED – The Committee resolved to:

(a)  note the contents of the report; and

(b)  request that a further report be submitted detailing the results of the anti-social behaviour process review.

Councillor Taggart entered the meeting during the discussion of this item at 10.23 am.

To receive a report of the Director of Children’s Services updating the Committee on the results of the Children’s Services Inspection.

The Deputy Director of Children’s Services and the Chief Officer (Children’s Services) presented a report of the Director of Children’s Services which detailed the outcomes of the Ofsted and care quality Commission announced inspection of safeguarding and looked after children’s services in Leeds. Which had been published on 7^th January 2010.

Members particularly discussed the governance arrangements in place for control and good management of Children’s Services particularly around;

• information sharing;
• care management and review; and
• resource allocation.

RESOLVED – The Committee resolved to:

(a)  note the findings of the announced inspection of safeguarding and looked after children’s services and the improvement work that is currently taking place;

(b)  request that a  further report be submitted to the Committee to provide assurance that arrangements described in response to the inspection are operating as intended;

(c)  request that a report be submitted detailing the wider corporate performance management governance adopted by the authority, that enables early warning of possible severe failure, rather than relying on inspection from external bodies.

Councillor Driver arrived during the discussion of this item at 11:10 am.

To receive a report of the Director of Resources and Acting Deputy Chief Executive updating the Committee with progress made the establishment of a Remuneration Committee.

The Head of Human Resources Strategy presented a report of the Director of Resources and Acting Deputy Chief Executive updating and consulting the Committee on considerations for establishing a Remuneration Committee following a previous report on 13^th January 2010 regarding the current arrangements.

Members particularly discussed the importance of the emerging proposals, ensuring that there is clarity and consistency in where decisions on senior officer remuneration are taken and that there is transparency in documenting those decisions. Discussion also took place on the positives and negatives of the report being sent to the General Purposes Committee.

RESOLVED – The Committee resolved to:

(a)  by a majority vote request that the Head of Human Resources Strategy takes account of the Committees views in the planned future report to General Purposes Committee; and

(b)  be kept informed of further developments in relation to the creation of a Remuneration Committee.

To receive a report of the Director of Resources updating the Committee with progress made in relation to the Council using International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)  as part of its procedures.

The Principal Finance Manager (Resources) presented a report of the Director of Resources to provide assurance to Members that there is an appropriate structure in place to successfully implement International Financial Reporting Standards. In addition the report updated members as to the latest position in respect of the potential financial implications of these accounting changes.

Members particularly discussed the changes brought about by the International Financial Reporting Standards, how these would effect the accounts that are created by the Council and the potential media attention given to the Council’s accounting policies.

RESOLVED – The Committee resolved to:

• note the framework established for planning and monitoring progress on the implementation of IFRSs;

• note the progress made to date; and
• agree to further updates on IFRS implementation in line with key milestones.

To receive a report of the Director of Resources informing the Committee of the notification of certification of completion of the Audit of Accounts 2008/09.

The Chief Officer (Financial Management) presented a report of the Director of Resources notifying the Committee as to the completion of the accounts.

RESOLVED – The Committee resolved to note the completion of the Audit of the Accounts for 2008/09.

To receive a report of the Chief Officer (Business Transformation) providing the annual update on the Council’s Information Security Arrangements.

The Chief Officer (Business Transformation) presented a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Planning and Improvement). The report was the annual Information Security report and informed the Committee on the steps being taken to improve Leeds City Council’s information security in order to provide assurance for the annual governance statement.

Members discussed the information security arrangements at the Council particularly the work undertaken to encrypt laptop computers and memory sticks.

Further Members highlighted the threat of information security breaches and the detrimental effect such breaches could have on the Council. 

RESOLVED -  The Committee resolved to:

(a)  note the contents of the report; and

(b)  request that a report be submitted detailing any attempted security breaches that the Council has been subject to and the work done to reduce the impact and mitigate against such attempts.

To receive a report of the Chief Officer (Business Transformation) explaining the arrangements in place to ensure that the Council produces relevant, reliable data and information to support decision making and managing performance.

The Chief Officer (Business Transformation) presented his report which explained the arrangements in place to ensure the Council produces relevant, reliable data and information to support decision making and manage performance as defined by the Audit Commission’s CAA, Use of Resources Assessment.

Members congratulated the Chief Officer (Business Transformation) on a good report.

Members particularly discussed how population figures are arrived at and who produces population figures.

Further Members highlighted the need for care when using information received from other sources to ensure that it is of good quality and accurate in order for it to be used to identify Council priorities.

RESOLVED – The Committee resolved to note the contents of the report.

To receive a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) notifying and inviting comment from the Committee upon the work programme for the remainder of the 2009/10 municipal year.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance) submitted a report notifying Members of the draft work programme for the remainder of the 2009/10 municipal year and the start of 2010/11.

RESOLVED – The Committee resolved to note the draft work programme.