Agenda and minutes

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81(3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 13 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest at this point in the meeting, however see Minute No. 55.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Millard, R Lewis, Ogilvie and Lobley.

To receive and approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 21^st November 2006.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st November 2006 be approved as a correct record.

Minute No. 40 – Minutes of Last Meeting

The Chair referred the Director of Development to his question at the previous meeting, as to the lessons learnt in relation to the erection of the Telecoms mast on Rawdon Billing, and concern that a telephone mast had subsequently been erected at Otley, despite procedures having been updated to minimise the risk.

RESOLVED – That the Director of Development respond to these concerns in writing to the Scrutiny Board.

Minute No, 43 – Former Blackgates School at Tingley – Further Scrutiny – Resolution (b)

Members enquired of the Director of Development whether the Heads of Terms had been agreed with Mintons and if not, what were the reasons for this.

RESOLVED – That progress on the agreement of the Heads of Terms with Mintons be provided by the Director of Development in writing to Members of the Board.

To receive the Executive Board minutes of the meeting held on 15^th November 2006.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 15^th November 2006 be noted.

To note the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 6^th November 2006.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 6^th November 2006 be noted.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development to consider the report of the Director of Development on Ring Road safety at Moortown which was noted by the Executive Board on 18^th October 2006.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report at the request of Members, attaching the report of the Director of Development on Ring Road Road Safety at Moortown which had been submitted to the Executive Board on 18^th October 2006 as a result of a deputation received by Council on 13^th September.

Andrew Hall, Policies and Programme Manager, City Services Department presented the report and responded to Members’ queries and comments.  Members were advised that the road injury situation on this section of the Ring Road had been investigated and that proposals to introduce a package of traffic management measures, which included reducing the speed limit and the installation of a controlled crossing, were being progressed.

In response to questions from Members, Officers advised that there was not a particular problem of speeding in the area, however it had been recommended that the 70mph zone be reduced to 40mph in line with other stretches of the road and that speed cameras would be effective in enforcing this new speed limit when it had been reduced.

RESOLVED – To note the report and actions being undertaken by the Department.

To receive a report from the Director of Development providing the Board with the current performance information for the Development Department which is based on the quarter two performance figures (to September 2006) and relates specifically to the performance indicators reported by the department.

The Director of Development submitted a report providing the Board with the current performance information for the Development Department.  The information was based on the quarter two performance figures (to September 2006) and related specifically to the performance indicators reported by the department.

In attendance to present the report and respond to Members’ queries and comments were Jean Dent, Director of Development, Steve Speak, Chief Strategy and Policy Officer and also Acting Chief Planning Officer, Paul Maney, Head of Performance Management and Paul Stephens, Chief Economic Services Officer, all from the Development Department.

Members were advised that the Development Department was responsible for 42 Performance Indicators (PIs).  The Board had been given information on 23 of these PIs in Appendix 1 to the report.  The remaining 19 were annual indicators and were listed in Appendix 2 as there was no current data available.  Of the 23 PIs detailed in Appendix 1, 12 were projected to meet their target by the year end, one was projected to exceed, 9 already exceeded and one had missed its target.  Not achieving the targets represented a high risk for the Council in terms of being assessed as a four star authority.

To summarise, discussion then took place on the following PIs:

·  BV109a, b and c – Planning and Development Services (Planning)

o  The Department aims to achieve the national target on major applications of 60% in 13 weeks which reflects the need to balance speed with quality of decision making. Recent government statements suggests greater emphasis on quality and acknowledges that speed is not an absolute priority.

o  This approach is considered to be the best use of limited resources rather than seeking comparison with National/Metro PI achievements.

o  Proposals have been endorsed by Plans Panels to bring all Panels in line with how the City Centre Panel operates in terms of pre-application discussion. The possibility of setting up an additional panel was discussed but this is not an option favoured by the Department given the resource implications.

o  As part of its approach to meeting targets the Department seeks to ensure that design guidance for developers is up to date and of high quality, which would also assist in developing the self service scheme.

o  Members raised the issue of whether developers would be willing to pay for a formalised preconsultation discussion although it was recognised that charges could act as a disincentive.

o  It was noted that there had been recent cases of planners being attracted back to work for the Council from the private sector.

·  BV99a-c - Strategy and Policy (Road Safety)

o  Even though these targets were being achieved, work was being carried out to reduce the road casualty figures further, particularly with children and the Asian community.

o  It was noted that the analysis of road casualty data by age and ethnic origin was available and used to focus resources, particularly around inner city schools and Asian families.

·  CP-ED50 – Economic Services (Economic Development)

• Partnership working and proposals  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development for the Board to note for information and to comment on the overall approach of the attached report of the Director of Development which sets out the City Council’s Local Development Framework – Annual Monitoring Report.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report attaching the report of the Director of Development submitted to the Executive Board on 13^th December, which set out the City Council’s Local Development Framework – Annual Monitoring Report (AMR).  Members were advised that the AMR was being presented to the Scrutiny Board (Development) to note for information and to comment on the overall approach, with a view to incorporating any suggested changes in future Annual Monitoring Reports. 

Councillors Cleasby and Taggart declared personal and prejudicial interests in this item at this point in the meeting, as Members of the Development Plan Panel which was also considering the Local Development Framework – Annual Monitoring Report, and declared their intention to leave the meeting for this item.

Due to the fact that the meeting would become inquorate if Councillors Cleasby and Taggart were to leave the room, it was decided to defer this item to the next meeting of the Board.

RESOLVED – That this item be deferred to the next meeting.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development regarding the Board’s work programme, together with a copy of the Forward Plan of Key Decisions pertaining to this Board’s Terms of Reference for the period 1^st December 2006 to 31^st March 2007.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report on the Board’s Work Programme, together with the Forward Plan of Key Decisions pertaining to this Board’s Terms of Reference covering the period 1^st December 2006 to 31^st March 2007 for Members’ consideration.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and Forward Plan of Key Decisions be noted.

(b)  That the Local Development Framework – Annual Monitoring Report now be considered at the January meeting of the Board.

(Note: Councillor Davey left the meeting at 11.30am during the consideration of this item.)

To note that the next meeting of the Board will be held on 23^rd January 2007 at 10.00am in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

Tuesday 23rd January 2007 at 10.00am with a pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30am.

The meeting concluded at 11.35am.