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 declared at this point in the meeting, however Councillor Cleasby declared a personal interest during Item 10 - Facilities for the Growing City Centre Population - (Minute No. 85 refers).

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Taggart.

To receive and approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 20^th February 2007.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th February 2007 be approved as a correct record.

(b)  That, in accordance with Minute No. 74, an update report on the issues raised at the meeting under the item on the Travelwise Campaign, be added to the Work Programme for 2007/2008.

To receive the Executive Board minutes of the meeting held on 9^th February 2007.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 9^th February 2007 be noted.

(b)  That apparent delays in the disposal of Council assets be included in the Board’s future Work Programme.

To note the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 5^th February 2007.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 5^th February 2007 be noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Sustainable Development on ongoing work that the authority has recently commissioned.

The Head of Sustainable Development submitted a report summarising the work that had been completed and the timetable for the adoption of three guidance documents that the authority had recently commissioned.  The three documents were:

·  Sustainable Construction Supplementary Planning Document

·  Sustainable Assessment Supplementary Planning Document

·  Householder Design Guide Supplementary Planning Document

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Dr Tom Knowland, Head of Sustainable Development in the Development Department, to present the report and respond to Members’ queries and comments.

Members voiced their satisfaction at the progress so far on the preparation of the guidance documents.  Issues discussed by the Board were in summary:

·  Sustainability of increased housing density in developments.

·  The reuse of existing buildings.

·  Building materials, in particular the aesthetics of using recycled materials which should not be allowed to override the quality of the design.

·  Light pollution.

·  Drainage.

·  Energy efficiency.

·  Conservatories.

·  Greywater and the necessity to avoid being too prescriptive in the standards being proposed, due to the pace of change of new technology.

·  Heating water and wastage of running off cold water – the possibility of proposals to avoid wasting water being included in these standards.

·  Support for the proposal that the Council should become a pathfinder for the city to encourage more sustainable buildings by applying these guidance standards to any work that the Council commissioned itself.

·  The opportunity for the Board to scrutinise the guidance documents again before they were submitted to the Executive Board for approval.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the project timetable and summary on the development of the draft guidelines referred to above be noted.

(b)  That the draft Leeds Householder Guide to Sustainable Design and Construction, attached to the report, be also noted.

To consider a report of the Director of Legal and Democratic Services on the Licensing Act 2003 and Partnership Working.

The Director of Legal and Democratic Services submitted a report outlining the partnership working, administration and enforcement of the Licensing Act 2003.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Seamus Kennedy, Principal Liaison and Enforcement Officer for Entertainments Licensing in the Chief Executive’s Department, to present the report and respond to Members’ queries and comments.  Also in attendance was Cath Follin, City Centre Manager from the Development Department.

Members discussed the report and referred to:

·  The process for reviewing licences for the sale of alcohol and the number of reviews and outcomes which have been completed to date.

·  Enforcement of the laws of alcohol consumption and smoking.

·  The forthcoming smoking ban.

·  The rules regarding the consumption of alcohol in beer gardens, on the street and the particular regulations operating in the city centre.

·  The concern that the number of enforcement staff might be insufficient, particularly having regard to the additional duties and responsibilities they would be required to undertake as a consequence of the Gambling Act.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report from the Director of Development on facilities for residents in the City Centre.

The Director of Development submitted a report outlining the current population growth of the City Centre and the facilities for residents.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Cath Follin, City Centre Manager, Development Department, to present the report and respond to Members’ queries and comments.

In summary, reference was made to the following issues:

·  Whether the Council was doing enough to encourage residents to continue to live in the city centre.

·  The lack of food stores.

·  Shopping, rents, the viability of small shops and a request that figures regarding rents be supplied to Members.

·  Encouraging mixed usage.

·  NHS dentistry and a request by Members for information on whether the potential new dental practice in The Light would remain NHS.

·  The lack of enforcement of planning conditions, for example the bridge over the River Aire at City Island.

·  The lack of taxis at night time and car parking provision.

·  Building design and the sound proofing of properties.

·  The expectations of city centre residents.

·  The population and demographics of city centre residents and the request that more up to date information be supplied to Members.

Officers also advised the Board that consideration was being given to:

·  extending the Free City Centre bus service to the Royal Armouries and Holbeck, subject to funding.

·  extending the opening hours of the Central Library and Art Gallery.

·  the viability of extending the opening hours of Leeds Market.

·  introducing a parking payment system by mobile phone enabling city centre residents to extend overnight parking at a meter remotely.

Councillor Cleasby declared a personal interest during the discussions on this item as a Member of the Development Plan Panel.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That the City Centre Manager report back to Board Members on the issues identified.

(c)  That the results of the 2007 residents’ survey referred to in the report be reported to a future meeting of the Board.

(Note: Councillor R Lewis left the meeting at 11.25 am during the consideration of this item.)

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 March to 30^th June 2007.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted the Committee’s current Work Programme, updated to reflect decisions taken at previous meetings, together with the Forward Plan of Key Decisions pertaining to this Board’s Terms of Reference covering the period 1^st March to 30^th June 2007.

RESOLVED –

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

(b)  That the topics as listed below be added to the future Work Programme of the new Board:

·  Sustainable Design and Construction Guidance Documents – update on progress

·  Transport and the Travelwise Campaign update

·  City Centre Facilities update report, including the results of the 2007 residents’ survey

·  The apparent delays in the disposal of Council assets

To note that the next meeting of the Board will be held on 24^th April 2007 at 10.00am with a pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30am.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday 24^th April 2007 at 10.00am with a pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30am.

The Chair thanked Members and Officers for their attendance and the meeting concluded at 11.35am.