Agenda and minutes

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstance shall be specified in the minutes.)

In accordance with his powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair agreed to admit to the agenda Members’ comments on residents parking schemes referred to in Agenda Item 8 (Minute No. 35 refers) and the recommendation tracking schedule referred to in Agenda Item 11 (Minute No. 38 refers).  In both instances, this was in order to present the Board with the most up-to-date information that was available.

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

Councillor Gettings declared a Personal Interest in respect of Agenda Item 12 ‘Major Arts Organisations Funded by Arts@Leeds 08/09’ (Minute No. 34 refers) as a Director of the Grand Theatre Board.

(Councillors Jarosz and Taggart also declared personal interests later in the meeting under Minute Nos. 33 and 34 respectively.)

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Barker.

To receive and approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 15^th July 2008.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th July 2008 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development attaching the response of the City Development department to the issues raised by Shadwell Parish Council at the previous meeting of the Board, in order to determine whether Members wish to undertake further scrutiny of this matter.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report attaching the report of the Director of City Development on the above matter.  This report was submitted in response to issues raised when discussing the request for scrutiny by Shadwell Parish Council at the previous meeting of the Board, regarding delays in adding paths to the Council’s Definitive Map as Rights of Way.  After considering the evidence presented to them, Members would then be requested to decide whether further scrutiny of the issues raised would be appropriate.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Jean Dent, Director of Development, Martin Farrington, Acting Chief Recreation Officer and Joanne Clough, Countryside and Access Manager.

Parish Councillor Robert Dyson, who had attended the previous meeting of the Board on behalf of Shadwell Parish Council, was also welcomed to the meeting.

The Countryside and Access Manager presented the report and responded to queries and comments from the Board.

In summary, the following issues were discussed:

·  Shadwell Parish Council’s application to the Secretary of State in 2005 seeking a direction requiring the authority to determine the application for a Definitive Map Modification Order (DMMO) - Officers reported that the Secretary of State was satisfied that the Council dealt with these applications in line with its published statement of priorities and did not therefore give direction.

·  In view of the lengthy delays in determining DMMO applications, Officers advised that sworn affidavits by applicants were accepted.

·  Details of the applications outstanding to add public footpaths to the Definitive Map and Statement - As at March 2008 following 13 local public inquiries, 11 orders had been confirmed, 2 had not and three remained outstanding.  Shadwell Parish Council’s application was number 27 out of 50 on the list of applications.

·  Developers and Rights of Way (ROW) – Officers advised that only once planning approval had been obtained could an application be made for a diversion order to a ROW.

·  The survey being undertaken by City Development Department  of city centre paths.

·  Officers confirmed that there had only been two ombudsman complaints in Leeds regarding delays in the DMMO application process over the past few years.

·  Definitive Map and Statement on line within this financial year - Officers reported that whilst this would not speed up the process, it would allow the information to be more widely available to the public and developers.

·  Officers confirmed that it could cost anything between £4,000 and £45,000 to get a footpath on the Definitive Map depending on the legal challenges received and the necessary maintenance work required to the footpath.

·  The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 imposed a cut off date on the Definitive Map of 1^st January 2026 – After this date it would not be possible to add any public rights of way to the definitive map on the basis that they would be recorded in historical documents.  Officers advised that it was likely that the Government would review this legislation as it was improbable that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

To consider the attached report of the Director of City Development providing information for Members of the Board on the process for City Council grant aid to major arts organisations.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which provided the Board with information on the process for awarding City Council grant aid to major arts organisations.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Councillor J Procter, Executive Board Member with portfolio responsibility for Leisure, Jean Dent, Director of City Development and Andrew Macgill, Head of Arts and Events, City Development.

The Head of Arts and Events presented the report and responded to queries and comments from the Board.

In brief summary, the following issues were discussed:

·  Comparisons with the core cities in terms of level of support for both performing and the visual arts. The Executive Board Member responded that this was not easy to do as each authority had different priorities, objectives and facilities.

·  The historical nature of the development of the arts in Leeds and the other core cities and how this had depended on individual champions in the past.

·  How the current economic downturn could affect arts organisations, in particular with regard to sponsorship and audience levels – Officers advised that the situation was being monitored and that organisations tended to reduce the number of new productions in a recession, as they were more costly to produce.

·  Members were advised that if the Council through Arts@Leeds stopped their funding, Opera North and the Northern Ballet Theatre would fold.

·  The need for a Vision for the arts in Leeds.

·  Officers agreed to provide Members with details of funding for the last three years to the seven major arts organisations mentioned in the report.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report be noted.

(b)  That details of the funding provided during the last three years to the seven major arts organisations referred to in the report be circulated to Members of the Board.

(Note: Councillor Taggart declared a personal interest in this item as a Board Member of Leeds Theatre Trust Ltd (West Yorkshire Playhouse).)

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development attaching reports from the Directors of Environment and Neighbourhoods and City Development for the first session of the Board’s inquiry on Residents Parking Schemes.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which outlined the agreed terms of reference for the Inquiry on Resident Parking Schemes and the issues to be discussed at Session One of the Board’s inquiry.

Attached to the main report was a report from the Chief Environmental Services Officer which provided the Board with an overview of the administrative and enforcement processes involved with Resident Parking Schemes.  Also attached was a report from the Director of City Development which outlined the process and procedures that were applied for the installation of resident parking schemes.

Comments received from Members on  parking “hot spots” and comments and requests for resident parking schemes were tabled at the meeting and had previously been circulated to Members by email.  The Chair reported that no comments had to date been received from Members of the Labour Group as he understood that it wished to discuss this issue prior to Members submitting their comments to the Board.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Jean Dent, Director of City Development, Howard Claxton, Traffic Engineering Manager, City Development, Andrew Mason, Chief Environmental Services Officer, Environment and Neighbourhoods, Graham Wilson, Head of Environmental Action, Environment and Neighbourhoods and Helen Franklin, Acting Head of Highways Services, City Development.

The Head of Environmental Action presented the report of the Chief Environmental Services Officer and the Acting Head of Highways Services, along with the Traffic Engineering Manager, presented the report of the Director of City Development.

In summary, the following issues were raised:

·  The current arrangements for residents parking in Leeds including the  application process and rationale for a new residents parking schemes.

·  Length of time from application to completion for resident parking schemes.

·  The cost of resident parking schemes.

·  The suggestion that resident permit parking schemes be made self financing by charging for permits on an annual basis instead of issuing them free for three years.  Officers were requested to address this and provide details of authorities who charged resident parking fees in Session Two.

·  The suggestion of limiting the number of permits per household - Officers advised that issues surrounding this would be provided in the next report to the Board at session two of the inquiry.

·  The suggestion that residents be given the option to fund such schemes themselves to avoid the Council’s waiting list and how revenue could be raised to offset the cost to residents by releasing spaces during the day for pay and display when they were at work ie “Dual Use” – Officers confirmed that they would report on this at Session Two of the Board’s inquiry.

·  The suggestion that Leeds should be monitoring and withdrawing residents parking schemes much more than at present.  Officers agreed to report back to Session Two of the Board’s inquiry.

·  The dispensation arrangements for family events in RPPS.

·  Fraudulent use of resident parking permits - Officers to bring back any available figures on this to the next meeting of the Board.

The Board agreed that the relevant  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

To consider a report of the Director of City Development providing Members with an update on the development of the draft Parks and Green Space Strategy ahead of Executive Board approval to be sought in the autumn.

The Chief Recreation Officer submitted a report which provided the Board with an update on the development of the draft Parks and Green Space Strategy ahead of Executive Board approval which was to be sought at the end of the year.

Martin Farrington, Acting Chief Recreation Officer, and Mike Kinnaird, Recreation Projects Manager, both City Development, were welcomed to the meeting to present the report and respond to comments and queries from the Board.

In brief summary the following issues were discussed:

·  Resources to implement aspirations.

·  A city centre park.

·  Consultation on the draft strategy.

·  The preferred cyclical repair approach to maintenance, of playgrounds in particular, if finances were available.

·  Discrepancies in the provision of green spaces in the Parks and Green Space Strategy and the EASEL plans – it was agreed that the Chair would speak directly with Officers on the details of this matter.

RESOLVED – That the report and related documents to the draft Parks and Green Space Strategy be noted.

(Note: Councillor Gettings left the meeting at 12.00 noon during the consideration of this item.)

To consider a report of the Director of City Development seeking input from Members of the Board on the development of the city’s ‘Agenda for Improved Economic Performance’.

The Director of City Development submitted a report which sought Members’ input to the development of the City’s ‘Agenda for Improved Economic Performance.’  Background papers on the economic assessment produced at the start of the process and the national, regional and local policy context were also provided.

Paul Stephens, Chief Economic Services Officer, City Development Department, was welcomed to the meeting and gave a presentation to the Board on ‘Leeds: An Agenda for Improved Economic Performance’ and outlined progress to date.  The presentation included:

·  Who was involved.

·  The context in which the agenda was set.

·  Its purpose.

·  Timescales.

·  Aspirations and ambitions:

·  Growing the Economy/Growing the Market Share

·  Better performing assets.

·  Risks (and opportunities) and Leeds’ response.

·  The Leeds Economy 2020.

·  The Structure – three themes:

·  competitive business

·  skilled people

·  A great place

and cross-cutting themes of:

·  economic inclusion

·  diversity

·  sustainability.

·  Action/Investment Plans to achieve the three themes and the cross cutting themes.

Comments were made by Members on the following issues:

·  The quality of life in Leeds and narrowing the gap.

·  The need to address transport issues in Leeds.

·  The conflicting aspirations of economic growth and lowering the carbon footprint.

·  Education and skills being the biggest challenge.

·  Encouraging the right kind of growth.

·  Leeds as the centre of the city region.

RESOLVED – That the reportand Members’ comments be noted.

(Note: Councillors A Hussain and Beverley left the meeting at 12.25pm and 12.27pm respectively during the consideration of this item and Councillor Lobley left the meeting at 12.32pm at the conclusion of this item.)

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development to assist the Board in monitoring progress on recommendations.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which outlined the process for tracking recommendations made by the Board and to confirm the status of scrutiny recommendations (City Development).  Appended to the report was the recommendation tracking flowchart. 

The draft status of recommendations was tabled at the meeting and had previously been circulated to Members by email.  The Principal Scrutiny Adviser advised the Board that the tabled document was an update on the progress of the seven recommendations made as a result of the Board’s Inquiry into Reviewing Consultation Processes.  A draft assessment had been suggested on the status of completion for each one of the recommendations.

RESOLVED – That the status of the scrutiny inquiry recommendations be agreed in accordance with the schedule submitted.

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 September 2008 to 31^st December 2008 and the Executive Board Minutes of 16^th July 2008.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report providing Members with a copy of the Board’s current Work Programme.  The Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st September to 31^st December 2008 and the Executive Board Minutes of 16^th July 2008 were also attached to the report.

RESOLVED – That the current Board’s Work Programme be agreed as presented.

To note that the next meeting of the Board will be held on 14^th October 2008 at 10.00am with a pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30am.

Noted that the next meeting of the Board would be held on Tuesday 14^th October 2008 at 10.00am with a pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30am.

The meeting concluded at 12.35pm.