Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everybody to the meeting and Members and Officers introduced themselves.

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.

The following Members declared personal interests in relation to agenda item 10 entitled ‘Sustainable Education Travel Strategy and the Development of an Integrated School Transport Policy for Children’s Services’ (Minute No. 50 refers):

·  Councillor Pryke as a Governor of Ebor Gardens Primary School and Primrose and City of Leeds Federated High Schools.

·  Councillor Ogilvie as a Governor of Cottingley Primary School and Cockburn High School.

·  Councillor Jarosz as a member of West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority and as Governor of Pudsey Tyersal Primary School and Pudsey Grangefield High School.

·  Councillor Harington as a Governor of Oakwood and Bankside Primary Schools.

·  Councillor Barker as a Governor of Horsforth Featherbank School.

·  Councillor Matthews as a Governor elect of Spring Bank Primary School.

·  Councillor Gettings as a Governor of Drighlington Primary School and Bruntcliffe High School.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Lobley and R Procter.

To receive and approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 9^th September 2008.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th September 2008 be confirmed as a correct record.

The Chair reported that the Chief Planning Officer was now unable to attend the meeting and suggested that Agenda Item 9 ‘Update on the Strategic Review of Planning and Development Services’ be deferred to the next meeting.

RESOLVED – That Agenda Item 9, ‘Update on the Strategic Review of Planning and Development Services’ be deferred to the November meeting of the Board.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development attaching the joint report of the Chief Environmental Services Officer and Director of City Development for the second session of the Board’s Inquiry on Residents Parking Schemes.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which outlined the purpose of the second session of the Inquiry on Residents Parking Schemes.  Attached was a joint report of the Chief Environmental Services Officer and the Director of City Development, which provided Members with an overview of the process for the introduction of Resident Parking Schemes (RPS) and information requested by the Board at the previous meeting.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Councillor Steve Smith, Executive Board Member with portfolio responsibility for Environmental Services and Councillor Ryk Downes, Ward Councillor for Otley and Yeadon who had been invited to attend as a witness.

Also in attendance to present the report and respond to queries and comments from the Board were Andrew Mason, Chief Environmental Services Officer, Graham Wilson, Head of Environmental Action and Parking, Helen Franklin, Acting Head of Highway Services, Howard Claxton, Traffic Engineering Manager and Mark Jefford, Parking Manager, Enforcement.

Councillor Smith outlined his responsibilities for this Board which solely related to parking enforcement and then, along with officers, responded to the following issues raised by Board Members:

·  Parking Restrictions and the overall impact they could have on other areas.

·  The Allocation of Resources to enforce parking restrictions and keep traffic flowing in the city.

·  Process of Resident Parking Schemes.  The Executive Board Member was confident that the balance between parking and enforcement was about right and thought the system firm but fair.

·  Members were advised that the Current Budget for RPS was only sufficient to complete approximately one new scheme a year.

·  Objectors to new RPS was raised. It was reported that an officer group considered objections to such schemes and where objectors had vested interests they were overruled.

·  The possibility of residents funding RPS was discussed. The Executive Board Member stated that, whilst this was worthy of consideration, it would be wrong to accelerate lower priority schemes in advance of an area where residents were experiencing severe parking issues because of their ability to pay. In addition it was also essential that the Council retained a strong and clear policy and criteria on where RPS was appropriate and only proposals that met this criteria  should be considered if residents were allowed to fund such schemes.  However, the proposal would enable more schemes to be injected into the programme.  He emphasised that RPS might not be the solution to parking problems and one size did not fit all.

·  The Executive Board Member stressed that any recommendations which the Board might make under this review should include undertaking cost benefit analysis and consultation with residents affected. 

·  Parking at Trinity and All Saints College – A Member of the Board advised that the College had accepted that the parking difficulties around the College were their responsibility and they were to fund an RPS.

Councillor Downes was invited by the Chair to outline the particular parking problems experienced around Leeds Bradford International Airport.  Councillor Downes reported that car parking charges  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

To consider the attached report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) requesting the Board to review the revised arrangements for performance reporting and accountability.

The Assistant Chief Executive (Planning, Policy and Improvement) submitted a report which set out the new approach to performance reporting and accountability resulting from the introduction of the Leeds Strategic and Council Business Plans 2008 to 2011 and changes to the national performance reporting regime.  The quarter one performance results for City Development using this new format were also provided.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting Paul Maney, Head of Policy Performance and Improvement, City Development and Steve Clough, Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement Team in Executive Support.

Officers summarised the report and Members made the following comments and raised the following questions:

·   Monitoring of indicators dropped from the official list - Officers confirmed that although some indicators had been dropped from the official list, they were still being monitored by managers.

·   The time it took for information to filter through to the quarterly reports – Officers advised that City Development had monthly reporting.  If problems were identified, then necessary action would be taken immediately.  As a consequence, therefore, the quarterly information came to the Scrutiny Board after remedial action had already been taken.

·   With regard to indicator nos. 15 and 16 in Appendix 2 to the report regarding street lighting repairs, which had been identified as causing some concerns, Officers advised that there had been a general improvement in these areas.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the new performance reporting arrangements be noted and approved in accordance with appendices 1 and 2.

(b)  That the Quarter 1 Performance Report 2008-09 be noted.

(Note: At this point in the meeting, at 11.20am, the meeting was adjourned for approximately ten minutes.)

To consider the attached update report of the Chief Planning Officer for Members to consider and comment on the progress on implementing the solutions within the five improvement themes identified in the strategic review for Planning and Development Services.

Due to the unavailability of the Chief Planning Officer, it had already been agreed by the Board to defer this item to the November meeting of the Board (Minute No. 45 refers).

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 October 2008 to 31^st January 2009 and the Executive Board Minutes of 2^nd September 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 October 2008 to 31^st January 2009 and the Executive Board Minutes of 2^nd September 2008 were also attached to the report.

RESOLVED – That with the following changes and additions, the Board’s Work Programme be agreed:

·  Today’s deferred item ‘Update on the Strategic Review of Planning and Development Services’ be considered at the November meeting of the Board.

·  The item on Climate Change be moved from the November to the December meeting of the Board.

·  The Executive Board Member with portfolio responsibility for Leisure be invited to the November meeting of the Board to respond to questions regarding the promotion of Leisure events, specifically Light Night.

·  That an update report on the City Varieties be received at either the November or December meeting of the Board.

·  That a report on the lack of signage to the Carriageworks Theatre be received at a future meeting of the Board.

·  That a report on financial issues surrounding the Grand Theatre be considered at a future meeting of the Board.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development for Members to consider the need for a sustainable transport policy for young people and the possibility of undertaking an inquiry on this issue later in the year.  Also attached is the joint report of the Director of City Development and the Chief Executive, Education Leeds to be considered at the Executive Board on 8^th October 2008.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report attaching the joint report of the Director of City Development and the Chief Executive, Education Leeds and the draft Leeds Sustainable Education Travel Strategy which had been considered at the Executive Board on 8^th October.  The report had been included on the agenda in response to the possibility of the Board considering undertaking an inquiry into the need for a sustainable transport policy for young people.

Members had been advised that the joint report had been approved by the Executive Board on 8^th October 2008 when it had been resolved:

(a)  That the adoption and publication of the Leeds Sustainable Education Travel Strategy be approved.

(b)  That approval be given for the development of a Children’s Services School Transport Policy and to the intention to integrate this with the Leeds Sustainable Education Travel Strategy by September 2010.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting to present the report Ray Hill, Team Leader, Smarter Choices, City Development and Allan Hudson, Transport Services Manager, Education Leeds.

In brief summary the following issues were discussed:

·  The support structure for the Walking bus initiative – Members were advised of the schemes to encourage schools to maintain this initiative but that it was ultimately the responsibility of the schools and parents to maintain this facility.

·  The accuracy of the data which indicated that 25% of journeys to school were made by car – Officers advised that this was comparable with other core cities.  Data was collected through school censuses but they were not compulsory for schools to fill in.  Work was being carried out to improve returns.

·   Supervision of young people on school buses – Officers confirmed that there was no statutory requirement to provide such supervision out of school hours and this was a consideration when parents were deciding whether to take their children to school by car.  School trips were supervised.

·   Three practical activities to promote sustainable travel behaviour in schools – The Smarter Choices Team Leader listed these as:

1.  Continue the programme of providing cycle routes to schools.

2.  Continuation of pedestrian training and walking initiatives such as the Walking bus project.

3.  Continue the promotion of the National Walk to School month.

·  Targets in the School Travel Plan – Officers advised that the first target to maintain car modal share to school at its current level was included in the School Travel Plan.  Second targets would be set by schools individually.

·  School Travel Plans – Officers confirmed that there was no compulsion at present on schools to provide travel plans although 70% of schools now have them.  Officers agreed to provide all Members of the Council with information on the schools in their Ward which did not have an approved travel plan.  Officers also agreed to provide Members of the Board with the template that was provided to schools to create a travel plan.

·  The possible use of Shopabuses by schools – Members were advised that Shopabuses were run  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

To note that the next meeting of the Board will be held on 18^th November 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 18^th November 2008 at 10.00am with a pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30am.

The meeting concluded at 12.10pm.