Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. View directions

Contact: Janet Pritchard (0113) 2474327 

Items
No. Item

14.

Chair's Opening Remarks

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed everyone to the July meeting of Scrutiny Board (City Development).

 

15.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of the following Board Members; Councillor S Armitage, Councillor T Grayshon and Councillor G Wilkinson.

 

The Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser informed the meeting that apologies had been received from Councillor A Carter, Executive Member, Development and Regeneration and Jean Dent, Director of City Development who were unable to attend today's meeting.

 

16.

Declaration of Interests

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.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – The following personal interests were declared:-

 

  • Councillor R Downes in his capacity as Chair of the West Yorkshire Integrated Transport Authority (Agenda Item 8) (Minute 20 refers)

 

  • Councillor R Pryke in his capacity as a Member on the West Yorkshire Flood Defence Committee (Agenda Item 8) (Minute 20 refers)

 

17.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 92 KB

To receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9th June 2009.

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 8th June 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

 

18.

Matters Arising from the Minutes

Minutes:

a) Input to the Work Programme 2009/10 – Sources of Work and Establishing the Board’s Priorities (Minute 8 refers)

The Chair informed the meeting that the Principal Scrutiny Adviser had circulated a number of dates in July /August for the Board’s proposed visits to the South Leeds Sports Centre, John Charles Aquatic Centre and Roundhay Park Mansion.

 

The Chair also informed the meeting that the Board’s proposed visit to the new well being PFI leisure centre at Morley would be arranged later in the year when construction was more advanced.

 

Councillor M Lobley referred to the Board’s previous interest in relation to traffic pinch points and the Principal Scrutiny Adviser agreed to contact Andrew Hall, Transport Strategy Officer with a view to providing the Board with an update on this issue at the next meeting in September.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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19.

Request for Scrutiny of the Consultation Process Carried out to help Determine Whether to Go Ahead with a Designated BBQ Area on Woodhouse Moor pdf icon PDF 66 KB

To consider a report of Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on a request for Scrutiny of the consultation process carried out to help determine whether to go ahead with a Designated BBQ Area on Woodhouse Moor.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Referring to Minute 9 of the meeting held on 9th June 2009, the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report on a request for Scrutiny of the consultation process carried out to help determine whether to go ahead with a designated BBQ area on Woodhouse Moor.

 

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the Board:-

 

a)  Letter addressed to the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development dated 22 May 2009 regarding the consultation exercise on whether to go ahead with a designated BBQ area on Woodhouse Moore from Councillors J Matthews, J Monaghan, M Hamilton, K Hussain, P Ewens and L Rhodes Clayton

 

b)  Report of the Director of City Development - Scrutiny Board (City Development) – 9th June 2009 – Woodhouse Moor Park Consultation on Barbecue Use

 

c)  Questionnaire – Have Your Say? Designated Barbecue Area in Woodhouse Moor (Hyde Park)

 

d)  Report of the Director of City Development Scrutiny Board (City Development) – 7th July 2009 - Woodhouse Moor Park Consultation on Barbecue Use

 

The following representatives were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:-

 

Councillor J Procter, Executive Board Member for Leisure

Councillor P Ewens, Hyde Park and Woodhouse Ward Member

Martin Farrington, Chief Officer Major Projects, City Development

Mike Kinnaird, Recreation Project Manager, City Development

Steve Thomas, Distribution Business Services (DBS) Ltd

Sue Buckle, Spokesperson on behalf of North Hyde Park Neighbourhood Association, South Headingley Community Association and Friends of Woodhouse Moor

 

The Chair invited the above attendees to provide relevant background information and to highlight key issues in relation to the consultation process and Board Members sought clarification on the points raised.

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

  • the process for dealing with complaints of non delivery, the mechanics involved and records maintained by DBS Ltd
  • clarification of the statistical/delivery information outlined in Section 3.0 of the report of the Director of City Development dated 7th July 2009
  • assurances that the latest e mails received by Members from the public concerning non delivery of the questionnaire and forwarded to the department would be included where validated in the final results

(The Chief Officer, Major Projects responded and confirmed that these emails would be included and registered as part of the consultation process)

  • clarification of the 5.88% return rate and whether this was a reasonable rate of return for this type of questionnaire
  • clarification of the number of returns received from the three consultation sessions
  • a concern that a closing date had not been included on the questionnaire 

(The Chief Officer, Major Projects stated that a closing date should have been included and that they were still waiting for a response from  the West Yorkshire Police Authority to the proposals)

  • recognition that this consultation process was not a referendum where the number of votes cast for or against would determine the outcome but a mechanism by which a range of views and opinions from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

20.

Leeds Strategic Plan Performance Report for Quarter 4 2008/09 pdf icon PDF 81 KB

To consider a report of the Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement on the Leeds Strategic Plan Performance Report for Quarter 4 2008/09.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement submitted a report which provided a strategic overview of performance against those improvement priorities in the Leeds Strategic Plan (LSP) which related directly to City Development priorities.  The report and appendices provided an overall assessment of progress against the improvement priorities relevant to the Board and, in addition, provided performance indicator (PI) information for the full National Indicator Set and locally agreed indicators that were appropriate. Performance indicator targets were included across the range of priorities in this area and highlighted areas of under-performance and/or concern in relation to improvement priorities and actions being taken to remedy matters.

 

Paul Maney, Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement, City Development was in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments. He introduced the report and provided the Board with a brief overview of the main Leeds Strategic Plan themes where the directorate take a lead role and drew attention to some of the key areas of performance related to the directorates objectives and priorities for 2009/10.

 

For ease of reference, the Chair invited Board Members to comment on those areas of under performance and/or of concern in relation to the improvement priorities.

 

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

 

  • whether some of the targets may not be sufficiently challenging or appropriate

(The Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement responded and explained that although he considered the amount of green indicators to be a reflection of good, focused performance, the situation for amending/setting targets was quite complex. Some targets were agreed with the Government; statutory partners; and from the National Indicator Set and have fixed levels of achievement which can be process based milestone indicators. This meant that performance would be shown as green, provided certain targets had been reached. There were also a range of locally set targets where performance can be measured in relation to more specific issues)

  • a view was expressed that the performance indicators were too city-wide and not area based for Members who wanted information at a ward level in order for it to be meaningful

(The Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement responded and explained that whilst this was often desirable, in most cases the information was not available at this level; also, where information could be broken down, it was often the case that low numbers or insufficient data meant the information then became meaningless. It had been recognised that better intelligence was needed and work had commenced both corporately and within the directorate, to identify where this level of information was available and how it can then be developed)

  • the lack of an indicator relating to high infant mortality rate, especially within deprived areas of the city

(The Head of Policy, Performance and Improvement responded that although this area resides in the Health & Wellbeing theme of the Leeds Strategic Plan and does not directly relate to City Development, he confirmed that he was aware of work being undertaken by the Council and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

21.

Work Programme, Executive Board Minutes and Forward Plan of Key Decisions pdf icon PDF 54 KB

To consider a 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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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 1st July to 31st October 2009 and the Executive Board Minutes of 17th June 2009 were also attached to the report.

 

RESOLVED:-

a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  That the Executive Board Minutes of 17th June 2009 and the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1st July to 31st October 2009 be noted.

c)  That the Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser be requested to update the work programme to incorporate inquiries relating to the review of the loop; the Council’s play strategy and a review of the Council’s open spaces policy.

d)  That the Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser be requested to email Board Members clarifying the current position in relation to the proposed city centre park at Sovereign Street.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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22.

Date and Time of Next Meeting

To note that the next meeting of the Board will be held on Tuesday 1st September 2009 at 10.00am (Pre- meeting for Board Members at 9.30am)

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED – Tuesday 1st September 2009 at 10.00 am (Pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30 am)

 

 

 

 

(The meeting concluded at 12.05pm)