Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the call-in meeting.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor S Armitage, T Grayshon, R Harington, M Lobley, and A Ogilvie.

The Board were informed that Councillor J Lewis was a substitute for Councillor S Armitage, Councillor M Lyons for Councillor R Harington, Councillor V Kendall for Councillor M Lobley  and Councillor B Selby for Councillor A Ogilvie.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report regarding the procedural aspects of the call-in process.

Members were advised that the options available to the Board in respect of this particular called-in decision were:-

Option 1 – Release the decision for implementation.  Having reviewed the decision, the Scrutiny Board (City Development) could decide to release it for implementation.  If this option was chosen, the decision would be released for immediate implementation and the decision could not be called-in again.

Option 2 – Recommend that the decision be reconsidered.  Having reviewed the decision, the Scrutiny Board (City Development) could recommend to the Director of City Development that the decision be reconsidered.  If the Scrutiny Board (City Development) chose this option, a report would be submitted to the Director of City Development within 3 working days of this meeting.  The Director of City Development would reconsider the decision and would publish the outcome of their deliberations on the delegated decision system.  The decision could not be called-in again whether or not it was varied.

RESOLVED – That the report outlining the call-in procedures be noted.

In accordance with the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, to review an Executive Board decision of 26^th August 2009 (Minute 66 refers) in relation to a Deputation to Council from the North Hyde Park Residents’ Association, South Headingley Community Association, and Friends of Woodhouse Moor regarding the Council’s proposal to establish barbecue areas on Woodhouse Moor.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report, together with background papers, relating to a review of the Executive Board decision of 26^th August 2009 in relation to a Deputation to Council from North Hyde Park Residents’ Association, South Headingley Community Association and Friends of Woodhouse Moor, regarding the Council’s proposal to establish a barbecue area on Woodhouse Moor.

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

·  Copy of completed call-in request form

·  Report of the Director of City Development – Executive Board- 26^th August 2009 – Woodhouse Moor Park Barbecue Use

·  Executive Board minutes of 26^th August 2009

In addition to the above appendices, a copy of the following documents were circulated as supplementary information to assist the Board in their deliberations:-

• Call-in – Woodhouse Moor Park Barbecue Use – Management comments on underlying reasons for the requested Call-in

• Timeline of events relating to designated barbecue area on Woodhouse Moor from 2^nd July 2008 – 1^st September 2009

The decision had been called-in for review by Councillors J Illingworth and L Rhodes-Clayton on the following grounds:-

“There has been no public consultation about the currently recommended option (the trial area) and little indication of the size of this area, the surface treatment, or where exactly this area might be located.

The decision does not adequately balance the human rights of barbecue users against those of other users of the park, including disabled people.

It is not clear what the outcome will be, particularly as regards cellular concrete. A recent letter to residents says "no concrete" but it seems that likely that concrete will in fact be used. It is not clear how the exercise will be assessed, or how the park will be restored if the experiment is judged to have failed.

It is not clear what other options have been considered, or how this trial might impact upon other parks in Leeds.”

Councillors J Illingworth and L Rhodes-Clayton attended the meeting to present evidence to the Board and respond to Members’ questions and comments.

The following Executive Member, officers and witnesses (who had been called by the signatories of the Call-in to support the original justification for the decision having been called in) were in attendance:-

Councillor J Procter, Executive Member for Leisure

Sean Flesher, Acting Head of Parks and Countryside, City Development

Caroline Allen, Head of Development and Regulatory, Corporate Governance

Bill McKinnon, Friends of Woodhouse Moor

Anthony Green, North Hyde Park Association

Kathleen Mason, representingthose suffering fromChronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD)

The Chair informed the meeting that Councillor J Illingworth had been provided with a copy of all of the consultation forms returned to the City Development department with confidential information removed. It was noted that a copy of these documents could be made available to the Board on request.

Prior to hearing the request for Call-In, the Chair requested Board Members to take an early  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

In accordance with the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, to consider the Board’s formal conclusions and recommendation(s) arising from consideration of the Called-In decision.

Following consideration of evidence presented to them, the Board passed the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That the report of the Director of City Development on Woodhouse Moor Park Barbecue use previously considered at the Executive Board meeting on 26^th August 2009 be immediately released for implementation.

(The meeting concluded at 11.05am)