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 12 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations made at this stage of the meeting.  Councillor Javaid Akhtar made a personal declaration during the discussion on Agenda Item 8, Input to the Work Programme. Minute No. 5 refers.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Atkinson, Jarosz and Smith.

To receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 6^th April 2010.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 6 April 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

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

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlined changes to the Council’s Constitution in relation to Scrutiny.  The Principal Scrutiny Adviser gave the Board a brief overview on the following main areas for change:

·  Requirements to look for Value for Money as part of scrutiny reviews into services.

·  The agreement for Members to be able to nominate substitute Members for all Scrutiny meetings, provided that Member is already a Scrutiny Board Member.

·  The reduction of Scrutiny Boards to six.  The Scrutiny Board (City & Regional Partnerships) had been disbanded and the role of that Board allocated to Scrutiny Board (City Development) and Scrutiny Board (Central and Corporate).

·  Minor amendments to Call-In arrangements.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

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

The reports of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development provided the Board with assistance and guidance to develop the Work Programme for 2010/11.  Information appended to the reports included the successor Board’s previous inquiries and briefing papers that it had received over the last 6 years and the current Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1^st  June to 30^th September 2010.

The Chair welcomed Phil Crabtree, Chief Planning Officer to the meeting who was attending on behalf of the Director of City Development and asked him for his views on issues that would be of interest to the Board over the coming  year.  Reference was made to the following issues :

• Those carried over from the previous Board and the need to track progress on previous inquiries including a report on.major planning applications.
• City  and Regional Governance.
• Leisure Issues
• Issues identified by the previous Board but not yet included in the Work Programme

In response to Members comments and questions, the following issues were identified and discussed:

• Vision for Sport and associated issues.
• Budgetary issues as a consequence of a reduction in Local Government finances.
• Open Source Planning : That a request for a report on the implications of the Government’s proposals on Open Source Planning.
• Marketing Leeds -That the Chief Executive of Marketing Leeds be requested to submit a future report/update to the Board.
• Tourism – That  the Chief Executive of Yorkshire Welcome be invited to a future meeting.
• Play equipment – costs and procurement issues.
• Public transport – links to Leeds/Bradford airport and other places of public interest.  It was suggested that the Chief Executives of Metro and Leeds Bradford Airport be invited to a future meeting. 
• Major development sites – That an update report was requested on major development sites across the City Centre.
• Leeds City Markets – it was suggested that this be the focus of a future scrutiny inquiry for the Board.  The Principal Scrutiny Adviser to contact the Head of City Centre and Markets regarding draft terms of reference.  A site visit to markets was also suggested.

RESOLVED –

a)  That the reports of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development be noted.

b)  That the Work Programme be updated in line with the discussion.

(Councillor Akhtar declared a personal interest during this item due to his employment as a Private Hire Driver)

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

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development sought the Board’s formal consideration for the appointment of co-opted members to the Board.  The report detailed arrangements for appointing co-opted members and also referred to the KPMG review of scrutiny which recommended that Scrutiny Boards gave further consideration to having co-opted members.

The Chair reported that he would like to ask the Board at its next meeting to consider appointing a non voting co-optee for this municipal year  and that he would circulate a brief biography of the individual concerned for members comments.. He also invited names to be put forward by other members of the Board.

RESOLVED – That Members provide feedback to the Principal Scrutiny Adviser regarding the proposed appointment  at the next meeting of the named individual  as a co-opted member  of the Board and consider any additional nominations which have been submitted .

To note that the next meeting of the Board will be held on Tuesday 6^th July 2010 at 10.00am (Pre meeting for Board Members at 9.30am)

The next full meeting of the Scrutiny Board (City Development) would be held on Monday, 6 July 2010 (pre-meeting for all Members at 9.30 a.m.).  A Call-In meeting was scheduled to take place at 11.15 a.m., shortly after this meeting.

Meeting concluded at 10.55 a.m.