Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the call-in meeting. He apologised for the late start of the meeting which was due to the main Board meeting not concluding it’s business until 12.50pm.

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 personal interests were declared at the meeting:-

• Councillor G Latty in his capacity as a library card holder (Agenda Item 8) (Minute 77 refers)
• Councillor M Robinson in his capacity as a library card holder (Agenda Item 8) (Minute 77 refers)
• Councillor S Smith in his capacity as a library card holder (Agenda Item 8) (Minute 77 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors D Atkinson, J Elliott and M Rafique.

Notification had been received for Councillor J Lewis to substitute for Councillor D Atkinson and for Councillor M Coulson  to substitute for Councillor M Rafique.

To receive and 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) may decide to

recommend to the decision maker that the decision be reconsidered.  If the

Scrutiny Board chooses this option a report will be submitted to the Executive

Board.

In the case of an Executive Board decision, the report of the Scrutiny Board

will be presented to the next available meeting. The Executive Board will

reconsider its decision and will publish the outcome of its deliberations within

the minutes of the meeting.  The decision may not be Called In again whether

or not it is varied.

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

In accordance with Scrutiny Board Procedure Rules, to review a decision of the Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer in relation to a report submitted to Executive Board on 13^th October 2010 entitled ‘A New Chapter: A Fresh Direction for Leeds Libraries and for Integrated Services’.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report, together with background papers, relating to a review of a decision made by the Executive Board on 13^th October 2010 in relation to ‘A New Chapter: A fresh direction for Leeds libraries and for integrated services’.

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

• Copy of the completed call-in request form

• ‘A New Chapter: A fresh direction for Leeds libraries and for integrated services’ – Report of the Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer submitted to the Executive Board meeting held on 13^th October 2010

• Relevant extract of the Executive Board minutes of 13^th October 2010

The decision had been called-in for review by Councillors R Procter, B Anderson, M Lobley, J Mathews, and P Wadsworth on the following grounds:-

• Due consultation and the taking of professional advice from officers
• Respect for Human Rights
• A presumption in favour of openness
• Clarity of aims and desired outcomes
• An explanation of the options considered and details of the reasons for the decision

Councillors R Procter and P Wadsworth attended the meeting and gave evidence to the Board as to why they had called this item in and responded to Members’ questions and comments.

The following representatives were also in attendance:-

Councillor A Ogilvie, Executive Member with portfolio responsibility for leisure

Martin Farrington, Acting Director of City Development

Catherine Blanshard, Chief Libraries, Arts and Heritage Officer, City Development

In summary, the main points raised by Councillors R Procter and Wadsworth were the need:-

• to recognise that libraries do contribute to the cohesion of any community particularly when so many services and facilities were being closed
• to look at more creative ways of providing library facilities
• to consider the use of other more suitable buildings for libraries which are less expensive to maintain particularly those identified for possible closure in the New Chapter report
• to consider whether some library facilities could operate from other services provided by the Council or private sector that would make the service more cost effective

In explaining the reasons for the Executive Board decision, Councillor Ogilvie and officers made the following comments:-

• that this was not about library closures but about engaging local people in discussion about the viability of buildings and potential alternative service delivery
• the New Chapter Report was well presented and was the outcome of two years work involving the collection and analysis of a vast amount of data concerning all 53 libraries operated by the Council
• that usage in some libraries is declining and that many people use more than one library
• that it was estimated that the library service required a £3.5m capital injection and a further £800,000 in revenue just to standstill and that this money was not forthcoming. Consequently difficult choices about the future of the library service would have to be made
• that the consultation to be carried out would help to identify more clearly where changes,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

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

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

RESOLVED-

a) That the decision be referred back to the Executive Board for reconsideration on the grounds that the scope of the consultation document was too narrow, the depth of information provided insufficient and the timetable for consultation too short.

b) That prior to making a final decision, the Executive Board extend the consultation period and include the criteria which had been applied to determine libraries which were being suggested for closure and that all the available data for each of the Council’s libraries be included in that document.

(The meeting concluded at 2.25pm)