Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Safer and Stronger Communities) of the 2011/12 Municipal Year.

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.

Councillors G Hyde and R Grahame declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 12, Inquiry to Review the Establishment of a Shared Service Centre for the Leeds Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOs) – Draft Final Report, due to their respective positions as Directors of the East North East Homes ALMO Board.  Minute No.10 refers.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors E Taylor and C Townsley.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 11 April 2011

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods) held on 11 April 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the changes to the Council’s Constitution in relation to Scrutiny

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development provided the Board with information on recent amendments to the Council’s Constitution, as agreed by Council on 26 May 2011, which directly related to and/or impacted on the work of Scrutiny Boards.  The more significant amendments made to the Council’s Constitution in relation to the Overview and Scrutiny function were summarised in the report.

Members of the Board were informed of the following main changes:

• There would now be 5 themed Scrutiny Boards that reflected the Boards of the Strategic Partnership.
• Changes to the Call-In process – this included the requirement to consider the financial consequences of calling in a decision.  This will be part of the required pre Call In discussion with the relevant Director or Executive Board Member.  It was also noted that any Scrutiny Board Member can be a signatory to a Call In, even if they are a member of the Scrutiny Board considering the Call In.

Members sought further clarification regarding the consideration of the financial consequences of calling-in a decision.

RESOLVED – That the amendments to the Council’s Constitution as outlined in the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the appointment of co-opted members to Scrutiny Boards.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development sought the Board’s formal consideration for the appointment of co-opted members.  Reference was made to the provision in the Council’s Constitution for the appointment of co-opted members.

Members discussed the different options for co-opting members to the Board including appointing co-opted Members for the duration of the Municipal Year or making ad-hoc appointments to provide specialist support and advice on specific inquiries.

RESOLVED - That the Board agrees to appoint co-optees on an ad hoc basis, as and when considered necessary to assist with particular matters or inquiries.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the joint protocol between Scrutiny and the local Community Safety Partnership

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development referred to the extended remit of local authorities to scrutinise crime and disorder functions.  The Scrutiny Board (Safer and Stronger Communities) had been designated as the Council’s ‘Crime and Disorder Committee’.  A copy of the joint protocol between Scrutiny and the local Community Safety Partnership was attached to the report.

Members were informed that any referral of Crime and Disorder matters for scrutiny would be given consideration by this Board and that the Board could also review the work of the Community Safety Partnership.

RESOLVED – That the joint protocol between Scrutiny and the local Community Safety Partnership be noted.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on potential sources of work and areas of priority for the Scrutiny Board.

To assist the Board in effectively managing its workload for the forthcoming Municipal Year, the report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development provided information and guidance on potential sources of work and areas of priority within the terms of reference.  Copies of the terms of reference along with recent Executive Board minutes and a copy of the Council’s Forward Plan were appended to the report.

A further report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development requested the Board to consider its work schedule for the forthcoming Municipal Year.  A draft work schedule was appended to the report.

The following were in attendance for this item:

• Councillor P Gruen, Executive Member (Neighbourhoods, Housing and Regeneration)
• Neil Evans, Director of Environment and Neighbourhoods
• John Statham, Head of Housing Partnerships
• Martin Dean, Head of Leeds Initiative and International Partnerships

Martin Dean addressed the meeting regarding a particular area of review already outlined within the Board’s terms of reference.  This related to ‘the relationship and respective roles of the City Council and third sector organisations in mitigating the negative effects of the recession on the communities they serve’.

It was reported that there had been a key meeting between the Council and third sector partners in November 2010.  As a result, it was noted that a review of the third sector is now underway on behalf of the Strategic Planning and Policy Board to address issues around infrastructure, procurement and commissioning, as well as engagement and capacity building with the third sector.

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

• That the review of the third sector needs to identify more clearly how the Council is measuring effectiveness, performance and value for money.
• Concerns that third sector organisations were branching out into other areas outside their expertise in order to attract or receive funding.
• Reference to a piece of work carried out by Leeds Voice on the value of the third sector to the economy of Leeds – it was reflected that having a healthy third sector attracted more business to the City.
• In response to a request for a progress update on the ‘What if Leeds?’ consultation, it was reported that the Vision for Leeds had been approved by the Leeds Initiative Board and was due to be considered by Executive Board before it went to full Council for approval.

Rather than conduct a separate review, the Board agreed to feed into the existing review of the third sector where appropriate and keep a watching brief of its progress.

The Chair thanked Martin Dean for his attendance.

Neil Evans addressed the Board on issues relating to Safer Leeds.  These included the following:

• That intelligence gathering and sharing mechanisms were undergoing significant change.  Particular reference was made to the review of intelligence structures within West Yorkshire Police.
• The Leeds Burglary Reduction Strategy and £1,326,000 being made available through the Community Safety Fund to support the delivery of the Leeds Burglary Reduction Programme.
• Changes in tackling anti-social  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To consider the draft final  Scrutiny report following an Inquiry to review the establishment of a Shared Service Centre for the Leeds ALMOs.

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development referred to the Inquiry Reviewing the Establishment of a Shared Service Centre for the Leeds Arms Length Management Organisations (ALMOS) carried out by the Scrutiny Board (Environment and Neighbourhoods).  A copy of the draft final report into the Inquiry along with a summary of the evidence was presented and the Board was requested to agree the final report and recommendations.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the Board’s final report and recommendations be agreed.

(2)  That a formal response to the recommendations be produced in line with normal procedures for scrutiny inquiry reports as set out in Scrutiny Procedure Rule 14.1.

Monday, 18 July 2011

Monday, 12 September 2011

Monday, 10 October 2011

Monday, 14 November 2011

Monday, 12 December 2011

Monday, 16 January 2012

Monday, 13 February 2012

Monday, 12 March 2012

Tuesday, 3 April 2012

All meetings commence at 10.00 a.m. with a pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30 a.m.

Monday, 18 July 2011

Monday, 12 September 2011

Monday, 10 October 2011

Monday, 14 November 2011

Monday, 12 December 2011

Monday, 16 January 2012

Monday, 13 February 2012

Monday, 12 March 2012

Tuesday, 3 April 2012

All meetings commence at 10.00 a.m. with a pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30 a.m. and are scheduled to be held in the Civic Hall, Leeds.

The meeting concluded at 11.20 a.m.